Repsol YPF

Nowadays Crivillé follows the World Championship from time to time immersed in his new role as TV commentator, passing through the paddock calmly, without the pressure he had when he was a rider. Now Alex observes and enjoys everything that happens backstage in this very special world, in comfort and from the best seat.

How does a 38 year old man, who has won everything he wanted in the world of competition spend his time?
“After retiring, I missed racing and the world of competition a lot, dying to return to racing. I drove in some rallies, I was with Toni Elías for one year, and then the possibility of TV cropped up. What do I do now? Live from day to day and follow racing which is what I like. And I enjoy my time with my family. I am very happy. I follow the motorbike championship but from another perspective. Without the danger inherent in racing and this year enjoying a season which I believe is one of the best that we have seen in the last few years, with two Spaniards fighting in the top category. In 125cc and 250cc. our riders are also on the crest of a wave.”

Do you enjoy your new life in the paddock? It is completely different from the one you had as a rider…
“Hey, I always liked to compete and when I went to the paddock I wanted the day of the race to arrive, and for the lights to turn green. The same still happens. When I am in the paddock I want the race on Sunday to start, to live them and to enjoy watching them. All the rest makes me tired. The trips, the waits, spending all your time travelling around the world, so much time away from home....”

Turning to the present. What do you think about MotoGP at the moment? Do you think it is changing in the right way?
“I believe that the world is a more and more complicated place. But it works, the best riders are here, and it is the Number One championship. The leader in everything, the audience as well as in makes, since the best makes invest in it. There are certain things in the championship that I think are very good, but it is also true that maybe some more riders are needed in MotoGP. I remember being alongside another thirty riders on the grid, now there are eighteen. I think that it would not be a bad idea to have ten more, so that the level of competitiveness is a little higher. MotoGP has reached a point where the bikes are extremely sophisticated, so technically they need engineers that can set them up. Technology has advanced a lot, from traction control, electronics, etc. This means that now not everybody can have the pleasure of creating a team, something that was more affordable before. The factories can pay for this, but the satellite teams are on a knife edge.”

After several years in the Repsol Honda Team, you became the only Spaniard to be proclaimed World Champion in the top category. Do you think that Dani Pedrosa is ready to pick up where you left off?
“I believe that he is ready because it is his third year, he has the number two on his motorbike, he is a fast, consistent rider able to win races. And in the HRC structure the normal thing is that in your first year you learn and finish on the podium. In the second the rider should consistently be fighting to win races, and in the third, this is the moment to fight for the World Championship. This is similar to what happened to me. In 1994 I began to finish on the podium, in 1995 I won races, and in 1996 I began to fight for the world title, although that did not arrive until 1999 which is when I was really prepared to win it. I believe that Dani is now good enough to win it, but evidently, Casey Stoner is also prepared, and Valentino Rossi who has already won it many times and nobody doubts that he is ready to do so again.”

You spent many years fighting and competing against one of the best ever riders in this sport, Mick Doohan. Do you think that Dani Pedrosa is in the same situation with Valentino Rossi, although perhaps there are others with a chance?
“Yes, I think it is the same. Dani Pedrosa has the total support of HRC, he is the number one rider, he has Repsol backing him like they backed me, and we won the title. It is important. He is fighting to be World Champion, and sooner or later he will be one. I do not know if it will be this year, but a new generation has arrived and Rossi will retire, and then there will be Dani, Stoner…”

What do you think the word Repsol means, the logo, the colours, in the world of racing and in particular in the world of motorcycling?
“In the world of bikes it means a lot. From the beginnings with Ángel Nieto, right up to today, Repsol has been involved in motorbike racing and in motorsports. It is very important. I personally had a special relationship with Repsol. With those colours I won the World Championship on the JJ Cobas in 1989, and then the 500cc title once again with Repsol, in 1999, so there is not a lot to add. There are few companies that have such a good currículum.”

To finish, give a quick review of the five Repsol riders currently racing in the three categories.
“In 125cc, Esteve Rabat and Marc Márquez are two riders for the future. Rabat is about to start winning races, and Márquez is a rider that will surprise us a lot. He is the future, the youngest in the World Championship, and he is very very hungry, with a promising outlook, he could end up being a really competitive rider. Julián Simón belongs to the group of riders that it is about to join the leaders. He is just a few tenths behind the leaders, if he can make this small difference up he can join Bautista, Barberá and Simoncelli, but I believe that with some confidence and improving the set up he will be able to compete with the best. He just needs to take that step. Nicky Hayden is an ex World Champion and he adapted better to the 990cc machine since it had more power, I am sure that if the bikes had less electronics he would be even better. Dani Pedrosa, at the moment is one of the riders fighting for the World Championship, and he is the reference.”

7/22/2008

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