You all have in mind an image of Márquez, Jorge Lorenzo or even Fabio Quartararo with his elbow on the ground. Moreover, the ever more efficient tires even allow our heroes to approach the curbs without wasting time. Because yes, for several years now some people have been defying the laws of gravity for show. In speed motorcycle, riding a bike or Ssupermoto (a discipline that lends itself to taking excessive angles), acrobats like Scott Redding have already had the helmet rubbed. But did you know that part of this great revolution was the work of a Frenchman? The anecdote is now relatively well known, but it is indeed the Yamaha rider Jean-Philippe Ruggia who put his elbow on the ground first in 1988.
However, it is impossible to summarize his career with this simple accomplishment.
It was his father, then a Yamaha dealer, who introduced Jean-Philippe to competition. At the beginning of the 1980s, the teenager from Toulon entered the Yamaha Cup reserved for RD 350 LC, a formula that had been launched a few years earlier. At the time, these single-brand events were popular, and allowed the emergence of many talents.
Ruggia reveals himself there, and even wins the 1985 edition. From then on, he participated in the 250cc European championship, then the French quarter-liter championship.
Our hero of the day shines.
Talent never goes unnoticed, and he had the opportunity to compete in the world championship in 1987, still in this category, with a customer Yamaha. Without ever having made a wild card before, he failed in 17th position but made his mark at Le Mans, with a good 8th place. As usual, Jean-Claude Olivier
is the providential man. Official Yamaha importer in France, but also director of the prestigious Sonauto – Yamaha Grand Prix team (among others), “JCO” is undoubtedly one of the greats of motorcycles in France.
Olivier recruits Ruggia and provides him with a much more efficient TZ250. Immediately, we notice the mastery of the man, who, we hope, will follow in the footsteps of Christian Sarron titled with this same structure in 1984. From the third Grand Prix in Spain, he climbed onto the podium behind
Site Pons et
Joan Garriga. Despite good consistency, he no longer rides on the box all season. However, at Donington, he was caught putting his elbow on the ground, a world first!
An innovative style. Here in 1990, on a 500cc. Photo: Yamaha Community
The 1989 season started even better, with second place in Australia – pole to boot, as well as two further podiums during the season. The injury caused at the end of 1988 does not seem to harm him. However, the Yamaha YZR250s cannot keep up with the fabulous Hondas. Despite another pole at Le Mans, he kept the same ranking as the previous year, namely 7th.
Sonauto – Yamaha organized his move to 500cc in 1990, alongside Christian Sarron. There Yamaha YZR500 0WC1 is a good weapon, more powerful but also more stable than its predecessor. While one could legitimately think that this promotion was somewhat early, Jean-Philippe took up the challenge and quickly got into the rhythm. Always very consistent, he even took second place during a rainy Belgian Grand Prix. He is only ahead of
Wayne Rainey, future world champion! In 8th place overall, and in front of a certainly diminished Sarron,
Ruggia makes a strong impression.
He kept his handlebars for the following year, this time with
Adrian Morillas as a teammate. THE
Yamaha YZR500 0WD3 prepared with small onions work, but the team is relatively less efficient. Plagued by injuries, he misses his campaign. This motivates a return to 250cc, his favorite category which had revealed him to the eyes of the world. On Gilera, the descent is not as happy as hoped. He recorded his worst season in his career, but Jean-Philippe's strength of character pleases
Aprilia, who signed him to the official team for 1993. It was better, certainly, but the form of the Yamaha years was not found at the start of the season. It was not until the summer that he achieved the long-awaited fantastic feat. During the British Grand Prix, Jean-Philippe is the fastest. It outdistances its competitors, and imposes itself in front Loris Capirossi et
Loris Reggiani. The Italians, particularly efficient in quarter-litre production, don't like it much.
But even worse: In Mugello, garden of his adversaries,
he lectures the two Lorises, same podium as at Donington! These two sensational races, coupled with a podium acquired at the start of the year, propel him to 6th place overall. During the following season, he again managed to win at Jerez. Regular, he scores more points but remains 6th. An honorable performance, even compared to his teammate Max Biaggi, world champion.
For 1995, Ruggia signed with Elf-Tech3 Honda. The now well-known French structure offered NSR250s capable of great things. Apart from a retirement during the first round in Australia, Jean-Philippe showed exemplary consistency and finished all the following races in the points. At 30, he comfortably dominates his rookie teammate, a certain Olivier Jacque. Ruggia is 5th, his best career ranking.
Jean-Philippe Ruggia in 1996, at the Japanese Grand Prix. Photo: Rikita
Already less incisive and close to the podium in 1995, the 1996 campaign marked the beginning of the end. While “Jacque Attack” sign of prowess, Ruggia is in evil. Always well placed when he finished, he retired five times, eliminating him from the top 5 race he was once accustomed to. In reality, this is his last year at the highest level. He only returned in 1998, for one race only, on MuZ-Weber 500cc in the Netherlands, without success.
Before concluding, let's quickly come back to his particular driving style.. Because yes, Ruggia's elbow was not rubbing the ground just for form's sake, and that's what we tend to forget. When you saw the man evolve, you could observe the foundations of modern driving, with the particular sway of the hips, mainly embodied by Márquez nowadays.
It's striking, because it's so anachronistic. Ruggia, as a precursor, did not stick out his elbow excessively like Ben Spies. His whole body and the machine were at a maximum angle.
Talking about Jean-Philippe Ruggia's career is important because he shouldn't be remembered as the person who simply "put his elbow on the ground first." He was not, as English speakers like to say, a one trick pony, which could be translated as “pony who only knows how to do one stunt”. Ruggia is a proud representative of the “Sonauto generation”, and has made many teenagers dream.
What memories do you have of this great pilot?
Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: Ruggia at the RD 350 LC Cup awards ceremony, 1985. Photo: Yamaha Community
