A year has passed since the end of the 2015 season which will undoubtedly go down in the annals of Grand Prix history. As proof, the attendance at the Grands Prix has reached peaks and marks a new record of 2.717.314 spectators over the 18 events on the calendar.
During the press conference preceding the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, Valentino Red openly accuses Marc Marquez for deliberately slowing down the race pace of the previous Grand Prix in Australia. All this, always according to Red, with the simple and sole aim of helping his compatriot GeorgeLorenzo to reduce the gap with the Italian in the Championship. If many think at this time that Red pleasant, it is clear that this is not the case, evidence and time sheets supporting the words of the nine-time Champion. The fight between him and Rossi during the race at Sepang then gave rise to unusual images with the deplorable outcome and consequences that we all know.
After the final race in Valencia, many, Red in the lead, blame Marquez for helping Lorenzo. Faced with what Marquez is justified, “ From the first laps, Jorge was very strong and very fast. I preferred to ensure by following him and maintaining my gap, » he confides. “ I tried to overtake him, but there was a yellow flag. I told myself I would try the next trick again. At this point, Dani passed me. It widened and I was able to iron. We lost time. I really wanted to pass Jorge, but once again, I couldn't. » Regarding the accusations made by Red, the Spaniard does not understand and defends himself again and again, “ I don't understand,” he says, annoyed. “ I took as many risks as possible to stay in Jorge's rhythm. If I had wanted to play the role of the one who helps Lorenzo, I would have stayed behind him for five seconds and waited. I don't understand. At Phillip Island, I took 5 points from Lorenzo while Andrea Iannone took 3 points from Valentino. »
Today, knowing who Marquez or Red being right matters little and will not change the past. But this phenomenon is not new. In the history of Grands Prix, it is not uncommon for one, or even several drivers, to help another to win a world crown.
Jean-Louis Tournadre, the very first French World Champion. (Photo: Christian Bourget / Sports-Images)
125 1990cc Australian Grand Prix, the very young Loris Capirossi, aged 17 years and 165 days, is having his first season in the world and is already playing his first title against Hans Spaan, only Dutch pilot, and Stefan Prein, manager/coach of Scott Redding et Jules Danilo Today. Before the race, Prein (169 points) leads the Championship ahead Capirossi (162) et Spaan (160)
Although favorite, Prein will not finish the race and will leave the title to be played out between his two rivals. Alone against everyone, Spaan must face the Italian coalition. Allies to the cause of Capirossi, three Italians: the late Dorian Romboni, auspicious Gresini et Bruno Casanova. A thunderous race then follows, much more incisive than the fight which opposed Red et Marquez in Sepang. Capirossi is protected by his compatriots while Spaan must jostle literally and figuratively against the three Italians who are making life difficult for him. Despite his desperate efforts and palpable annoyance, Spaan must bow and miss the title by 9 points, " It wasn't a man-to-man race. It was me against a football team, » declared the Dutchman recently.
Look at the angry gesture of Spaan on Gresini...
Capirossi is still today the youngest World Champion in the history of Grands Prix. He retained his title the following season against Gresini. His third and last title, 8 years later against Tetsuya Harada in 250cc, is another textbook case which has also caused a lot of ink to flow.
Closer to our regions, we must return to the 1982 German Grand Prix and find Jean-Louis Tournadre, private pilot riding a Yamaha TZ250. Spin is 24 years old and is playing for the title (the first tricolor) against Anton Carry on his German lands of Hockenheim. That season, the Frenchman took just one victory in the French Grand Prix at the Nogaro circuit. Many have also criticized this victory: the Grand Prix having been hit hard by a strike by drivers protesting against insufficient safety conditions.
To win the title, Spin must finish 4th at least if Carry wins the race. The German has an official Kawasaki. Armed with his caravan and his van, Spin does not play in the same league and simply has two private Yamaha TZ250s provided by a certain ClaudeMichy et Pierre Wheat d’Auvergne motorbike, “ It's true, we don't have enormous material resources,» he declares in the columns of Motorcycle Review n°2574, who are " But the important thing is that everything works well. " With Carlos Washed, he is nevertheless an official Michelin driver and obtains the right to test new tires during the winter.
Spin is not the only Frenchman on the set. Among others, there is also Christian Estrosi (current mayor of Nice), Thierry Spied on both riding the Pernod, Patrick Fernandez, Roland Fremont, Jean-François Baldé or even the young Christian Sarron.
Carry runs the perfect race and wins this German Grand Prix in front of nearly 50.000 spectators. It is more complicated for Spin. 12th on the grid, the Frenchman is 8th at halfway behind Carry, Spied on, Paul Ferretti, Estrosi, Freymond, Fernandez and a young guest pilot, Manfred Herweh, who makes life difficult for Spin and tends to protect the interests of his fellow German.
Estrosi, from which Pernod suffers (strangely?) at this moment of the race, is left behind and caught up by Spin who takes advantage of his aspiration to return to the group. Herweh plays spoilsport and tries, at his level, to help his compatriot who can do nothing other than wait for the outcome of the race. Spin. Fernandez et Estrosi then come to lend him a helping hand by stopping the German until he passes under the checkered flag. The clamors of the spectators then oscillate between the applause saluting the victory of Carry and the boos denouncing this coalition that no one had envisaged.
4th at the finish, Tournadre will greet his rival Anton Mang at the foot of the podium. (Photo: Christian Bourget, Sports-Images)
Despite the euphoria of this title, Spin will regret one thing, " I still think that all of this lacks a bit of panache. I wonder if people don't tend to remember the exploits of a day, even if they are not rewarded with any title. I also believe that this is my fault: I lack anger. » Words that still have meaning today.
With this title, Spin will have an official Yamaha TZ250 the following season. Its results did not live up to its expectations, particularly in the face of a certain Christian Sarron who won the title in 1984.
Obviously, these two episodes probably do not have the same media reach as today, where the interest of factories is much greater than at the time. However, it is sometimes interesting to remember historical facts to moderate certain remarks or comments. A race remains a race whose outcome will please some and not others.
From now on, it's time for the 2017 season and a new opportunity for Valentino Red, Marc Marquez, Maverick Vinales, George Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and many others to fight to win this coveted world crown.
Our gallery presents some of the French pilots present that day…
Tom Morsellino
