Crafty Cal Crutchlow has revealed that his MotoGP deals were done on a race-by-race basis and not over a full season.

The works Yamaha test rider, who retired at the end of 2020 but did six races to replace Andrea Dovizioso this season, believes that the number of races to be contested in 2023 is too many but would have suited the way he did his deals.

"I can't imagine the 21, 22 races you're going to do next year. It's tough going. What I always think is for the riders, you get treated the best, honestly speaking. So everyone else, it's going to be a long haul with the sprint races," said Crutchlow.

"They're not very clever, the riders, because when you sign the contract you sign per event, and these idiots they just sign for the season.

"But now they've got double the amount of races, but I was always clever and signed per race, because you never know what's going to happen.

"But it also worked the other way, because if they cancelled one they could take some money away.

"I think 18 grands prix is enough, but that's me personally, I'm not the guy who's writing the rules and saying where they go or don't go.

"There will always be somebody as a replacement so it'll always keep going. If they said there was 30 grands prix, there would be people up for 30.

"What they know is if someone isn't happy with it, there'll always be someone else who'll take their job. They're not struggling for people who want to be a mechanic, or a chef, or a hospitality person, stuff like that."