The next Grand Prix The race will take place in Jerez, as is customary after the first overseas tour. This legendary circuit has witnessed many battles, but one often-forgotten race held particular significance. On May 4, 1997, all eyes were on one man: Álex Crivillé. On the verge of delivering the greatest performance of his career, he remained impassive, focused from the front row. Beside him were killers. To his right, a single man, Nobuatsu Aoki, on his Honda. To his left, the Repsol Honda armada, with Mick Doohan and Tadayuki Okada on pole.
Pause. In order to understand this episode, a little flashback He made his mark. Having arrived in the 500cc class for the 1992 season, the official Honda team – soon to be sponsored by Repsol – poached him from Pons for 1994 with high hopes. But then, Mick Doohan crushed all competition and soared to his first world championship title. The Australian wasn't content with just winning. It's a true dictatorship.. 143 points separate him from Cadalora, in second place, and 173 from Álex. Although the 1995 season was certainly more competitive, the final result was the same.
Crivillé has made significant progress in the meantime. In 1996, he was certainly among the favorites, but his start to the season was difficult. When Jerez, the fourth round of the championship, came around, he fully intended to turn things around. Doohan started from pole position, as usual, but Crivillé is holding on at the front of the race.
The shorter the distance to be covered, the more " Mad Mick He's getting closer. He has his prey in sight. On the final lap, Crivillé is still in first place, but confusion reigns in the stands. Indeed, it seems the fans thought the race was over! They invade the track even as the two men are locked in a fierce battle!
Crivillé, distracted, loses first place among the spectators (a legendary scene). In the last tight turn, he made a mistake and fell heavily, only being able to watch his teammate's victory in the distance. The disillusionment is immense. This year 1996 was marked by his second places, seven in total, and another lesson from Doohan.
The affront, in front of his own audience, was immeasurable. Unfortunately, the first two races of 1997 did not go his way. The Spaniard finished second both times, each time behind Doohan. Was Doohan unbeatable? Could he win every race in a season like Agostini or Surtees before him?
Then came Jerez, a year after the humiliation. Aoki was on his right, Doohan and Okada on his left. Once the race started, Crivillé immediately took the lead and emerged from the Curva Expo'92 in first place. "Taddy" Okada, on fire, followed closely and looked threatening. Surprisingly, Doohan struggled to keep up the pace and got bogged down around fourth place. This was unlike him. The race unfolded strangely.Álex drives so fast that it becomes impossible to overtake him, and this is true well before he escapes.His opponents pull alongside him, try to slow him down later by taking the inside line, but absolutely nothing works, he always comes out in front.
The other hero of the day, Carlos Checa (Honda Pons), seems to be the only one capable of even taking the suction at CrivilléBut unable to keep up, "El Toro" overdid it and crashed. Now, the Honda NSR500 bearing the number 2 was alone in the lead. Far behind, Okada was struggling and had to give way to Doohan in the final moments. Crivillé was in the zone; nothing could touch him. He wins by five seconds..
In the deceleration lap, he does not exult. Congratulated by a very sporty Okada, he grabs a Spanish flag and celebrates with tens of thousands of spectators. Crivillé is avenged, by winning “a la Doohan”, in front of Doohan. The circle is complete. However, he keeps his feet on the ground. As usual, Álex remains humble and measured in his post-race interview.
The rest of the season left no room for suspense. Mick went on to win ten consecutive races. (which could have made thirteen if it were not for this individual feat), while Crivillé was seriously injured at Assen and was forced to miss a large part of the exercise.
The story of a great rivalry, albeit an unequal one. Certainly, Doohan was better than Crivillé, that's not the point. That day, after having suffered a similar near-humiliation some time before, Alex was immensely great, whatever anyone thinks of it.
Cover photo: Box Repsol