Crocked British MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow has given his assessment of new Honda stablemate Jorge Lorenzo, saying that at the moment he looks good for one-lap pace and will be fast once he has learned the RC213V’s ways.

Crutchlow missed both the Valencia and Jerez tests after mangling himself in a crash at Phillip Island, so won’t get to ride the 2019 RC213V until Sepang.

My assessment of Jorge is, that he’s a five-time World Champion. He knows how to ride a motorcycle and he will adapt to the bike. At the moment it seems like he’s good for a good one-off lap, but if you actually look at the overall average pace he’s not so fast at the moment,” said Crutchlow.

“But he’s got to learn the bike, it’s not an easy bike to learn at all, as we know. But when you get the bike right and you’re fast on it, there’s no doubt that he can be up there. I look forward to the challenge and I look forward to be able to come back, to be able to put my input in and change anything from the Sepang test and the Qatar test before the season starts.”