The story is more than incredible and the man born on November 27, 1948 is more than atypical…
We are talking about a Grand Prix driver who can be entered in the record books for several reasons. First of all, because Fernando González de Nicholas, alias El Nani, is almost the only rider to have participated in all categories of the world championship, with the exception of sidecar.
Childhood friend ofAngel Nieto, with whom he grew up in Madrid, the Spaniard thus lined up in 50, 80, 125, 250, 350, 500 and 750cc after having entered the world of speed competition by serving as an apprentice in the workshop of Benjamin Grau before embarking on urban races in Spain on a Bultaco.
“At Cullera, at the end of the straight, there was a cemetery and, if you stopped braking, you had to enter through the gate. In Jerez, the same. If you were in a hurry in training, to check the limit, you found yourself between the tombstones. »
But while the first had the career that we know, crowned by 13 world titles, the second saw his start in the world in Jarama in 1971 interrupted in 1973 by a very serious road accident while going to a concentration of bikers near Zaragoza. Removal of a kidney and spleen, burst liver, the man comes close to death but maintains his morale of steel: “If I hadn't had this accident, I would have gone to Monza and would have been involved in the accident that cost the lives of Renzo Pasolini and Jarno Saarinen. I am convinced of this and it often comes to mind. »
The Spanish federation then withdrew his license for 6 years, which directed him towards motor racing, but the character was tenacious and returned to his first love in 1978 for sporadic appearances in Venezuela in 250cc and in Spain in 500cc.
The following two seasons were busier, mainly in 125 and 250cc, until the start of 1981 when the man who had done all the jobs in the world, from jeans seller to brothel keeper, got off track by attacking the Banco de Valencia in Madrid with a revolver. A loot of 3 million Pesetas (18 euros) which he will not be able to benefit from, the police waiting for him outside the bank...
“In 1981, I returned from Argentina after scoring points with the 125 MBA. My sponsor was strong, Lee jeans, but he stopped collaborating there. I found out I had just bought a new motorcycle and made a decision that was a mistake. I made a mistake, I attacked a bank and it went wrong... I went wrong. I had no money, I needed money and it went bad. I made a bad decision, but while in prison, I took two law courses. In this, you have to keep your mind occupied, otherwise you end up suffering. Prison is shit, then as now.
Another thing I could put in the Guinness Book of World Records is that I organized motorcycle races in prison. Nobody has ever done this. I've done it in both women's and men's prisons. I brought the Nietos, the two brothers, and Fonsi. It must have been 1983 or 1984. Who has ever done this? A circuit with mini-motorcycles inside a prison.
I lost four years there, I came back in 86 to a race in Jarama with motorcycles that Nieto had left me for training. This is the first race I did and won, with the RD500. »
From 1986, after this unfortunate interruption, the man also nicknamed El Rana (the frog) returned to the world championship culminating in a full season in 1989 on a Honda 500cc. His best result is a 4th place in 250cc in Belgium but his obsession will then be to participate in at least one race in the sidecar world championship, to perfect his career. We will put obstacles in his way for years, until he reaches the age limit.
Today, this lack is his great regret but the enthusiast that he is continues to follow the Grands Prix and necessarily takes a particular look at the modern paddock and its tenors.
“Márquez is the best. Thanks to him, the number of fans is increasing, although many people are not for him. El Trompa gave him black candles. I told him “but at least be patriotic and recognize that this guy is very good”. Trompa was a Rossista and Rossi would have won three more championships if Márquez had not come. He's also very lucky, and hopefully it continues like this, because he took some beatings... Look at the one at Mugello, and when he damaged his eyesight in Moto2.
And Rossi, who has the most trophies, who has nothing to prove, why is he still there? Because he has an incredible love for motorcycles. I don't think there's a single rider in the world who does what he does with his teams, the ranch he has, and he's always there giving his best. He is one of those to whom we tip our hat. I ran with his father at the time, he was a hippie (laughs). »
The man has dozens of anecdotes about this definitively bygone era, each one more juicy than the last (ask him how Wayne Gardner lost a championship at Misano). This is undoubtedly why he is still very well received today in the Hispanic part of the paddock…
