Is there any hope for Britain's bleak MotoGP future?

British representation on the MotoGP grid will shrink to just one rider - Cal Crutchlow - in 2019, and he's made it clear he won't be around long-term. But there are reasons to believe the drought will be brief.

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Since Bradley Smith and Scott Redding are to lose their respective KTM and Aprilia seats, Cal Crutchlow at LCR Honda is set to be Great Britain's only representative on the premier class grid in 2019.

Given there were four Brits on the grid as recently as last year, and since Crutchlow admits his current contract could well be his last, this sudden dearth has raised fears that the UK is facing a barren period.

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Author Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.

While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.