Honda’s race ace, Cal Crutchlow, passed his motorcycle test today – and then promptly collected his all-new Honda CB1000R, launched at dealers across the country today.

The 22-year-old racer from Coventry, currently lying in second place in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with the HM Plant Honda team, knew full well that now was the time to pass his motorcycle test before the Second European Driving Licence comes into effect from October.

Cal said, “I’ve got such a busy schedule with racing and other events, but I knew I had to get my Direct Access course and test done sooner rather than later. I was so worried during the build-up to the actual test - doing the theory test and then doing the CBT on a little CG125 learner machine. I had to wear a fluorescent bib and said, ‘you are joking?’ - it was like being a novice racer again, but I did what I was told and wore it. I was pleased to get my CBT at the beginning of the week, I mean, what if I had failed that as a Superbike rider!?”