From the 1977 German Grand Prix to the 1983 Yugoslavia GP, Jacky competed in 14 GPs with his best ranking being eighth in the World Championship. He finished fourth in the Belgian Grand Prix in 1979 and that of Yugoslavia in 1980. Today he is a technical advisor for Elf and Total fuels and lubricants on the circuits.
Was Fabio Quartararo's victory a surprise or a confirmation for you?
" Both. It was a huge joy. Given his pole position and his best warm-up time, I honestly didn't think he could go all the way to victory. When I saw him take his rhythm with incredible ease, I was very happy. This is confirmation of his talent. Even if his start to the season had been crescendo, that didn't really make him a candidate for the podium. That was a great confirmation. »
Can Valentino Rossi still be World Champion? And why not this year?
“This year he is second, and, as he says himself, it is not with third places that you can be World Champion. But one wonders if it could not be next year, with the two roosters in the same henhouse at Honda.
“One thing is certain with Valentino: he is still there! He never gives up, which is admirable. It's incredible, even if the Yamaha isn't the best performer.
“Yes, Marquez is now stronger than him, that’s undeniable. Yes, the Ducati is faster than the Yamaha, and Lorenzo has learned how to use it. Rossi is incredibly smart, very strong, terribly determined and he continues to score points. But what he wants is a victory, that’s undeniable. »
What results can we expect next year for Johann zarco on the KTM?
“Many people are skeptical and even think that this decision was stupid. However, I know the KTM team very well based on our professional relationships and I take great pleasure in seeing them work. They have many young engineers brimming with motivation, determination and hard work.
“I talked about it again with them last Sunday, and they are not expecting Johann as the Messiah, but as someone who will help them work. They also count on Tech 3 to progress through process exchanges.
“The Kallio engine is a little better than current engines (editor’s note: the one with which the Finn competed in the Catalan GP as a wild card). Johann is not going to win everything, but in any case he will not be far from the best. I have confidence in the work force of the people at KTM, in their dynamism, in their determination. They are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. You sense in them a terrible desire to progress. »
Did the Repsol Honda team hire Jorge Lorenzo only to supplement Marc Marquez what if he gets hurt? Or also to prevent other teams (like Ducati and Yamaha) from having a champion?
“We can legitimately ask the question. By stealing it from the competitors, it gives them one less opponent. »
And then Honda had already done it with Hailwood. (Editor's note: In 1968, Honda withdrew from GPs, but paid Mike Hailwood 50 pounds sterling at the time – more than a million euros today – so that he would not drive for another manufacturer) .
“Yes, that’s true, indeed. They had already taken the same approach. Lorenzo felt that the tide was turning at Ducati and he called Alberto Puig. The latter, not wishing to keep Pedrosa, would have made offers to Zarco and Johnny Rea. I'm not sure that the others (Editor’s note: Repsol and Honda) would have followed behind, I'm not convinced.
“Puig therefore took a great champion like Lorenzo to strengthen his team, in order to finish first and second in the Championship. But in what order? The important thing for Honda is to ensure the continuity of the title. »
What results do you envisage for Danilo Petrucci next year on the official Ducati alongside Andrea Dovizioso?
“He’s a little irregular. I thought they were going to take Jack Miller because he's the revival. It was also good for the markets because it is Australian, but also very popular in the United States. He is a young person who deserved to have the official bike. I think he is faster than Petrucci.
“Sportingly, Petrucci is good, but very irregular. Commercially, I don't see what he can bring to Ducati, but it's their choice. So they're going to let Miller mature for another year. Petrucci? Come on, I see him in the 5-6. »
What is the reason for Aprilia's persistent presence in MotoGP?
“MotoGP is the most beautiful showcase. They would like to use it to demonstrate their technical skills. For the moment, they are still struggling. We meet very frequently, and I'm a little disappointed because I expected better results. We thought at the start of the year that they were going to take a step forward, but it is true that at the moment they are plagued by small problems.
“Everyone wants to be in MotoGP – except Kawasaki – because it is the showcase of technology, and the benefits are much greater than in Superbike. Aprilia is also involved in Superbike with the SMR team (Shaun Muir Racing) and obtains interesting results like recently in Brno where they finished fourth and fifth.
“They continue to work in MotoGP to progress. The bike has qualities. They have a number of problems to resolve. They work a lot, often even on public holidays, Saturdays and even sometimes Sundays for certain engineers. That means they give it their all. At the moment, they are a little late. As soon as they have resolved the problems they currently have – and which I cannot elaborate on – we will see them making great strides. »
