Crutchlow: Honda doesn’t need to change bike philosophy
Cal Crutchlow doesn't believe Honda will change its philosophy to make a more user-friendly MotoGP bike in light of Marc Marquez's injury, and doesn't think it needs to.
Reigning champion Marquez broke his right humerus in a crash during the Spanish Grand Prix while recovering from a spectacular front-end slide while leading earlier in the race.
He missed the Andalusian GP following surgery – despite his best efforts to return – and will sit out this weekend's Czech GP after undergoing a second surgery after damaging the plate while "trying to open a window" at home.
The RC213V has won six of the last seven titles in MotoGP with Marquez, but has been notoriously tricky to ride – with LCR rider Crutchlow telling Motorsport.com ahead of the first Jerez race that the front end of the Honda was still "critical".
Honda has repeatedly refuted the notion that its bike is difficult to ride, owing to its success in the last decade, and Crutchlow doesn't feel, so long as it has Marquez, that it should do anything to change the bike too much.
"They won't change their philosophy I'm sure, because the bike is capable of winning with Marc and has been capable of winning with me," Crutchlow said when asked by Motorsport.com if HRC will look to change its philosophy going forward.
"Taka [Nakagami] showed last week that the 2019 bike was competitive again even this year.
"I don't think they will change the philosophy. I also don't think they need to change the philosophy.
"What I have been asking for over the years is a more neutral bike and easier bike to ride it over a season that all the riders can be competitive, like we see with other manufacturers.
"It seems the Honda is a lot more difficult, you can either win on it or be 15th. I don't think they will change the philosophy, and I don't see the need to.
"I've always agreed with their philosophy of why would you change the bike when they keep winning the championship with a rider – doesn't matter which rider wins the championship with Honda.
"Marc has been incredible over the years for them and keeps winning the title. So why would you change it? And if I was the engineer and if I was the people working at HRC I'd do exactly the same thing."
Honda and Marquez will continue together for the next four years, after both parties agreed a new deal earlier in the year.
In the past two MotoGP seasons, only Marquez and Crutchlow have gotten the RC213V to the podium, with both Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo failing to get to the rostrum in their final campaigns.
Marquez broke plate in his arm trying to open a window
Quartararo: “Not correct” to think about title at third race
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Motorsport.com, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock of Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. We analyse what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP's Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How praise for Honda's MotoGP bike has given way to doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's win was vital not only for his title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations
The MotoGP rookie fighting two fronts in his debut year
Darryn Binder has found himself in the unenviable position as MotoGP's most under-pressure rookie in 2022 having made the step directly from Moto3 with a reputation as an over-aggressive rider. This hasn't been an easy thing to shake at the start of the season, but he believes tangible progress is being made
How ‘Beast’ mode is putting Ducati in 2022 MotoGP title contention
Enea Bastianini’s second win of the 2022 campaign at COTA puts him back in the lead of the standings and once again showed the best Ducati package is still the 2021 bike. Those closest to Bastianini tell Motorsport.com why he’s so good on the GP21 relative to his factory counterparts.
How Espargaro helped Aprilia shed MotoGP's underdog tag
Aleix Espargaro became MotoGP's newest winner in a thrilling Argentina Grand Prix in which he also proved the merits of the Aprilia project. After six years of hard graft, both parties have reaped the rewards they have long thought they deserved. But it was several key moments in that journey that led both to that momentous Sunday at Termas de Rio Hondo.