Mick Doohan, father of Alpine Formula 1 reserve driver Jack, won the last of his five consecutive MotoGP world championships 25 years ago. The Australian would almost certainly have won more but for injuries sustained in May 1999. That Jerez crash was the second life-changing accident of his career but this time there was no miracle comeback. It was time for retirement.
Doohan had ruled MotoGP with an iron fist for half a decade, riding 500cc two-strokes, which were so much nastier than today’s electronically managed 1000cc four-strokes. His strengths – remarkable riding talent, teaktough psyche
