LCR talks Castrol, Crutchlow, 2016...

"The first priority is to secure the collaboration with Cal for one or more years" - Lucio Cecchinello.

17 Aug 2015

Cal Crutchlow's LCR Honda was dressed in a Castrol livery during Monday's Michelin MotoGP test at Brno.

Given the uncertainty surrounding the future of the team's CWM title sponsorship, might Crutchlow be in the Castrol colours for his home round at Silverstone from August 28-30?

Speaking in the Brno pits, team boss Lucio Cecchinello said: "It's a new livery, but we are making a video commercial for our sponsor Castrol and that's why we didn't make any, let's say, statement. Because from the contract point of view at this moment we are still linked with our current sponsor and we need to meet them and decide the future."

Asked specifically about the bike colours for Silverstone, Cecchinello replied: "Normally we will continue to go with CWM, unless we take a different decision." That decision will be made "by the end of this week, or beginning of next week."

Paddock rumours suggest that LCR may revert back to a single rider team in 2016, with Cecchinello confirming that his top priority is to re-sign Crutchlow on the team's factory RC213V. Only then will he see if funding is available to continue with the second bike for Jack Miller.

"At this moment I think that I'm trying to be as pragmatic as possible, so work for priorities. The first priority is to secure the collaboration with Cal for one or more years if possible, because we really like working with him and really believe in his potential," Cecchinello explained.

"We are still under discussion with his manager. Then as soon as the deal will hopefully be finalised, we will try to see what we can do for the second rider. At this moment also the truth is that we are waiting for an answer from some potential sponsors.

"But again, to keep the feet on the ground, at this moment we have the budget only for a one rider operation."

Crutchlow is the only satellite rider to take a podium this season, but only ninth in the championship due to four DNFs.

Rookie Miller is third in the Open class with a best race finish of eleventh. The 20-year-old Australian is contracted directly to Honda and would be placed at another team if LCR are unable to run the second bike.