Cal Cr𝕴utchlow finally ended the UK's 35-year wait for a premier-class victory, when he took his debut MotoGP win at Brno in 2016 (pictured).

It was theꦚ fiꩵrst time a British rider had stood on the top step of the 500cc/MotoGP rostrum since Barry Sheene in 1981.

That success, plus two further victories, means the Englishman's name joins not only Sheene 🅠but other British stars of the 🎶past such as Phil Read, Mike Hailwood, Geoff Duke and John Surtees on the premier-class race winners list.

While 'humbling' to be talked about in the same context as such legends of the sport, Crut𒀰chlow is quick to point out that they won multiple wꦐorld championships and revealed he doesn't look beyond each race weekend.

"To finally be the guy that got the win after 35 years was a great achievement," Crutchlow said. "It was something that will go down in the history books. Barry Sheene won 35 years before, I was number 35 and🃏 it took 35 years to get it.

"Now, it ൩is quite a humbling thing to be ta𝐆lked about in the same context of these greats, but they did a lot more in their careers than I did.

"I’ve enjoyed myself and I’ve had a great career, as well, but they were winning championships and things li𒅌ke that. It’s great to be able to 🍨look back at what they did.

"Myself, statistics-wise, I never look at them. I 𓃲go from race to race and try to do the best that I can at that race."

Crutchlow's three wins have all been with the satellite LCR team, also making him the most successful Independent rider on the gridꦫ.

Although the 34-year-old admitted to retirement thoughts during last year, he now has his sights set on remaining in MotoG꧋P until at least th﷽e end of next season.

"Even at the end of last year I said I 🌠could cont🔥inue in 2021 and I feel like I’m in a good position to do," he told the Monster Energy website.

"[I'm] motivated and the want to continue is there, so I don’t think this break has changed anything in that aspect beca𓃲use we’re already talking t🧜o Honda about renewing even before we went racing this year.

"We’ll see how it turns out this year."

Currently seeing out the coronavirus pandemic in San Diego, California, Crutchlow - like the rest of th💞e MotoGP grid - is awaiting concrete news on when the racing season will start.

"We 🌠just have to take it as it comes. I think there are more important things in the world at the moment than worrying about mo🌊torcycle racing," he said.

Dorna is currently aiming to start the season at Jerez in late July, holding 🐠around ten races (perhaps two🍷 per circuit) in Europe before adding on any possible flyaways.

But most if not all will be🧔 '🦩closed door' events, with no fans allowed.

"I do think we’ll get some raci💟ng in towards the end of the season," Crutchlow said. "And I hope we can get to racing that the fans can see, as well, but we൩ have to make sure that it is safe to do so.

"If we have 200,000 people come out to an event, everyone needs to be safe bef🦩ore we think about opening up the doors. We race and we’re in the entertainment business.

"We’re in the entertainment business and there is nothing we like more than to race and to entertain the crowd at the circuits. Hopefully, we can get the racing underway, and once w🅺e do, the🌠 fans can come as well."

Wheneverꦗ and wherever a first race is announced, Crutchlow will be 'ready to go'.

"My ankle f𝔉eels good. I feel good. I feel trained enough. I feel healthy enough and ready to go when they say go," he said. "But on the other hand, we know that we’re not rac꧃ing for a couple of months.

"You have to maintain your health and enjoy yourself a little bit, as well, in t⛎his🎐 period. Parts of it have been great. Willow [daughter] loves ice cream and I love ice cream! But I’ll be ready to go when they say go, no doubt."

And what aܫbout the latest Honda, which had cornering difficulties for most of pre-season testing before a late breakthrough when reverting to old aer🍎odynamic parts in Qatar?

"Well, I think Honda made a step in regards to the en༒gine and the electronics," Crutchlow said.

"We had a little issue with the turning of the bike and in Qatar we finally found something that was maybe ma꧂king the turning a little bit worse than last year, but that’s what it’s about: doing laps around the track every chance and giving information to Honda and the engineers there, who are very, very clever and work very, very hard for us.

"Yes, I’m ready to go."