Honda riders "got what we asked for", says Crutchlow
Cal Crutchlow says he was pleased with how the Sepang MotoGP test went, saying the new Honda bike has improved in areas the riders asked for.
Crutchlow, who is riding a 2018-spec LCR Honda this season alongside full factory riders Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, ended the test third overall.
The main focus of the trio at Sepang was engine testing and selecting which power unit to use for the 2018 season, with all three riders preferring the same specification.
While Marquez said that he is worried about the new engine being too aggressive, Crutchlow reckons this tendency can be compensated by electronic management and was pleased with the new bike, saying Honda gave what the riders asked for.
"I'm pleased with what Honda has done over the winter, because what we asked for we sort of got," said the Briton.
"It's better in some areas and we need to work in others, but we have improved. The engine is strong and stronger than last year.
“I'm not worried if it [the engine] is too aggressive because we have electronics that can control it, if we want them. If he [Marquez] doesn't want to go as fast he can turn the torque down, if you know what I mean.
"But I think what we have is positive, because if we have more power then we can always turn it down, instead of not having any power and you can't turn it up, you know?"
Pedrosa says new engine needs "caution"
Pedrosa also said that the new engine has more power, but insisted that Honda has to be "cautious" about its usability.
"The objective of this test was to try the engines and gather as much information as possible," said Pedrosa. "In this test, I did more laps with the latest engine.
"I think it has a little more power but you have to be very cautious about how much you're able to make it work.
"We have to go to another circuit to understand which motor we will choose. We have to analyse the data a lot, and find the right answers."
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont
Got a MotoGP question you want answering? Tweet using the hashtag #MotoGPMailbag or email us at motogpmailbag@motorsport.com and our expert journalists will give you a response!
Share Or Save This Story
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
Cal Crutchlow to ride through shoulder injury in “challenging” Balaton Park weekend
Cal Crutchlow reveals shoulder problem that forced early retirement from Italian GP
Why Cal Crutchlow turned down MotoGP comeback before his wife changed his mind
How Iker Lecuona got “surprise” call-up for Gresini MotoGP seat in Hungary
Johann Zarco to wait several weeks before undergoing surgery
Johann Zarco recounts Barcelona MotoGP crash: "It was absolutely terrifying"
Half a year after HWA split: AMG struggles with spare parts shortage
F1 reports 35% CO2 reduction ahead of 2030 net-zero target
Why a classic Le Mans 24 Hours should have delivered more
Aprilia team-mates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin couldn’t be any more different
Why MotoGP's latest Hungarian experiment may not last
What we learned from MotoGP’s unusual Hungarian GP
How Trackhouse is preparing for the post-Davide Brivio era
Why MotoGP's chiefs need to start listening to the riders on sprint issue
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments