Today we're going to look at one of the greatest, if not the greatest, seasons of all time. At the beginning of 1997, Mick doohan, is already a three-time 500cc world champion, author of a legendary comeback after a nasty injury in 1992. He knows victory. But in '97, it was us who weren't ready.
The season, unlike the previous one, opens in Malaysia. No yet Sepang andHermann Tilke, but rather Shah alam, now fallen into disuse. Concerning the forces present, we identify some beautiful names. Luca Cadalora,
Alex Barros,
Norifumi Abe... But in reality, no team has the potential of Honda. The team Repsol YPF
hires four full-time pilots over the year. Superstar Mick Doohan, his teammate Alex Crivillé as well as Tadayuki Okada will pilot the NSR500 NV0X while Takuma Aoki is assigned an NSR500V.
The color is given from the start. Pole for Okada, victory and best lap in the race for Doohan, 100% Honda podium. Mick is evolving at an absolutely stratospheric level, almost untouchable. He is then one of the best drivers of all time.
The Australian won by 11 seconds.
The Dream Team 1997. Photo: Box Repsol
The Asian tour continues, and the world is packing its bags
Suzuka, Honda stronghold. Winged machines are in the top six places! Doohan wins again, but this time with Crivillé in his exhausts.
Then comes Jerez. If Okada scores his third consecutive pole, Doohan can do nothing against a Crivillé overexcited, avenging the 1996 episode.
At the end of this race, questions can legitimately be asked a posteriori, for those who do not know the outcome. Still no pole for the Australian who had taken eight a year before, Criville, who never leaves the podium, and who, now, imposes himself. However, the rest of the season is a proper correction.
We must go back to Giacomo Agostini to witness something so incredible. Victory in the next ten races, each time with pole and eight fastest laps in the race. The differences are absolutely crazy. Cadalora can be happy to finish 14 seconds behind in Brno, because Okada takes 22 from Spielberg.
The race is more competitive at Donington. In England, Doohan suffered from an average start and had to deal with a fiery Alex Barros that day. Once done, all that remains is to battle with Okada, who is also in good shape. Ultimately, a potential title is at stake; not falling is essential. However, Japanese gives a hard time to “Mad Mick” and even exceeds it, before expanding.
Doohan enters the final lap in the lead with one goal, victory. Suffering from multiple attacks, the Australian defended himself magnificently and took advantage of the short straight to avoid being caught. On the line, he is jubilant. He is
quadruple world champion, with four rounds remaining.
Doohan, Okada and Aoki on the podium at the Nürburgring. Repsol Honda triplets were more than common. Moreover, this year, the team won all the championship races. Implausible. Photo: Box Repsol
Can he finish the season undefeated, with just one defeat at Jerez? It's perfectly possible, even probable. After achieving pole position once again in
Indonesia, Okada manages to take revenge and beat Doohan by less than a tenth, on the line!
For the last round of the season at Phillip Island, he is once again favorite. Starting from pole (his 12th in a row) on his home soil, no one seems to be able to worry him, not even a wild Norrick Abe at the start of the race. While he seems to be heading towards the 13th victory of the season, Doohan falls very heavily.
The season is over. Despite this, Mick still left the motorcycle world speechless.
This year, 1997, was one of all records. No one thought they would see such a level of domination again post-Continental Circus, at a time when the paddock has become considerably more professional. Moreover, the 12 victories will only be beaten by Marc Márquez in 2014 (13). It should still be noted that the percentage remains better at “Mad Mick”, with
80%. Only Surtees (100%), Agostini (100%) and
Mike Hailwood do better (87,5%) for their best seasons.
If the pole record in a season will be beaten by the same Márquez (13 in 2014), the number of consecutive poles, also 12, still stands. In your opinion, will it be erased from the shelves one day? Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: Dieter Gerhards
