Cal Crutchlow waiting on Ducati contract

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Cal Crutchlow admits he is unlikely to sign a two-year deal to join Ducati’s factory MotoGP squad in 2013 during this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.

The British rider was expected to agree a deal to leave the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad at the end of 2012 in Mugello.

That was when Ducati wanted Crutchlow to confirm whether he will accept their offer to ride a factory Desmosedici in 2013 and ’14.

But Crutchlow confirmed in Mugello today that he had still not received a written contract to look at with his management.

Audi’s on-going takeover of Ducati was rumoured to be one reason why the Bologna factory has not yet sent a formal proposal to Crutchlow, despite the former World Supersport champion suggesting terms were agreed some time again.

Crutchlow wouldn’t elaborate on the reasons for the delay but he told MCN: “Talks are still on-going and that’s it. It is not a hold up from our side so read into that what you want.

“As far as I am concerned we can’t do anything different and we are waiting. It is a situation that I don’t print my own contract. They print it and then send it so obviously nothing has been sent. We have to wait and I am still talking to them but we are waiting for them.

“It is their decision. Everything is discussed but at the minute we don’t have any paperwork. I don’t have a contract so I can’t do anything. Everything else was done quite some time ago but at the moment there is a bit of a hold up.”

Crutchlow said he will hold further talks with senior Yamaha management in Mugello about his future but his hopes of securing a factory YZR-M1 next to Jorge Lorenzo appear slim at best.

Yamaha is understood to be close to signing a new deal with Texan Ben Spies, which could even be announced this weekend in Mugello, if not at his home race in Laguna Seca later this month.

Matthew Birt

By Matthew Birt