Cal Crutchlow will not be participating as a wild card in the upcoming Italian MotoGP, according to Yamaha.
Cal Crutchlow’s surprising announcement that he will not be competing in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello has spelt disappointment for Yamaha and its fans as the 38-year-old Coventry rider underwent surgery due to recurring pain in his right hand.
However following complications after the procedure, he was forced to withdraw from the race.
Alongside his testing duties, Cal Crutchlow was scheduled to participate in three MotoGP races this season: the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, and the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano.
Mugello, from May 31-June 2, should have been the first of three confirmed 2024 MotoGP outings for the factory test rider and triple grand prix winner. However, Yamaha announced on social media that Crutchlow “will not be taking part in the event.
“Yamaha regrets to announce that Cal Crutchlow will not be taking part in the Italian GP as a wild card,” the team posted on X.
“The official test rider was suffering from right-hand pain this year and underwent a procedure to fix it. However, complications prohibit him from entering the Italian GP.”
Crutchlow later released a statement: “Unfortunately, I will not be able to race at Mugello at the end of May. Post-operative complications with my right hand have forced me to make this difficult decision.
“It’s frustrating, especially for the team who counted on me to test new developments on the M1 and collect valuable data.”
Despite this setback, Crutchlow remains optimistic about the rest of the season, focusing on recovery and aiming to participate in the upcoming races at Silverstone and Misano Adriatico.
“I’m concentrating on my recovery to be ready for Silverstone and Misano, where I hope to be at 100% of my abilities,” he added.
Yamaha had high hopes for Crutchlow’s technical expertise and feedback to enhance their bike’s performance. A Yamaha spokesperson confirmed the setback, stating, “Cal would have been a valuable resource for us in Mugello, that’s for sure. We had various innovations to test. Now, we will have to rethink our plans for future wild cards.”
Meanwhile, Yamaha and its fans wish Crutchlow a swift recovery, hoping to see him back in action soon, contributing to the development of the Yamaha M1 in the upcoming events.
