LCR boss confident Cal Crutchlow will be podium challenger

LCR Honda boss Lucio Cecchinello says he is no doubt that Cal Crutchlow can establish himself as a podium force again in MotoGP after a tough experience at Ducati in 2014.

Crutchlow struggled for speed and confidence on the unforgiving Desmosedici GP14 before a brilliant end of season revival saw him claim third at Motorland Aragon and miss out on a stunning second when he fell out on the final lap in Australia.

The 29-year-old scored four podium finishes and two pole positions in 2013 but had managed just five top ten finishes all season for Ducati before his stunning third place in a rain-hit Aragon race last September.

But Cecchinello, who will also run Aussie sensation Jack Miller on a production Honda RC213V-RS, is confident Crutchlow will bounce back from a disappointing campaign and he told MCN: “Some people can have a question mark about having Cal in our team after a season when he has not been performing so well at times. But I am not worried. I believe a rider doesn’t lose the talent or skill to ride.

“A rider can lose the motivation and I do believe that if he had been able to be fast with Yamaha when he was fighting for the podium and pole positions and doing incredible overtakes against the top riders, I don’t see that he won’t be able to do it again.

“The lack of performances at times for Ducati for me are linked to a loss of motivation because maybe he is not feeling good with the bike and in that moment there is no point to take extra risks.”