lcr

Cal Crutchlow certainly isn't afraid of doing things his own way. And when it comes to the spread of aerodynamic winglet fairings and rider coaches in MotoGP, the LCR Honda rider is openly sceptical of how much difference they make.

Reigning four-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has taken to the track on a Superbike, alongside MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow. "Cal invited me down for a day at the track," says Hamilton, in the film made by their mutual sponsor Monster Energy.

Most MotoGP manufacturers have access to data from their respective World Superbike projects ahead of Friday's debut at Thailand's Chang International Circuit. But Cal Crutchlow doesn't think it can tell them a lot.

Day two of the Sepang test saw no less than five MotoGP riders make their debut with new downforce-generating fairings, from Honda and Yamaha.

There are rumours that HRC wants to call-up MotoGP stars Cal Crutchlow and Dani Pedrosa to try and win back the Suzuka 8 Hours title from Yamaha this season. But both seemed doubtful it would happen, when quizzed on day two of the Sepang MotoGP test.

If you were asked to find a new motorcycle grand prix rider in Japan, a place called Chiba, on the eastern side of the Greater Tokyo Area, would be a good place to start.

"Honda came in and thought we'd cut the chicane!" - Cal Crutchlow.

"The first priority is to secure the collaboration with Cal for one or more years" - Lucio Cecchinello.

The Italian is believed to have turned down an offer from Honda to ride with LCR after Marco Simoncelli was given the same deal with Gresini.

The LCR Honda rider targets the podium at Jerez after just missing out on the rostrum twelve months ago

The LCR Honda team has announced that Playboy will be its title sponsor at select events during the 2009 MotoGP season.

LCR Honda team principal Lucio Cecchinello wants to see more recognition for the top satellite rider in each MotoGP race, but stops short of calling for a separate world championship.