Olivier Jacque: “Friend forever!” / MotoGP

Olivier Jacque (50), along with Jean-Philippe Ruggia and Jean-Michel Bayle, was one of the great French motorcycle heroes of recent times. Jacque entered the World Championship in 1995 as the 250cc European Champion on the Tech3 team. He had seven victories in his Grand Prix career. In 2000, he took the 250cc world title in a skid battle against Tech3 teammate Shinya Nakano at Phillip Island.

The decision was incredible: It was only because Jacque was a few centimeters ahead of Nakano at the finish line from the ski course that the World Championship title went to him – three points made the difference. “I was faster than Shinya in the first half of the year,” recalls Jacque. “After the race at Le Mans I increased my level. It was a very tough fight. But we tried to maintain our good relationship; We pushed ourselves to completely new limits on the slopes.”

Jacque remembers the legendary race in Australia: “We had the same break on the slopes and changed in the same room. During the race I saw that I was fast in the last corner, so I decided my strategy – I wanted to catch him on the home straight. The finish line was very far behind, I finally passed Shinya by a few centimeters. It was an amazing feeling. But I also knew it was difficult for Shinya. We didn’t talk about it much – but I really appreciated his reaction.”

2000 YouTube historic title fight: Olivier Jacque vs. Shinya Nakano.

There was also a fierce fight against Ralf Waldmann – the highlight was the “clash” between the two aces in the fight for victory in Spielberg in 1997. But Jacque was also an artist in the rain and later rode in the MotoGP and Tech3 World Championships on Yamaha . until 2003. In 2005, as a substitute for Alex Hofmann, he raced Kawasaki in the rain in China to second place behind Valentino Rossi. After this exclamation point, he became a test rider for Greens and was given another chance as a permanent starter in MotoGP in 2007. Nakano played a role there again, because the Greens’ regular driver ran away and went to Honda. Jacque also left impressive again and again. Due to constant injuries, Jacque announced his retirement in 2007. “Then I worked in Kawasaki development until 2010,” says Jacque.

The gentle Frenchman is from Villerupt in the border triangle of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, but now lives in Barcelona. He kept his property in the south of France. Jacque works in the real estate industry. Now he also develops and restores old equipment and, after his career, he bought a building where he rents several rooms.
“We lived in the south of France near Hervé Poncharal for a long time and now we have decided to move directly to the city of Barcelona because our business is also growing,” reports the father of the family, who is married to a Spanish woman. “I find Spanish easier than English,” Olivier smiles.

Jacque has two teenage boys (17 and 14) and enjoys kitesurfing in his private life. “I discovered new sports for me. Kiting is almost like MotoGP because of the wings,” he notes. “I never directed my sons towards motor sports, we always played tennis together. Sometimes we travel together on pocket bikes at home. Nothing more happened. They didn’t feel full adrenaline. So it was not an issue. I didn’t really want to get involved in the sport here either.”

Jacque knows: “Very few drivers can fulfill their dreams in motor racing and take something for the future. Maybe unconsciously I didn’t steer the boys in that direction because I could die a few times in my accidents. And it’s also bad when I see Pope Simoncelli right now. “It’s also very sad when you follow a dream and then maybe you don’t succeed.”

Communication with his mentor and long-time team boss Hervé Poncharal is also still maintained. Olivier now lives between Barcelona and the French border. “His wife is Spanish,” reports Poncharal and reveals: “For his 50th birthday we had a nice dinner by the sea with many people from Tech3. Sometimes Olivier also comes to MotoGP races with former Tech3 crew members. He is a friend forever.”