Cal Crutchlow says he is excited to return to his home British MotoGP at Silverstone in 2026 after receiving another opportunity to race as Johann Zarco's replacement at LCR Honda.
Crutchlow retired from full-time competition at the end of 2020 and last raced at Silverstone in 2021 as a stand-in for the factory Yamaha team. His final appearance with Yamaha then came at the 2023 Japanese round.
In 2026, the 40-year-old was called back by former team LCR Honda to replace Zarco from Mugello. With the French rider not expected to return until September, Crutchlow now has another opportunity to compete in front of the British crowd.
“Racing at Silverstone is always something special,” Crutchlow said. “Every home Grand Prix means a little bit more because you know there are so many fans, and it's a great feeling to race in front of them.”
Crutchlow has strong memories of Silverstone after finishing second for LCR at the 2016 British MotoGP. His target this time is more modest, with a best finish of 16th since his 2026 return making a points-scoring result the more realistic objective.
“The atmosphere is incredible, and that extra support gives you additional motivation. Silverstone is one of the most enjoyable and technical tracks on the calendar, and I've had some really nice memories there over the years. I'm excited to be back this year,” he added.
Silverstone CEO Stuart Pringle also believes Crutchlow's presence will provide an additional boost to the event, particularly as he is the only British rider on the premier-class grid. Former Tech3 team-mate Bradley Smith will also compete through a wildcard entry in the Bagger World Cup.
Free practice for the 2026 British MotoGP begins on Friday, with Crutchlow returning to race a MotoGP bike at Silverstone for the first time since 2021.
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