Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Cal Crutchlow to stick with updated Honda MotoGP frame

LCR rider Cal Crutchlow is set to stick with the updated Honda MotoGP frame he has adopted for the balance of the 2016 season

Crutchlow started using the new frame during his home grand prix at Silverstone last month, and stuck with it for the subsequent Misano and Aragon races.

While he says the strengths and weaknesses of the update - raced by factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa at Barcelona but otherwise not used by the works team - and the older specification even out, Crutchlow has selected the newer version rather than swapping during and between the remaining four grands prix.

"To do back-to-back [comparisons], the problem is that you waste time doing that, we're wasting way too much time in sessions," he said.

"I can't go to this race and go, 'OK I want this chassis' and then the next race 'oh, OK, I want that chassis'. We can, essentially, but it's stupid to do that. It plays with your head also.

"And do you get the best result out of thinking that the other one might be a little bit better? You're better off to stick to your guns and be with one and that's it.

"[In terms of] agility, maybe it seems heavier at the end of the race.

"So maybe that's one reason why Dani again didn't particularly like it. There's one thing better and one thing worse."

With the new frame, Crutchlow has finished second, eighth and fifth, as part of his rise to sixth and top satellite rider in the championship, having been 20th after the first five races.

"I think there's some areas where it still could be improved," he said.

"It's stronger in one area than the other but the other one is stronger in the other area. They're like the complete opposite.

"So in the end why not carry on with it, use it for mileage, use it for information for [Honda] because they can see the data?"

Pedrosa finished third at Barcelona when he tried the frame, but then switched back to his previous package.

He has eschewed updates in a bid to improve his understanding of the new Michelin tyres and electronics.

Championship leader Marc Marquez is using a different specification again, having favoured his 2014 chassis.

"Now we're all on three different chassis," Crutchlow said.

"And I don't think that is such a bad thing. Marc and Dani are essentially on the same chassis but they might have something different, a little bit, because of size or how they ride.

"One can choose one and one can choose the other. But essentially they are the same and mine is a little bit different but they all are three different chassis.

"But it's for three different riders. It's a good thing that they do it."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Aprilia MotoGP team to make full switch over to new frame at Motegi
Next article Jack Miller hard to manage when injured - Marc VDS MotoGP team

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe