Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has officially announced that Cal Crutchlow is unable to carry out his responsibilities due to complications that have arisen following his hand surgery. The British rider underwent an operation earlier this year, but unfortunately, his recovery has not gone as smoothly as planned. This led to the difficult decision for him to step back from his testing duties to focus on his recovery.

In light of Crutchlow's situation, Yamaha has turned to a familiar and highly experienced figure to fill the gap. Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso has agreed to step in as the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Rider. Dovizioso is known for his extensive experience and deep understanding of the sport and is expected to bring valuable insights to the team.

To ensure a smooth transition, Dovizioso recently participated in a preliminary test session at the iconic Mugello circuit. The main purpose of this test was to familiarize Dovizioso with the YZR-M1 machine. The results were positive, confirming the synergy between the veteran rider and the Yamaha motorcycle. Yamaha aims to build on this success as they have scheduled Dovizioso to participate in another private test session at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. This testing session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20th, and Wednesday, August 21st, and it is hoped that it will allow Dovizioso to further acclimate to the Yamaha setup and provide the team with essential new feedback. Not only will it give Dovizioso more time to get comfortable, but it will also enable Yamaha to continue their development work uninterrupted during Crutchlow's recovery period. The team is grateful for Dovizioso's willingness to step in at short notice and is looking forward to the insights he will bring during the upcoming Misano test.