Cal Crutchlow is set to end his full-time MotoGP career at next weekend's Portimao seasಞon finale and join Yamaha as a 🍒test rider for 2021.

Having lost his LCR Honda seat to Alex Marquez the Englishman had previously expressed inte൩rest in moving to Aprilia, now confirmed as needing a new factory rider following Andrea Iannone's four-year ban.

However, like Andrea Dovizioso, Crutchlow has decl🦩ined the RS-GP chance.

"The truth is that I’m in quite advanced discussions with Yamaha and I think in the very near future we will c𒀰ome to an agr♌eement we are both happy with," Crutchlow said.

"It is a project I would be very interested to do and it would suit me very well after this season with regards൲ to my💦 knowledge of MotoGP and my years in MotoGP and my speed.

"I informed Aprilia I did not ꧅want to do that project. I would not be following that any more."

Refusing to directly respond to a question about whether he was offered a standby role to replace injured MotoGP champion Marc Marquez next season, the 35-yeaܫr-old added: "As I said, I am very far down the line with Yamaha and I’m🦄 sure we’ll come to an agreement I’m happy with.

"I believe that I made the correct decision. You have to go with your heart and feeling. I chose a different way to 🎐what everyone expected, probably."

Prior to racing for Ducati and Honda, Crutchlow had a long association with Yamaha, winning the 2009 World Supersport title, then three World Superb🐟ike race wins, followed by three seasons in MotoGP at🌟 Tech3 (six podiums).

The triple Honda MotoGP race winner also wouldn't be drawn on whether he wants wild-card a🌟ppearances for Yamaha next season, as predecessor Jorge Lorenzo had agreed prior to Covid.

But either wജay,ꦡ the next two weekends will mark the end of Crutchlow's full-time racing career.

"I feel happy and sad, of course. At the end of the day, I’m a racer at heart. I came here to compete and do the best job that I can. I always believed I could do well. But༒ more times than not – as you know – you don’t succeed in this sport," said Crutchlow, the only British rider since Barry Sheene to win a premier-⛎class race.

"If success is winning then more often than not, 90% of the riders, don’t succeed at winning all the time. But I’ve had a great ten years in MotoGP, a great career and I have well exceeded my own expectations of what I can ach𒈔ieve in MotoGP and I’m very happy for that.

"I’ve made a great life for me and my family. It’s sad I won’t potentially compete in MotoGP as a full-time rider but on the other hand, I’m ha🌸ppy with what I have been able to do so far.

"That’s it. If I do something else then I’l🅺l channel my energy into that thing. I𒁃t’s as simple as that."