Autosportfoto

Crutchlow: Van der Mark shouldn't sub if Rossi pulls out at Aragon

Cal Crutchlow believes superbike rider Michael van der Mark should not step in for Valentino Rossi if the Italian decides he is unfit to complete the Aragon MotoGP weekend.

Rossi was cleared to ride in this weekend's Aragon round by doctors at the Spanish track on Thursday, 21 days after he broke his leg in a motocross crash that ruled him out of the previous event at Misano.

The 38-year-old will take part in Friday's opening practice session before making a decision on whether he will continue for the rest of the weekend.

Yamaha's World Superbike rider van der Mark is on standby should Rossi stand down, but the Dutchman has no experience on the manufacturer's M1 bike.

LCR Honda rider Crutchlow said he would turn down the chance to replace Rossi mid-weekend if he were in van der Mark's position.

"I wouldn't want to do what van der Mark is doing this weekend - even for a whole weekend, let alone jumping in during FP3," said Crutchlow.

"They [MotoGP bikes] are vicious things, it's not like riding a Superbike. If they bite you, they bite you.

"Look at Alex [Lowes, who was set to deputise for Tech3 rider Bradley Smith at Aragon in 2016 but pulled out after a warm-up crash] here - first lap of morning warm-up, used tyre, turned into the last corner and high-sided off-throttle.

"That doesn't happen on a World Superbike."

Crutchlow revealed he had been offered the chance to deputise for an injured Rossi in 2010, when he was a World Superbike rider for Yamaha, but turned the offer down.

"When I was riding for Yamaha in World Superbike [in 2010], I was offered Valentino's ride when he broke his leg in Mugello," said Crutchlow.

"I saw Lin [Jarvis, team boss], but we both decided not to do it, because it was for one race. I said, 'I'm not interested, I'll just make myself look like an idiot'. No testing, straight into a race.

"Not many people understood the tyres, and I was going well in World Superbike and I didn't want to hurt myself."

Van der Mark said he had suspected Rossi would attempt to ride at Aragon, and as such was not disappointed when Rossi was passed fit.

"To be honest, I knew that Valentino would try just before the weekend so I always kept in mind there was the opportunity he was going to race," said van der Mark.

"I didn't really focus on riding tomorrow morning. I always thought just wait and see. I would have done the same [in Rossi's position] so I'm not really disappointed.

"It's just amazing that Yamaha asked me to come here and if possible to ride the bike.

"I have to go out and make the best of it and just enjoy this amazing opportunity."

Zdroj: autosport.com