Honda happy with Crutchlow role

Honda wants Cal Crutchlow to continue development duties alongside his LCR race commitments during the 2019 MotoGP season.

Crutchlow raced for Tech3 Yamaha and the factory Ducati team before joining LCR in 2015, where the Englishman's experience meant he was soon called upon by HRC for testing and technical feedback.

That included race-developing a chassis, previously turned down by the factory team, which Crutchlow took to two wins during the second half of 2016. It was chosen by all Honda riders from the following season and is still thought to be in use on the 2018 RCV.

Such results and responsibilities resulted in promotion to a HRC contract, while remaining at LCR, for 2018-2019.

The factory Repsol team will undergo a major shake-up next season, with Jorge Lorenzo replacing Dani Pedrosa, but HRC management want Crutchlow's role to remain unchanged.

While Pedrosa and reigning champion Marc Marquez have only raced Honda machinery, Lorenzo - like Crutchlow - has taken a MotoGP path from Yamaha, to Ducati and then Honda.

"I think Cal is doing really well. The only problem is that he has some crashes that bring him down a little bit in the championship," said Repsol Honda team manager Alberto Puig.

"But potential-wise and speed-wise, he is showing good performance and he is also helping us a lot in development. And we are happy. We expect that next year it will be the same."

HRC director Tetsuhiro Kuwata added: "Cal's very good for development and also his feedback, so we would like to continue in this way for next year. It makes for a stronger machine."

Crutchlow's victory in Argentina this year made him the first British rider to the lead the world championship since Barry Sheene in 1979, and the first satellite rider to lead the standings since Sete Gibernau in 2004.

Accidents in Texas, Jerez and Sachsenring mean Crutchlow has now dropped to eighth overall, nine points from top satellite rival Johann Zarco (Tech3).