Cal Crutchlow (born 29 October 1985) is an English professional motorcycle racer who retired from regular competition after the 2020 MotoGP season. A three-time MotoGP race winner, he became the first British man since Barry Sheene in 1981 to win a premier class race at the 2016 Czech Republic Grand Prix. Before joining MotoGP, Crutchlow won the Supersport World Championship and won three races in the Superbike World Championship. Following his retirement, he worked as a test rider for Yamaha in MotoGP, and has served as a replacement rider for both Yamaha and LCR Honda.
After winning the 2006 British Supersport Championship, Crutchlow moved into the British Superbike Championship, where he finished third in 2008. In 2009 he won the Supersport World Championship with Yamaha, and then entered the Superbike World Championship, where he finished fifth in 2010. This was an unconventional route to secure his entry into MotoGP, which he joined in 2011 with Monster Yamaha Tech 3. Crutchlow took his first podium finish in MotoGP at the 2012 Czech Republic Grand Prix. His fifth place finish in the 2013 standings earned him a move to the factory Ducati team for 2014. After a disappointing season, he moved again to LCR Honda for 2015. He took his maiden MotoGP victory in Brno, followed by another win in Australia. Crutchlow remained with LCR Honda for the rest of his career, achieving his third premier class win in Argentina in 2018. He retired after the truncated 2020 season, in which he did not take a top five finish. He had scored at least one podium for eight consecutive seasons, from 2012 to 2019.
Crutchlow served as a MotoGP test rider for Yamaha from 2021 to 2025. During 2021, he returned to race for two Yamaha teams as a replacement rider across four weekends. He also replaced Andrea Dovizioso for the last six events of 2022, after Dovizioso's retirement was announced mid-season. In 2023, he took a wildcard into the Japanese GP. In 2026, Crutchlow made a surprise return to the grid as a replacement rider for his old team LCR Honda, due to Johann Zarco's injury.
In early 2017, the RAC awarded Crutchlow the Torrens Trophy, an accolade given in recognition of "outstanding contribution to motorcycling in the United Kingdom".
Born in Coventry, England, Crutchlow was named Cal after the American motorcycle racer Cal Rayborn. Although his father Derek was a racer, he did not become interested in the sport himself until the age of 11. As of 2007, he did not hold a motorcycle licence for the road. He had football trials with Coventry City and Aston Villa as a youth, but after a knee injury chose to concentrate on motorcycle racing.
Crutchlow won the UK Junior Challenge in 1999, and the Aprilia RS125 Challenge in 2001. He was runner-up in the 2003 Yamaha R6 Cup behind Tommy Hill, who earned a factory sponsored ride in the British Superbike series for this achievement.
Crutchlow won the British Supersport Championship in 2006, after a three-year stint in the series in which he finished third in 2005.
British Superbike Championship
For 2007, Crutchlow made his debut in the prestigious British Superbike Championship, with the Rizla Suzuki team alongside four-time runner-up Chris Walker. He took pole at Croft, and took his first podium with a third place finish at Brands Hatch. He finished ninth overall. For 2008, he moved to HM Plant Honda, sponsored by CIA Insurance. He took his first series win in race 2 at Thruxton. He took pole for round 3 at Oulton Park – he led race 1 before running wide in damp conditions, and crashed heavily out of second place in race 2, injuring his ankle in the process. After initially having the better of teammate Leon Haslam, Crutchlow was ultimately outpointed by him. He took two wins across the season, and finished third in the championship, beating Tom Sykes by two points after the Yorkshireman had a late mechanical failure in the final round.
On 23 September 2008, it was confirmed that Crutchlow had signed a deal to ride for the Wilco Zeelenberg-managed Yamaha factory team in the 2009 World Supersport Championship. He finished in the top-four at every race until he suffered a mechanical failure while leading at Brno. He soon found himself in a two-way championship dice with surprise package Eugene Laverty on a Parkalgar Honda. Crutchlow led the championship, but a gearbox failure while leading at Imola meant that Laverty surged to just three points behind him in the standings. Laverty crashed after an intense start at Magny-Cours, picking his bike back up to leave him 19 points behind Crutchlow with one race left. Laverty won the race, in Portimão, but Crutchlow's fourth place finish was enough to secure him the 2009 championship.
On 1 October 2009, Yamaha announced that Crutchlow would make the move from World Supersport to the Superbike World Championship in 2010. His teammate was former world champion James Toseland, who had rejoined World Superbike after losing his place in MotoGP. Crutchlow took his first series pole at his second meeting, at Portimão, but did not win either race. He stoked controversy after the first race there by mentioning in an interview that he was well clear of Toseland when he crashed out, but insisted that he was not arrogant. Toseland later pointed out that Crutchlow's tendency to speak his mind meant that not everybody could get on with him. Crutchlow took his first two World Superbike wins at Silverstone, after battling with Ten Kate Racing rider Jonathan Rea, and as a result climbed from tenth to fifth in the standings.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (2011–2013)
It was officially announced on 5 September 2010 that Crutchlow would join Tech 3 for the 2011 MotoGP Championship. Crutchlow ended the season in 12th position in the championship, and won the Rookie of the Year Award after achieving his best result of the season – fourth place – in Valencia.
Crutchlow got off to a good start in the 2012 championship. In Losail, he secured third position on the starting grid, and finished in fourth place ahead of teammate Andrea Dovizioso. This was his first time qualifying on the front row: his father lost a bet with Wilco Zeelenberg and had to shave off his 40-year-old moustache. Crutchlow suffered disappointment at Silverstone when he crashed at Chapel Corner during practice. Early x-rays showed no break to his ankle, but it was clear he was in considerable pain. Further examination showed a broken and dislocated left ankle, and raised questions over Crutchlow's participation in the race. He was given the all clear by doctors, and passed a fitness test at the circuit. Starting at the back of the grid, Crutchlow raced with characteristic determination, and finished in a highly commendable sixth place. Overall, Crutchlow had a positive season, running consistently within the top-five riders and obtaining two podium finishes – third place on both occasions – in the Czech Republic and in Australia. He finished seventh in the championship,
Crutchlow had an excellent season in 2013. He took four podiums within a five-race midseason stretch: he finished second in Le Mans, and third in Mugello. He qualified second in Catalonia but lost the front end with 20 laps remaining and retired. He then set the first MotoGP pole of his career in Assen, finishing third, and took another second place finish in Germany. Throughout the season, Crutchlow battled consistently among the second group of riders, along with Andrea Dovizioso, Stefan Bradl and Álvaro Bautista. He finished the championship in fifth place, and took a career-best 188 points.
On 2 August 2013 it was announced that Crutchlow had signed a two-year deal with the factory Ducati team, to partner Andrea Dovizioso. The beginning of his season was plagued with issues. A malfunctioning transponder caused the electronics of his Ducati Desmosedici to behave strangely during the first race in Qatar, where he finished in sixth place. He experienced tyre issues and later crashed out of the race in Austin. In the crash he suffered a hand injury, causing him to miss the Argentine Grand Prix and thus missing a championship race for the first time in his career. He returned in Jerez, but he was forced to retire after three laps, having experienced problems with the brakes. He achieved his sole podium with Ducati in Aragon, finishing in third place. He finished the season in a disappointing thirteenth place.