Ducati and Crutchlow terminate MotoGP contract early for 2015

After recently making the big announcement at the World Ducati Weekend in Misano that Cal Crutchlow had renewed his contract to ride in 2015 with the factory Ducati MotoGP team, Ducati had to swallow its pride and make the announcement today that the British rider has instead chosen to ride for Lucio Cecchinello's LCR Honda team in 2015. The move actually benefits Ducati, as it allows former satellite Pramac Ducati rider Andrea Iannone to move into the factory Ducati squad, which had become a difficult situation with his recent signing with Ducati for 2015 stipulating he would be given factory machinery, forcing the company to face the prospect of supporting three factory riders. The savings also extend beyond just logistical racing costs, as Crutchlow's contract was easily in the seven-figure range (he was one of the more highly sought-after riders when Ducati signed him), although reportedly a sticking point in the early termination negotiations was the amount of severance money Crutchlow would receive.

The pairing of Ducati and Crutchlow has been a rocky one, with Crutchlow's straight-talking manner often putting the company press office on its back foot, and the string of mechanical failures early on in the season only served to allow the British rider to speak his mind on the situation more frequently. The Ducati's continuing handling problems also hampered Crutchlow's progress, and his relationship with new Ducati Corse director Gigi Dall'Igna deteriorated in recent weeks as a result.

Helping the situation with signing Crutchlow to the LCR Honda team was its recent sponsorship signing by CWMFX.com, a London-based financial investment/trading services firm.