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Old-school Cal Crutchlow on winding up MotoGP herd and why he's backing sprint races

EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of his latest return to MotoGP race action, British hero Cal Crutchlow gives his take on the modern breed of riders, the current state of the sport and why he is for the introduction of sprint races for 2023

[Cal Crutchlow has been called out MotoGP retirement again following several cameo appearances last season]

Cal Crutchlow has been called out of MotoGP retirement again following several cameo appearances last season(Image: Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

Cal Crutchlow couldnt resist a cheeky swipe at the young guns of MotoGP ahead of his return to race action at the Aragon Grand Prix this weekend.

Crutchlow, Britains most successful top tier rider since Barry Sheene, has come out of race retirement again to replace Andrea Dovizioso in the RNF Yamaha team for the final rounds of the season. As a Yamaha test and reserve rider, the 36-year-old was the obvious choice to step in for fellow veteran Dovizioso, who decided to retire mid-season after a year of struggle.

Crutchlow prides himself on being an old-school rider who isnt afraid to speak his mind. Its a far cry from the current generation of polished and social media savvy riders.

READ MORE: 'I went 170mph on back of a bike with an ex-MotoGP star and it was absolutely terrifying'

Am I supposed to tweet today its race week and Instagram a pic on the plane Wednesday? Forgot what you have to do when youre one of the sheep!!! Been so long since catching up with the herd, he tweeted at the start of the week.

Theres a bit of controversy over that [tweet], he says at the start of his interview with Daily Star Sport. I was just winding them up because they all follow each other, dont they.

One will make a social media post saying the sky is blue and everyone else will do the same 10 minutes later. It was just to wind them all up.

Needless to say, following the herd has never been Crutchlows style.

No, because at the end of the day, you have to be yourself, not follow everyone else, he adds. I get why they do it but its definitely not me, thats for sure.

Following the retirement of the sports GOAT, Valentino Rossi, and amid Marc Marquezs struggles with injury (the Spaniard also makes his latest comeback this weekend), MotoGP has recently lacked a rider who truly transcends the sport.

So does Crutchlow feel there is a shortage of personality on the grid?

[Cal Crutchlow on the podium with Maverick Vinales and Marc Marquez after the 2019 German Grand Prix]

Cal Crutchlow on the podium with Maverick Vinales and Marc Marquez after the 2019 German Grand Prix(Image: Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

I wouldnt say theres a lack of personalities because theres some great characters on the grid, he explains. The problem is, theyre all quite robotic with regards to As I said they all sort of follow each other.

I dont think it has lost its appeal. I just think its going to a different generation now with the social media side of things. Its a completely different generation of people theyre trying to attract.

The old-school riders, we were more natural. They say it how it is but thats not the way it goes nowadays. But Im happy to go with the times.

He then adds with a smirk: Thats why I put the tweet out, to make sure Im back with the times.

Given the social media scrutiny top sportspeople are subjected to these days, Crutchlow understands why young riders are more inclined to play it safe with their public comments.

[Cal Crutchlow, pictured in action in 2020, will race for the RNF Yamaha team for the rest of this season]

Cal Crutchlow, pictured in action in 2020, will race for the RNF Yamaha team for the rest of this season(Image: Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

I agree with it, he says. What we used to get away with saying and doing I think we got away with a lot compared to what nowadays people would, as we see for people in any sport now.

Its scrutinised a lot more, isnt it. I dont think any way is right or wrong, the way we used to do it or the way it is now. Its a sign of times changing and I think its positive as well because were reaching a wide audience. Thats a good thing.

MotoGP audiences, on the whole, have dwindled this season while its own version of F1s Drive to Survive series proved to be a flop. So the sport is trying something different from the F1 playbook, sprint races, which will start next year in a bid to increase interest.

The announcement wasnt positively received by all riders and fans, but Crutchlow, who will have returned to his role of armchair fan in 2023, is all for it.

I think its cool. Its cool because Im sat on the sofa!, he laughs. It is good for the show. As I said, times are changing and thats it. I think theyve made the decision for the show, for the racing.

Do you think sprint races are a good idea? Tell us in the comments section below.

[Action from the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano earlier this month (Sept 22)]

Action from the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano earlier this month(Image: Danilo Di Giovanni/Getty Images)

Why not? I think it will bring a bit more spark. People complain about the racing, complain about the show, complain about this, that and the other. But when they make a change, they also complain about that too. You cant win. Some riders are going to like it, some riders are not. Some fans are going to like, some fans are not.

At the end of the day, the organisation [Dorna] have made a decision and thats it. Go forward. I remember in 16, 17, 18, the show was amazing. At Assen one time there were 120 passes in one race! Now, yes, youre struggling a little bit [to overtake], but its because everybody is on the limit. Its not necessarily the bikes or the tyres, its the limit.

People are saying its going through a stage of being difficult to pass, but that will come back at some point, its just the way it is in the moment.

But we still see some great races, some great talents, records being broken and we see a winner at the end of the weekend. It will get better. Sometimes you have a year where the racing is not as good, but theres still a champion, people still watch it and people still enjoy it.

Next year is going to be fun again with the sprints races as well.

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