Ducati deal hard to refuse, says Cal Crutchlow’s boss

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Cal Crutchlow’s Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal believes the British rider can’t knock back the opportunity to join Ducati’s factory squad in 2013.

With the chance of a factory Yamaha ride not materialising, Crutchlow will have to remain in the satellite Tech 3 squad on the same financial terms if he rejects Ducati’s lucrative two-year offer.

The 26-year-old has a two-year offer from Ducati, as was exclusively revealed by MCN last month.

And Poncharal told MCN: “Ducati’s priority is clearly to sign Cal. I have not lost him yet but I would be really sad because this year he has been fantastic. And I know how much he can still improve.

"I can’t see how he can’t accept the offer he has from Ducati. I am worried and sad but if he can make good money and have a full factory behind him, then I understand why he would go.

"Does he stay with Tech 3 knowing he will never have the factory spec bike and the money is nothing special? Or do you go to a full factory team and earn good money? He doesn’t want the money to travel first class around the world or have a flash car but he wants to be comfortable.

"As a factory rider he could sell his personal deals and leathers and helmet deals for more. And as a satellite rider at Yamaha he is going to be between third and sixth every week and that is not easy. If he goes to Ducati then worst case scenario he will finish fifth to eighth but he will have a factory behind him."

Poncharal has made a verbal offer of a two-year deal to Crutchlow and he added: “I can make him an offer and it is based on this year’s contract and they have told me no way.”

Crutchlow is expected to tell Ducati his decision on whether he will join them during this weekend’s Italian MotoGP round at Mugello.

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