2011 MotoGP Prep
As MotoGP takes its winter break, many riders are preparing for the 2011 season, getting surgery or polishing up whatever else their body needs to be competitive.
One rider who recently had shoulder surgery is Cal Crutchlow, the newbie on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team next to Colin Edwards. Crutchlow, the 2009 World Supersport Champ and 2010 World Superbike rider aboard the Sterilgarda Yamaha R1, says he expects to be fully recovered for the first official tests of the 2011 MotoGP season at Sepang.
Crutchlow underwent the surgery last week in Manchester, which repaired the reverse bankart on the back of his shoulder, an injury that occurred at the end of 2009 while competing in World Supersport. This same injury recently plagued nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (who also underwent successful shoulder surgery during the winter break).
The Brit recently discussed this recovery and the upcoming 2011 MotoGP season.
Cal Crutchlow (Monster Tech 4 Yamaha MotoGP) says: "I crashed at the end of 2009 and ripped the reverse bankart at the back of the shoulder – it was very similar to what Valentino (Rossi) had."
"Because I rode on it all year it really wore the shoulder joint so when they opened it, it was worse than expected. They did the best job possible and have said I should make a full recovery. I should make it by February for the Sepang Test. Everyone was pleased with the outcome of the operation."
"I have three weeks in a sling but I’m having regular physiotherapy every day, and it’s coming along very well. I’m using the hyperbaric chamber which is a brilliant facility. I use that for an hour and a half every day, then go for physio for an hour then do a bit of training on the static bike at home."
"The arm is good when I take the sling off, and I can do almost everything. The range of movement already is nearly full, it’s just that the muscle is still a little bit sore as you would expect."
As part of the M1 rider’s rehabilitation, Cructhlow will be in the US training in California before the 2011 MotoGP Championship begins.
Cal Crutchlow says: "I’m going to America to do two weeks of cycling in California at the start of January, and I’ll continue my physio work over there. Once I get back in mid-January I’ll hopefully go out on some sort of motorbike and ride, making sure I can brake and withstand the force and things like that."
"The surgeon, the physiotherapist, everybody says there’s no reason I shouldn’t be riding in Sepang and I should be up to full fitness by then."
Crutchlow also discussed the traditional post-MotoGP season tests at Valencia in November.
Cal Crutchlow says: "Valencia is not an easy circuit to go and have your first MotoGP Test on as it’s not very open or fast and flowing, it’s quite a tight circuit, but I’m glad we did it and I got a lot of riding in."
"Now I’m looking forward to going to Sepang, a circuit I’ve never been to, and getting testing there. I think it’s a bit more like the usual MotoGP tracks on the calendar so it’ll be good to go there and see how things are."
"It’s going to be a big learning curve for me this year. I’ve not ridden GP bikes before and have 10 tracks on the calendar to learn. I’ll have to learn fast and get on with it, I’m up against the best guys in the world and I’m looking forward to it," he said.
"At some circuits I’ll go better than others because I’ll know them, but I’m not under any pressure from Hervé (Poncharal, Tech 3 boss) and the team, Yamaha or myself. I’m just going there looking forward to learning how to ride the bike in the first year and then have a strong second year. When it changes to 1000cc (in 2012) I might be that bit closer having the first year of learning on the 800cc."
