Cal Crutchlow will remain with LCR MotoGP team for 2017 season
Cal Crutchlow will stay with the LCR Honda MotoGP team in 2017, in news that all-but ends the notion of Suzuki adding a satellite programme next year
The British rider joined LCR from Ducati in 2015, then signed a new two-year deal midway through that year.
However, that had several break clauses, and Lucio Cecchinello's LCR outfit had emerged as the most likely candidate should Suzuki opt to supply a satellite team in 2017.
On the eve of the Dutch TT at Assan, Crutchlow - who also has a Honda contract - confirmed that he will be staying with LCR for 2017, which could run a year longer until '18, which would bring him into line with the fresh batch of factory contracts.
"I will be with LCR next year," Crutchlow said.
"Lucio had a clause in the contract that he didn't exercise, we both didn't exercise.
"So I'll stay there next year and then discuss a whole new contract with him for 2018, it seems."
Crutchlow finished eighth in the championship with LCR in 2015 as the second-best satellite rider, but life on his Honda has been tougher this year, and he is 16th in the points.
His best finish of the campaign came at Barcelona earlier this month, before topping the post-event test.
"Definitely the start of the season hasn't been to plan," he added.
"I need to make it three in a row this weekend and finish three races in a row, that would be good.
"Obviously Barcelona was a little better - we salvaged a sixth place on a tough weekend and we had a positive test on the Monday.
"Coming to Assen, I've had some great results in the past in world championships.
"There's no reason why we can't have a good weekend this weekend and maybe start our championship here."
ZARCO SET FOR TECH3
Crutchlow and LCR's confirmation, and Moto2 championship leader Alex Rins' Suzuki factory deal, means reigning Moto2 champion Johann Zarco is set to join Tech3 Yamaha.
Suzuki had an option on Zarco for 2017, and he had been due to test its MotoGP bike in Japan this month.
However, he has now been removed from Suzuki's rider line-up for the Suzuka 8 Hours.
2017 MOTOGP GRID SO FAR
Yamaha: Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales
Honda: Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa
Ducati: Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso
Suzuki: Andrea Iannone, Alex Rins
KTM: Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaro
Aprilia: Sam Lowes, TBC
Tech3 Yamaha: Jonas Folger, TBC
LCR Honda: Cal Crutchlow
Yet to announce riders: Marc VDS, Pramac Ducati, Avintia Ducati, Aspar Ducati
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