It was a busy day in 1970 for Mrs Crivillé as her son, Alex, arrived after nine months in the pits.
Alex began his premier career auspiciously in 1987, bringing his 80cc Derbi home in second place and taking the fastest lap honours. Two years later he won the 125cc championship on a Marboro sonsored JJ Cobas machine.
Moving up to the 250cc class in 1990, racing for Ago’s team, it proved to be a very average year with a season best place of 5th. Moving back to JJ Cobas in 1991 didn’t really improve things; Alex scored nine DNFs and certainly didn’t trouble John Kocinski, that year’s champion.
Nevertheless, 1992 saw him join the top 500cc class, riding for the new Pons Racing team and taking his first podium in the third race of the season, in Malaysia, behind Mick Doohan and Wayne Rainey. At the Dutch round he got his revenge on Kocinski, pipping him to the finish line by under a second to take the win
Honda came knocking in 1994, giving Alex a factory ride alongside Mick Doohan. Mick was pretty unstoppable in those days but after he retired through injury, Alex had his chance and became the 1999 500cc world champion.
