Dorna offers to help Cal Crutchlow with a MotoGP ride for 2021

CAL Crutchlow has been handed a lifeline for 2021 as the CEO of Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta, has stated his organisation will help the three-time MotoGP winner by sourcing him a ride.

The offer from Ezpeleta could be Crutchlow’s best chance of getting a competitive bike for 2021, with Pol Espargaro joining Marc on the Repsol Honda and Alex Marquez moving into the LCR squad. The move has effectively squeezed Crutchlow out of a race seat, and remaining options on the grid for 2021 are scarce.

With most of the factory seats for 2021 already taken, Crutchlow’s only options are the Aprilia, joining Aleix Espargaro who is on a contract until 2022, or moving to the Pramac Ducati team, although Jorge Martin is strongly linked to that seat.

One of the key reasons Dorna is looking to retain Crutchlow for 2021 is that he is the only full-time Brit on the MotoGP grid. Bradley Smith is filling in for the currently banned Andrea Iannone while he awaits his appeal from a drugs ban, scheduled for 18 months. With no full-time British rider to cheer for, Dorna will likely be worried that attendance and viewing figures will be negatively impacted.

Speaking to Autosport.com, Ezpeleta said: "I would like Cal to stay with us for a long time. And as we have done many times, we will help find a place for him [in 2021]."

Another MotoGP transfer rumour that is starting to circulate is that Valentino Rossi’s 2021 deal – most likely with the Petronas SRT outfit – will be announced on the 19th July. More on that as we have it.