Cal Crutchlow will remain at LCR Honda for at least the ne�🍸�xt two MotoGP seasons.

However, in a change f🌠rom his previous three years at Lucio Cecchinello's team, the double MotoGP race winner will now be contracted directly to HRC.

The new agreement also makes Crutchlow the first rider to be signed for the 2019 World Championship. The official Repsol Honda line-up of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa, like all current factory riders (performance clauses aside), hav꧅e contracts that expire at the end of 2018.

Since switching to LCR Hond♉a in 2015, Crutchlow has taken two MotoGP victories, two s𒁏econd places and two third places.

"I am very happy to confirm that I will be riding for HRC with the LCR Team𝐆 again for two more seasons," Crutchlow said. "We have worked extremely hard over the last three seasons 🅰together and I am positive that we will enjoy more great results together.

"I would like to 🅠than💖k HRC for the great support they offer me and our team, and I look forward to giving my hundred percent to this project as always."

Today's announcement also confirms that the LCR team will continue its partnership with Honda until at le𓄧ast the end of 2019, ending any speculation of♔ a change in manufacturer.

"Cal is undoubtedly one of the most competitive and talented riders in MotoGP, and thanks to HRC's support, we are honoured to work with him again for the next two y🅠ears," Cecchinello said. "Cal gave us our first ever victory in the premier class ൲of MotoGP and further important results. I want to thank all those who worked and supported this project so far, first and foremost HRC."

HRC's general manager of race operations Tetsu꧅hiro Kuwata confirmed that the Crutchlow-Honda-LCR relationship has been 'elevated'.

"We're very happy to continue working with the LCR Team and with Cal for the next two seasons," Kuwata said. "We really a𒀰ppreciate the work they're doing, and we decided to confirm our relationship and even elevate it by having Cal under contract directly with HRC. We wish Cal and Lucio all the best for the remainder of this season and those to com🅘e!"

Crutchlow is known to have been pursuing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:such a 'factory contra💝ct' since Apr☂il, with Honda perhaps prompted to conclude negotiations ✨swifꦉtly following recent rumours of factory vacancies at Suzuki and Aprilia.

Crutchlow would have been a prime candidate for any such seats given hi🐻s mix of success and experience. The 31-year-old has claimed MotoGP podiums on three different brands of bike - Yamaha, Ducati and Honda - in addition to his historic 2016 wins.

HRC team manager Livio Suppo also recently highlighted that Crutchlow is the only current Honda rider to have raced𝄹 another brand of MotoGP bike and as such plays an important🐓 role in de🦄velopment.

Tꦬhat would have made it would be harder for Honda to let Crutchlow go, but - without knowing the content of the contract - exactly what practical difference the move to 𒈔a direct HRC deal will make is unclear.

Crutchlow's development input means he is already running a machine spec comparable to the official Repsol team of Marc Marquez and Dꦯani Pedrosa. Meanwhile Jack Miller, on a HRC contract at Marc VDS, is lower down the new-parts pipeline.

Currently LCR'sꦺ only rider, Crutchlow is tipped to have a team-mate next season in the form of Moto2 race winner Takaaki Nakagami, running an IDEMITSU-backed b🌌ike.