Outgoing LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow has revealed he is "very far in discussions" with Yamaha over a MotoGP test role for 2021.

Crutchlow lost his Honda ride at LCR earlier this year when Pol Espargaro was signed by the factory squad, necessitating HRC to place Alex Marquez at LCR - with Takaaki Nakagami at the time all but guaranteed to stay put.

The three-time MotoGP race winner was reported to have a pre-agreement in place with Aprilia for a race seat in 2021, but it was only one of intent and expired last month.

It was rumoured Crutchlow was closing in on a Yamaha test rider deal, something that was only heightened when Andrea Dovizioso announced he would be taking a sabbatical in 2021.

Crutchlow has since confirmed discussions are at an advanced staged ahead of the European Grand Prix, stating: "The truth is that I'm in very far discussions with Yamaha and I think in the very near future we will come to an agreement that we're both happy with.

"It's a project I'm very interested in to do, it's something which suits me very well after this season with regards to my knowledge of MotoGP, my experience in MotoGP, my speed.

"I think it's something that can work well. I informed Aprilia that I didn't want to do that project. I would not be following that anymore."

When asked why he elected against the Aprilia option, Crutchlow added: "I have my own reasons but that's probably not to be discussed on here or now as well.

"It's not the timing for it. I believe that I made the correct decision. You have to go with your heart and your feeling.

"And I chose a different way to what everybody expected probably."

Crutchlow nearing an appointment at Yamaha all but signals the end of Jorge Lorenzo's time as its test rider, with the three-time world champion confirming last month a role at Aprilia was an option.

Crutchlow won the 2009 World Supersport title with Yamaha and stepped up to MotoGP with the marque in 2011 with Tech3 and scored six podiums between 2012 and 2013.

Taking on a test role with Yamaha essentially ends Crutchlow's full-time racing career, but says he is talking with Yamaha over potential wildcard appearances as part of a potential deal.

"We're in discussion, at the end of the day we're in discussion about a lot of things and maybe that is one of them and maybe it's not," he said.

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Lewis Hamilton says he is "much prouder" of the work he has done to promote equality this year than the prospect of winning a seventh title.

He said: "The drivers' title doesn't necessarily impact people's lives.

Trying to improve conditions for people around the world - equal human rights - that's the most important thing to me."

Hamilton will clinch the championship if he wins or finishes ahead of Bottas. If the Finn wins, Hamilton can still clinch the championship with second place as long as Bottas does not set the fastest lap, which earns a point.

A seventh title would put the Mercedes driver equal with all-time record holder Michael Schumacher, whose record of career victories Hamilton has already surpassed.

"Matching an icon like Michael; I'd be incredibly proud of that," Hamilton said.

"But it's more the message it sends to not just kids but mostly kids that you have to dream bigger than you think you can dream and don't let anyone tell you you can't go for that."

However, Hamilton said he had not thought about the prospect of a seventh title, and was "just focused on trying to do a good job, just taking it one race at a time, trying to do the best we can as a team, not thinking about anything else."

He added: "I have learned not to add pressure that's unnecessary. I have four races to battle for those points so I don't put it all onto one weekend, one day.

"For me it is another race, I need to approach it exactly as I have in the past.

"Maybe then that's why sometimes it's a shock. All of a sudden it hits you because you have not thought about it much and you don't know what to say, because you never truly know whether it is going to happen.

"I am not focused on the 'what if?' I am focused on preparing myself the same as before to try to deliver the way I have all season."

But he did give a strong indication that, while he has not yet discussed a new contract with Mercedes to keep him at the team beyond this season, he would continue to race on next year.

"The numbers and the figures and the titles and all that stuff perhaps appears to mean more from the outside," Hamilton said.

"I remember watching Michael get seven and thinking: 'Wow.' But when you're in it, it's different.

"We're going to continue to fight for more championships, continue to try to improve and continue to race and do what we love doing.

"What's important is the journey this year has been combined with the fight for equality and a real growing process of learning what's happening around the world and being more aware of surroundings and starting to see progress with that."

With regards to a new contract, Hamilton said he "hadn't got all the answers to what I want to do yet".

But he added: "I am very conscious of the idea I want to continue with Mercedes. I would love to help them on this quest of pushing for change.

"They are taking their cars green, electrifying more, I want to help them on that road, I want to help them pushing for diversity. There is a lot to discuss and a lot to go through but it is something we will do if not after the job is done at the end of the year.

"Nothing is set in stone - it is just about talking about it. I don't feel I'm finished, I don't feel moving forward… there are always areas to improve. I love racing and the challenge and I don't think that is going to change any time soon."

Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi has been cleared to race in this weekend's Valencia Grand Prix after returning a second negative COVID-19 test.

Rossi was forced to miss the Aragon double-header last month after catching the virus between the French and Aragon Grands Prix.

Having initially tested positive again last Tuesday, Rossi cleared the other tests he had to take and was able to take part in the European Grand Prix last weekend.

However, on Tuesday having returned home to Italy Rossi tested "positive with a very low viral load" and was recommended by doctors to take another two tests.

The first one take on Wednesday returned a negative result on Thursday, with his next one taken this morning also returning negative.

Rossi has now been cleared to take part in this weekend's Valencia GP alongside his crew after they cleared all the relevant tests.

Earlier on Thursday, a source from Yamaha confirmed the Japanese manufacturer would not be lining up a replacement for Rossi this weekend should he have been unable to race.

Last week Yamaha put American World Superbike rider Garrett Gerloff on standby to replace Rossi if he was to miss the European GP.

As Rossi wasn't cleared to ride in time for Friday's practices, Yamaha put Gerloff on the bike for both sessions.

The American impressed the team, including Rossi, after ending the day just 1.5 seconds off the pace on the combined timesheets.

Yamaha will still be missing members this weekend, after five team personnel - including team manager Massimo Meregalli - were forced into quarantine last week when one of Maverick Vinales' crew tested positive for COVID-19.

This followed on from last month when six members of Yamaha were forced to quarantine ahead of the French GP when one tested positive for COVID-19.

Rossi's first race back since the French GP last weekend ended after just five laps owing to a technical issue.

It continued a rotten streak for the Italian, who hasn't seen a chequered flag since the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano at the start of September.

Tech3 rider Iker Lecuona has also been cleared to ride this weekend from Saturday after being forced to miss the last race when his brother tested positive for the virus.

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Tito Rabat says his heart was left "completely broken" upon learning he would be losing his Avintia MotoGP ride to Valentino Rossi protege Luca Marini in 2021.

Ducati confirmed last weekend it had signed Moto2 title contenders Enea Bastianini and Marini on one-year deals to join the Avintia squad next season.

Marini's move will also bring the VR46 team into MotoGP for the first time, with the Italian bringing some of crew with him and his bike to run in the team's colours, while boss Pablo Nieto is set to take on a senior role within Avintia.

It is thought that from 2022 VR46 will takeover Avintia's grid slots completely.

But Marini's move has come at the expense of Rabat, who did have a contract in place with Avintia for 2021 having brought substantial backing to the outfit when he joined back in 2018.

The 2014 Moto2 world champion says his goal is to remain in MotoGP and feels he is good enough still, but admits the Avintia news came as a blow.

"You arrive here, you see that you don't have the opportunity that you deserve when you arrive in MotoGP because I always stayed in a private team and in this category it's very difficult to make good races," Rabat said.

"It's not impossible, but you have less chances to do it well. With all these years, I fight, I keep the mentality to keep pushing and I think I learned a lot of things.

"You see now the lap times between the first and the last are crazy.

"For me, if I have the chance [to stay in MotoGP] it can be super-nice and we'll see.

"For me, when I see that I [will be] without a bike [at Avintia] my heart was completely broken as you can imagine."

Rabat says his manager is currently looking at options for 2021, with the Spaniard eyeing the vacant seat at Aprilia.

"My manager is looking at the possibilities we have for next year, especially one in concrete which is Aprilia," he added.

"Will be a dream for me that one team in MotoGP bets on me and I have the opportunity to have a possibility [to stay] in this championship.

"But at the end, many top riders are looking for this place and will be super-difficult, but I believe in my possibilities.

"I know I'm in a great performance and I know with a good bike and with a team that supports me, I have the level to stay fighting where I have to stay."

Autosport reported earlier this week Marini's Moto2 team-mate Marco Bezzecchi has emerged as a favourite to join Aleix Espargaro at Aprilia next year.

Rabat also has not ruled out the possibility of switching to World Superbikes next year.

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Aprilia MotoGP rider Aleix Espargaro has called Andrea Iannone's four-year doping ban "ridiculous" and "an abuse" ahead of this weekend's Valencia Grand Prix.

One-time MotoGP race winner Iannone lost his appeal on Tuesday to have an 18-month doping ban overturned having not provided the Court of Arbitration for Sport with enough evidence to prove he ingested a banned steroid through contaminated meat at last year's Malaysian GP.

The CAS panel also upheld the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal to have the ban extended to the maximum four years, leaving Iannone's career in ruin.

Aprilia continues to stick by Iannone and believe in his innocence, while the latter said the "injustice" had "ripped my heart apart from my greatest love".

When asked by Autosport for his thoughts on the CAS decision, Espargaro said: "[I'm] very upset especially on the personal side because just he knows if he did a mistake or if it was contamination, but in the end a four-year ban is ridiculous.

"With one-year ban, or the 18 months [he was currently serving] is more than enough.

"Four years is an abuse and it's completely too much for me. But WADA has decided this, so there's nothing to do anymore."

He added: "It's not that I have doubts [about the ruling], it's just in the end nobody knows [the truth], just he knows.

"If Andrea says it was for meat contamination, I can trust him, why not? In MotoGP actually, you don't really gain a lot by taking drugs. But he's the only one who knows what he did.

"The only thing I can say is four years is too much, even if he did take the drugs.

"And if it was meat contamination, then even more. Even if he took it [intentionally], it's too much."

Espargaro says he spoke with Iannone on Tuesday and asked him to come to Valencia this weekend to be with the team.

Iannone's ban has forced Aprilia to look at alternate 2021 options, with Autosport reporting this week Moto2 rider and Valentino Rossi protégé Marco Bezzecchi has emerged as a favourite.

With outgoing LCR rider Cal Crutchlow's pre-agreement with Aprilia expiring last month and him now reportedly nearing a Yamaha test rider role, Espargaro admits the "best thing" now is for the marque to take on a young rider.

However, he says this will mean he will have to largely develop the RS-GP by himself once again in 2021.

"Bezzecchi, also [Fabio] Di Giannantonio is a very fast rider," Espargaro said.

"Bezzecchi can be the world champion this year as well and he has no MotoGP bike for next year.

"So, I think also [having] Italians is good for Aprilia. I'm a little bit upset because they will not be able to help me from the beginning.

"So, once again next season looks like I'm going to be a little bit alone in developing the bike, which is not good at all.

"But this is the situation how it is. So, if at the end if it's a young rider coming it will be difficult for me one more year, but it is how it is."

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The W Series will link up from Formula 1 next season with eight support races at grand prix weekends in 2021.

The last two races of the season had been scheduled to feature on the F1 support-race bill at the United States and Mexican grands prix.

F1 this week published a 2021 calendar with a record 23 races, with those to feature the W Series to be confirmed.

"When we promised W Series would be bigger and better in the future, partnering with Formula 1 was always our ultimate objective," said founder and chief executive Catherine Bond Muir.

"There is no doubt that, now W Series will be run alongside and in collaboration with Formula 1, our global reach, impact and influence will be increased significantly."

The series was set up with the intention of raising the profile of motorsport among women with the ultimate ambition of helping a female driver into F1.

The last woman to race in F1 was Italian Lella Lombardi, who scored half a point with a sixth-place finish in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix.

Britain's Jamie Chadwick earned a place on the Williams F1 team as a development driver with impressive performances in the first two W Series races before winning the inaugural title.

The 22-year-old retained the Williams position for 2020 and has been competing in regional Formula 3 since August, having secured substantial backing to reach F1 in June.

The inaugural season of the W series, which uses identical 1.8-litre Formula 3 cars, featured six rounds supporting the DTM German Touring Car Championship.

"It is a really important moment for us to welcome W Series as partners for eight races this season," said F1's managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn. "They have been a beacon to many since they began racing in 2019.

"We believe it is incredibly important to give everyone the chance to reach the highest levels of our sport and the partnership with Formula 1 next season shows our determination and commitment to showcase their exciting series and the importance of building greater diversity."

Garrett Gerloff will not replace Valentino Rossi in the MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix should he be ruled out by COVID-19, Autosport has learned.

Autosport reported earlier on Thursday the nine-time grand prix world champion had again tested positive for the virus, having been laid off with it for the Aragon double-header last month.

Rossi was cleared to return to action during the European GP last weekend, but only from the Saturday onwards having had to wait 24 hours from his PCR test on Thursday to his next one on the Friday.

The Yamaha rider underwent another test on Tuesday, which returned a positive result and plunged his Valencia GP participation in doubt.

However, a second PCR test taken on Thursday has cleared Rossi, with his first one returning a false positive - something which can occur in COVID-19 patients after they've had the virus.

Rossi will now need to await the results of a third PCR test, which should be known in the next few hours, before his participation in this weekend's race is confirmed.

American World Superbike rider Gerloff was placed on standby to replace Rossi last weekend, and did so for Friday's practice sessions.

Becoming the first American to start a MotoGP session since the late Nicky Hayden at Phillip Island in 2016, Gerloff ended Friday on the combined times just 1.6 seconds off the pace and impressed the paddock.

Rossi returned home to Italy after the European GP, and it has been ruled out that he infected any members of his team as they have undergone the relevant tests to be cleared to be in the paddock.

Five members of Yamaha, including team manager Massimo Meregalli, are currently in quarantine until after this weekend's Valencia race after one of Maverick Vinales' crew tested positive for the virus.

This followed on from six members of Yamaha being forced into self-isolation ahead of the French GP when one of them tested positive for the virus.

Rossi's European GP lasted just five laps due to a technical issue, meaning he hasn't seen a chequered flag since the San Marino Grand Prix at the start of September.

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Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi has tested positive for COVID-19 again just a week after testing negative following a two-round layoff with the virus last month.

Rossi was forced to miss the Aragon double-header in October when he caught the virus between the French and Aragon Grands Prix.

The Yamaha rider tested positive for the virus last Tuesday at home, but another test on the Thursday cleared him to head to Valencia where he underwent another PCR test.

Passing this on the Friday of the European GP, Rossi was able to take part from Saturday onwards, having been replaced by American World Superbike rider Garrett Gerloff for the first two practice sessions.

Rossi's race ended after only five laps due to a mechanical issue, meaning he has not seen a chequered flag since the Emilia Romagna GP.

And his participation in this weekend's Valencia GP is now in doubt after testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Autosport has learned.

Rossi will need to undergo another test to determine wither he will miss this weekend's race.

With the final round of the 2020 season coming up in just over a week's time in Portugal, Rossi could well miss his final race as a factory Yamaha team rider.

Rossi's latest positive tests raises questions about the PCR tests he passed last week, particularly on Friday before being allowed to enter the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, and whether he was still positive without knowing it or has been reinfected since Saturday.

While scientists are still discovering how the virus works, cases of reinfection have been reported throughout the world in recent months.

Five members of Yamaha have been forced into quarantine since last weekend when one of Maverick Vinales' crew tested positive for COVID-19.

This follows on from six Yamaha team members being forced to isolate ahead of the French GP when one member tested positive for the virus.

Yamaha named Gerloff as his official standby replacement for the European GP, and the American will remain ready to take over should Rossi test positive once more.

However, if Rossi has tested positive a second time, then more members of Yamaha may be forced into isolation, depleting its track numbers further.

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Formula 1 plans to introduce engines powered by sustainable fuels by 2026 as part of a wider environmental plan over the coming years.

The sport wants a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030 and a statement said F1 had "the potential to lead the way in technologies that reduce automotive carbon emissions globally".

A statement detailing F1's work on sustainability added: "At the top of our priorities for both sustainability and our sport is building a roadmap for the internal combustion engine that addresses the environmental goals of our automotive partners and society.

"Although the cars account for a very small percentage of our carbon footprint as a sport (0.7%), it is important the most visual part of our sport is sustainable and can have real-world benefits.

"We also believe there is not a single solution to the engine technologies of the future but a sustainably fuel hybrid engine will be a significant moment for the sport and the automotive sector."

The statement is a reference to the direct of travel of the car industry, in which manufacturers are increasingly moving towards electric power but the vast majority of cars on the roads are still powered by internal combustion engines - and will likely be for many years to come.

Even road-car manufacturers are not sure of the end game in sustainable propulsion.

Honda announced last month it was pulling out of F1 at the end of next year to concentrate its engineering focus on carbon-free technology, but emphasised in its statement it was exploring hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles as well as battery power.

Sustainable fuels are one way of reducing carbon emissions from road vehicles while other technologies are developed.

F1 already has in force a requirement for engines to use fuels in 2021 that have a 10% sustainable content.

One option being explored to reach 100% sustainability is the use of synthetic fuels, which capture carbon from the atmosphere in their manufacture and are therefore carbon-neutral.

The sport's sustainability plan includes 100% renewably powered officers, facilities and factories; all events using sustainable materials by 2025, including the banning of single-use plastics.