Cal Crutchlow in second Suzuka test assault

HM Plant Honda’s Cal Crutchlow is currently in Japan ready for his second Suzuka test with Moriwaki ahead of the Eight Hour.

The 22-year old from Coventry had a successful test and 300K race at Suzuka back in June, and has returned ahead of preparations for the Eight Hour on July 29.

He’ll be out on track tomorrow and Wednesday with Eight Hour team-mate, Tatsuya Yamaguchi.

He said: “I’m looking forward to the tests over the next two days, but have a feeling the weather won’t help us.

“It’s supposed to rain tomorrow for the first day of testing, and it’s already 32 degrees here.

“There’s no sunshine, it’s just humidity, so that’ll make life difficult on the bike.”

Crutchlow will fly back from Japan on Thursday before heading straight to Goodwood for the Festival of Speed at the weekend and then returning to training ahead of the BSB Oulton Park round on July 19-20.

But the man who currently sits second in the British Superbike standings said he was up for his Japanese challenge.

He added: “It should be a good test, and there are a few things that will help us go quicker.

“We’ve had some Dunlop tyres shipped out from the UK which will be better than the ones we used last time, and Tohru Ukawa did a test on the bike a few weeks ago and found a few things that helped him go two tenths faster than me.

“I’ve also got to do a night stint on Wednesday night and I’m really looking forward to that as a new experience!”