Crutchlow on course for first test

From motogp.com

Cal Crutchlow is confident he will be at full fitness to take the most out of the Official MotoGP Test at Sepang on Feb. 1, despite recently undergoing shoulder surgery.

The 25-year-old British rider, who will negotiate his rookie season with the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, underwent an operation last week in Manchester and explained to motogp.com that Professor Len Funk, who performed the procedure expects him to be ready in time for Malaysia.

“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,” Crutchlow said. “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. 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.”

Crutchlow will make a trip Stateside in the New Year, after which he will test his shoulder by climbing back on board a motorbike.

“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," he said. "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.”

The former World Supersport Champion is keeping his expectations for the 2011 MotoGP season closely guarded, and expects his first season to be an educational experience before kicking on in 2012.

“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.”