Crutchlow turns down Honda Suzuka 8h offer
Cal Crutchlow says he has turned down an offer from Honda to spearhead its factory Suzuka 8 Hours effort this year.
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Honda announced late last year its return to the Japanese endurance event in a full works capacity for the first time in 10 years, with Takumi Takahashi its first confirmed rider.
Last year, LCR rider Crutchlow – who is employed directly by Honda in MotoGP – hinted he could participate at Suzuka this year after he turned down the chance to ride there in 2017.
However, despite Honda’s return with a full factory team, Crutchlow revealed he again refused an offer by the Japanese factory to lead its attack while he was leading the points in MotoGP after the Argentine Grand Prix.
Asked by Motorsport.com whether he had been asked by Honda to race at Suzuka, he replied: “Yes. Of course they asked me, but my priority this year was to do a great job in MotoGP.
“I was very honoured and privileged to be asked to do the 8 Hours, because it’s a full factory team. To be their number one rider would have been massive.
“But you have to look at the goal in hand. I’m here to race MotoGP, and at the time I was going very well in MotoGP, I still am. So I decided it wasn’t the time to commit to do it.
“I understand how important that race is to them, and it’s not say I won’t do it another year. But as of this moment in time, I won’t be doing the 8 Hour [this year].”
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