Cal Crutchlow is confident he will be riding for a factory-backed World Superbike Championship team in 2010, but admits he is not ruling out the possibility of defecting to the newly formed Moto2 series.
The Yamaha rider has taken the World Supersport Championship by storm this season and is now just four races away from becoming the first non-Ten Kate Honda rider to win the title since 2001.
Although the rider market currently stagnant as the series heads into its summer break, attention is nonetheless beginning to turn towards 2010, with Crutchlow expected to occupy the top of many 'wanted' lists.
Indeed, while Crutchlow wouldn't be drawn on any specific interest from perspective employers, he reveals he has been approached by 'a couple of factory teams'.
“My plans are good,” he told
Crash.net. “I am sitting on a few offers from
World Superbikes teams, including a couple of factory teams. It is an honour to be thought of in that sense, but I want to win the [Supersport] title first. I was employed by Yamaha to win the title and that is what I want to concentrate on.
Crutchlow is particularly confident that he could be riding a factory Yamaha in 2010, hinting at a clause in his contract that stipulates he can graduate to Superbikes if his results in Supersports are good enough.
His comments come despite Yamaha WSB boss Massimo Meregalli, in an interview with
Crash.net, stating his desire to retain Ben Spies and Tom Sykes next season.
“I have a good team of people behind me who are working on next year and in a few weeks they will come to me and say 'this is what is on the table, what do you want to do',” he added. “I know what I've been told and there is no reason to suggest I won't be on a World Superbike Yamaha next year. It would be stupid if it wasn't in my contract.”
Despite his World Superbike options, Crutchlow adds he is seriously considering a move to the new Moto2 series, pointing out that it will be the quicker route to reaching his target of MotoGP.
