Dixon To Make MotoGP Debut As Crutchlow Replaces Viñales

Calum Gill 14:28 20/08/2021

Jake Dixon will make his MotoGP at Silverstone next weekend with the satellite Yamaha squad, as Cal Crutchlow will move up to the factory outfit to replace the departed Maverick Viñales.

Viñales was earlier released by the team on Friday morning, following his his suspension by the team after the Styrian Grand Prix, and subsequent announcement that he will ride for Aprilia from the 2022 season. This left an empty seat with the factory Monster Energy Yamaha team, and it will be filled by Crutchlow. The 3-time race winner had already been deputising for the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha SRT for the Austrian double header, and so Dixon will partner Valentino Rossi to provide cover for Morbidelli. 

Dixon, who already rides for the Malaysian team in Moto2, and whose name had been repeatedly linked to a move to its MotoGP effort for 2022, will get something of a baptism of fire at his home race, with no opportunity to test the Yamaha M1 beforehand - but has extensive experience of the Silverstone track on a big bike thanks to his time in the British Superbike championship where he was a podium finisher. The opportunity for him to ride the MotoGP bike was originally pitched as something of a job interview for next season as the team moved to fill both seats following the retirement of Valentino Rossi and the move of Morbidelli to the factory team as Viñales’ full-time replacement.

However, with extensive behind-the-scenes changes going on at the team following the withdrawal of their title sponsor Petronas and a management buyout of the outfit, it seems like the demands of securing new sponsors has moved Dixon’s name off the top of the list to join expected signing Darryn Binder. Speaking as the news was announced, team principal Razlan Razali hinted at that too, suggesting that the opportunity to replace Morbidelli was more a reward than a chance to audition for a full-time job. 

"This is a unique opportunity for Jake to show what he can do and explore his potential on a Yamaha YZR-M1. We are not setting any particular targets regarding results; it is an opportunity for experience at his home GP, while Franco continues his recovery. This is a one-off opportunity, and we wanted one of our family of riders to have this chance aboard the MotoGP bike. As it is his home Grand Prix, it is a circuit that Jake knows well and it will be great for the British fans to have another rider in the premier class.”

This series of events could not have better timing for MotoGP promoters Dorna, who will now have two British riders on the grid for the British Grand Prix - in a season where no Briton has a full time seat on the grid. In addition, this will be the second race - since the BBC lost the TV rights - that will be shown on free-to-air channels in the UK, following the French Grand Prix being shown on ITV4. The race will this time be shown on the main ITV station, as ITV4 will be showing the British Touring Car Championship at the same time.