Cal Crutchlow returns to the saddle in place of Johann Zarco

The Castrol Honda LCR team has made official a lineup change for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix: Johann Zarco will be replaced by Cal Crutchlow, his former teammate. The decision comes as a result of Zarco’s recovery path, who is due to undergo surgery in the coming weeks. In this context, LCR has chosen to rely on a well-known figure within the box, bringing Crutchlow back to the track for a return with strong symbolic value.

The British rider has in fact already raced with the team between 2015 and 2020, building a solid relationship and achieving important results. In six seasons he scored 12 total podiums, including three victories, the first of which was at Brno in 2016. That success also represents the first-ever victory for LCR in the MotoGP class, a historic achievement for the team. The team expressed gratitude to Crutchlow for his willingness and willingness to get back on the Honda RC213V, once again underscoring the enduring bond between the rider and the Lucio Cecchinello-led structure. At the same time, LCR wanted to reiterate its full support for Zarco, wishing him a speedy and uncomplicated recovery.

Team principal Lucio Cecchinello commented, “We are all with Johann Zarco and wish him a speedy and strong recovery. In our effort to replace Johann, we feel fortunate to be able to count on our former rider Cal Crutchlow, with whom we have shared many important moments and with whom we have always maintained a very strong bond. We want to thank him for his availability, and we will do our best to make the most of this time together while Zarco recovers.”

These are Cal Crutchlow’s first words: “First of all, I wish Johann Zarco a speedy recovery. As a rider, it is never easy to deal with situations like this. As for this weekend, I have great memories with LCR; the years we spent together were fantastic. When I got the call to replace Zarco, I felt privileged and honored and wanted to accept the challenge. We know it’s going to be an intense weekend, but I’m ready to give my all together with the rest of the team and make the most of this opportunity. We’ll see how it goes!”