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Cal Crutchlow saddened by lack of British riders in MotoGP ahead of return to retirement

EXCLUSIVE: As he prepares to go back into MotoGP race retirement, Cal Crutchlow admits his disappointment over the lack of British riders in motorcycle racing's premier class

[Cal Crutchlow returns to MotoGP race action at Aragon this weekend]

Cal Crutchlow will complete what he expects to be in final MotoGP race this weekend in Spain(Image: Getty Images)

When Cal Crutchlow steps back into race retirement after this weekends Valencian Grand Prix, he will again leave an unfortunate avoid in his wake.

Since September, when Crutchlow replaced the retired Andrea Dovizioso in the RNF Yamaha team, British MotoGP fans have had a countryman to cheer on. As Yamahas official test rider, he was obliged to fill in for the rest of the season but the 37-year-old has no intention of making a full-time return.

He would prefer not to return to racing at all as it would mean something had gone awry for one of Yamahas stable of riders, like injury or chronic bike struggles of the sort which led to Doviziosos decision to quit mid-season.

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

As Britains most successful top-level racer since the late, great Barry Sheene, Crutchlow is better placed than anyone to assess the prospects of British riders. There has been British representation in Moto2 in the shape of Jake Dixon and Sam Lowes in 2022 while Rory Skinner will join the grid full-time next year.

Injury-plagued Lowes has already had one difficult year in the top class with Aprilia, so Dixon, 26, looks to be the next cab on the rank. He has had a strong season but will remain in Moto2 in 2023, meaning no British representation in the premier class.

[Cal Crutchlow waves to fans at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix]

Cal Crutchlow waves to fans at this season's Australian Grand Prix(Image: Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)

Yeah of course [its disappointing], Crutchlow told Daily Star Sport. Im a Brit through and through and I wish there was a British rider on the grid.

The problem is, who is there? Thats the big thing. We had Bradley [Smith] and Scott [Redding] but we havent seen anyone else make that jump.

We had Eugene Laverty for a time but no one that stayed for a long period of time, that came in soon enough to have a long career in MotoGP.

Which British bike racers do you believe can step up to MotoGP? Tell us in the comments section.

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Jake Dixon has appeared on the Moto2 podium this year(Image: Getty)

That was me, but I was actually late to MotoGP [Crutchlow was in his mid-20s when he moved across from World Superbikes]. We want to get 18-year-olds in [to the junior classes] so that when theyre 20 theyre able to compete for 10 years in MotoGP.

But, as I said, who is there to do it? Its difficult to see who we can get. Im always one to look, to try and think of ways we can do it, but its very difficult.

With Crutchlow likely to be scrapping for the final points, all eyes will be on the title decider in Valencia. Ducatis Francesco Bagnaia, with a 23-point lead over defending champion Fabio Quartararo, has one hand on the trophy. Yamahas Quartararo must win the race and hope for Bagnaia to hit trouble to retain his title.

READ NEXT:

• Cal Crutchlow admits he used to 'hate racing' ahead of latest MotoGP comeback
• MotoGP bikes in near miss with wallaby at Australian Grand Prix
• MotoGP star Fabio Quartararo's body almost entirely bandaged after devastating crash
• 'I went 170mph on back of a bike with an ex-MotoGP star and it was absolutely terrifying'

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