Despite rumors from the German press that Cal Crutchlow has signed with Ducati, and the announcement will come during next month’s Indianapolis GP, the popular British rider says he needs more time to decide where he is going in 2014.
Crutchlow has become the rider on every team’s wishlist for next season, and he has had offers, not only from Ducati – who has already given Nicky Hayden the axe (and it would have been nice if they had issued an official press release thanking him for all his years with them), and from HRC – to replace Stefan Bradl in LCR Honda.
Yamaha Tech3’s Herve Poncharal desperately wants him continue with his squad, even if Lin Jarvis can’t guarantee him a factory ride in 2015, and despite speculation that Pol Espargaro has already been signed by the Yamaha bosses to replace him in the satellite team.
Just last month, Crutchlow was asked if he take into consideration a return to World Superbikes if he didn’t get a decent offer for 2014, his repy seemed a definite ‘no’, and he was allegedly reported as having said, “better being sixth in MotoGP, than winning a World Superbike championship.
” Apparently the options from the ‘other championship’ have gotten slightly more interesting, because the rider told journalists at Laguna Seca that he is also in talks with teams outside of MotoGP.
“I won’t make a fast decision and in my eyes I won’t make a decision by Indy.
I need time and am speaking to five teams, and not just in this championship, so we’ll see what happens.
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