LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow believes that former employers Ducati have a big advantage in terms of electronics going into the 2016 MotoGP season and will be ‘surprised’ if the factory doesn’t win the opening race at Qatar.
Crutchlow, who pushed his way to fifth place on today’s time-sheet with a late 2’00.899 lap, says the Bologna factory are way ahead in their development of the unified electronics software - which was built using their own as a base - and that Honda are on the back foot.
“The electronics aren’t doing for us what they are doing for Ducati. They know what they are doing and have done for two or three years. The rest of us have started after them, this is how clever they are, they have got it to a tee. They have the biggest advantage with regards to winning races and are so far ahead,” said Crutchlow, speaking at Sepang.
“Yamaha have a great package and great riders, a package that is really neutral so they are able to be fast whatever happens, but they nowhere near Ducati yet. If Ducati don’t win in Qatar, I will be so, so surprised. We need to make our bike towards them a bit. I am not panicking at the moment so we have to use what we have.”
The Isle of Man resident is using the 2015 spec engine with the new electronic software and he says it has made taming the power delivery much more difficult. Crutchlow may get the 2016 spec motors at Phillip Island but might have to wait until the final Qatar test.
“We have a long, long way to go with the Honda and with the electronics but I am happy with the way we are working. We aren’t in any shape to do a race simulation - if you do one, then you show the opposition your pace and if it’s bad you demotivate yourself and the team. With our electronics, I don’t know if we can make a race simulation in a safe way without making any mistakes. If we did one, I don’t think we would be in bad shape.
“We haven’t changed the setting of the bike too much. We missed the window at the beginning of the day to set a good laptime but we weren’t ready to push anyway. We are still trying to work out the electronics with the Honda and we had a lot to work through which took a lot of time.”
