It would appear that Stefan Bradl is no longer required by HRC in the LCR Honda garage so a space has opened up which could be filled by Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, according to myriad reports in European media and the paddock gossip grapevine.

Although Crutchlow committed to his contract with Ducati into 2015 at World Ducati Weekend, he may be able to escape from it and get the satellite-but-works RC213V which will be vacated by Bradl at the end of the year - and British financial company CWM has joined LCR as a sponsor.

The German has apparently taken up an offer to join the Forward NGM team for next season leaving the space open but Crutchlow will have to be released from his Ducati deal. That may not be a big problem as it means Gigi Dall’Igna will only have to field bikes for Andreas Dovizioso and Iannone.