Former CRT rider Michele Pirro hopeful about CRT’s future – MotoGP news
Michele Pirro, who made his MotoGP debut as a CRT rider for Honda Gresini, feels optimistic about the future of MotoGP’s CRT class.
According to Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIA), the governing body of MotoGP, CRT class came into existence primarily to help teams tackle with rising prototype costs and secondly to increase the number of riders competing on the grid in any
given round. No changes will be made to the CRT class in 2013, but in 2014, when new MotoGP rules are enacted, there will be some changes in the CRT class as well.
“In 2014, with the rule changes, the level of the prototypes will decrease. That will make CRTs something else: they will become what satellite bikes are nowadays. That's the future,” Pirro said.
2013 will be the third full-time Grand Prix season for Pirro. Riding a Moriwaki, Pirro finished 9th in the final rundown in 2011 Moto2 season, posting one podium finish and one victory that came in the final round of the 2012 Moto2 season, Valencian Community
Grand Prix. In 2012, Pirro moved up to the MotoGP class riding, under CRT regulations, for Gresini Honda. He could not post any podiums and finished amongst the top ten riders in only two rounds.
Riding as a CRT entry has its tolls as well because one does not have the same facilities as prototype teams enjoy in terms of technology, expertise and funds at your disposal. Commenting on his experience riding for Gresini Honda as a CRT entry, Pirro categorised
it as ‘disastrous.’
“The CRT I raced with was disastrous. We were too limited and too little money was spent. If you consider Aprilia, that's different: ART has shown it can get close to the MotoGP prototypes. CRT will have softer tyres in 2013, so it will benefit from that,”
Pirro said.
In the upcoming season, Pirro will no longer be riding under CRT regulations. Instead, he will be ridiing with Ducati as a wildcard racer. Pirro has given a one-point formula to ensure a bright future for the CRT class.
“CRT can have a future if the gap to the MotoGP prototypes is reduced,” Pirro said while talking to Motosprint.
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