Alex Briggs and Jerez's Crazy Past

Over the course of the weekend it became apparent to me that there was more to Jerez than meets the eye. There was an unquestionable passion that flooded the streets no matter where you positioned yourself. Alex Briggs (Valentino Rossi's Movistar Yamaha mechanic) spared a few minutes to enlighten us with this event that sheds light on the passion within motorsport.

How has the Jerez GP changed over the years, since the early days/when you first started coming here. Have the crowds become larger, louder and more passionate? Security tighter?

For me it has changed a lot and yet not at all. Let me explain. in 1993 It was my first European race, my first year in Europe working for Daryl Beattie and Rothmans Honda.  My eyes were wide open. I could not believe the size of the crowd. I could not believe the noise in the streets ALL NIGHT and I could not believe how early you needed to get to the track on race day. Once, we laid down in the garage for an hour or just to get more rest before day break.

I have gone from driving to Jerez in trucks and working on two strokes in t-shirts and jeans to what you see now. Fly in, team uniforms down to colour coordinated socks, immaculate garages and 4 stroke bikes that cost the price of Beverly Hills mansion. But the important things have all stayed the same. The fans are just as passionate, the pressure and stress is no different and the racing is still all or nothing. I love racing and Jerez is a big part of why.

What’s the biggest difference from the first time you came to now? 

I would say the biggest difference is what I call side show alley. The hospitalities and all the media departments and service industry that now fill the paddock. I would love to see an arial photo of now and when I started in 1993. It would look like the pictures you see of Dubai 20 yrs ago and now! ….maybe not but you get the picture. The road in has also made a massive difference. It was a slow trip if you got caught in traffic back in the 90s. Lots of stories of mechanics abandoning cars to run to the paddock to make warm up on time. 

Do you think Jerez is strong enough to remain on the calendar or could there be potential for else where to steal the show?

If you come here once you will never forget it. It has often been on the May day holiday in the past and so many people make a trip of it. Bikers ride from all over Europe as it signals the start of the riding season for many, its warm down the south of Spain, the food is great and the beer is cold. So that tells me it should always be part of MotoGP. Its one of only a handful that I have been to every one of my 26 years in the paddock.

A short story for you to understand just how passionate they are. In 1996 (fairly sure) My rider Mick Doohan was going at it hard with Alex Criville (team mates). Alex was leading on the last lap, Mick had been chasing all race but not quite on him. Now Im not sure, there are a few stories to what happened next. As they came to the last series of turns behind the pits, people had started flooding over the fences and were lining the track like old school rally videos. One reason we heard was the track announcer had got it wrong and said the race was over. The other is maybe the real answer. Alex was about to win and they just could not contain themselves and flooded onto the track to show their appreciation. Its was scary dangerous (you have to youtube it). Anyway Alex hesitates a little, slows ever so slightly, meanwhile Mick is full throttle sensing a last corner pass…

And thats exactly what happened, the classic Jerez last corner down the inside pass, Alex ran wide, dabbed it down a gear too many, gave it a handful and high sided. It looked like Mick ran into Alex and sent him flying. He didn't but it looked like it. Well, the crowd was not happy. I remember packing up and people throwing full beer cans at us from the stands opposite the garages.

When we left we just kept our heads down and as we drove out the old front gates some people recognised us and started yelling abuse and rocking the car, we had to kind of nudge our way out. Was a bit scary at the time. But i'm still here and loved every minute of it. 

See you next year! 

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