Q & A with Olivier Jacque

After a sensational return to MotoGP action in 2005 when he finished on the podium at the Chinese Grand Prix, he has endured a difficult campaign this year - especially with big crashes in China and Catalunya.

Autosport.com caught up with the Frenchman to find out why he has opted to step down from racing, why he is excited about helping develop the team's bike, and why he is still proud of all that he has achieved at Kawasaki.

Q. How did you reach the decision to retire?

Olivier Jacque: It is very strange to be here and explain the situation. Back in November when I came back and signed for Kawasaki, it was to do the full championship and to be competitive.

I was not expecting such an amount of accidents. I had some injuries, some bad injuries - with the neck and with my arm in China. I was very frustrated with the situation.

Q. What was the timetable for your decision?

OJ: We talked after the Barcelona ace and for sure I was a little bit frustrated with the situation and very disappointed for the team. I have worked with Kawasaki since 2005, and the only target I have had since they allowed me to reach the podium in 2005 was to help with the development of the bike. And I appreciate a lot the team.

The situation was frustrating for the whole team and me. I felt bad for the team. When I was missing racing it was not a good solution for me or for them. Luckily, Kawasaki opened a little door and we talked about development. This was my main target for this year - to develop the bike.

After I analysed this week I decided that I prefer to stop my career in MotoGP, and let Kawasaki improve through my work properly. I don't feel fit, I have been really honest with Kawasaki, and I don't feel fit enough to come back and get to the top level for MotoGP.

Q. Did the crash in Barcelona play a big part in your thinking?

OJ: One day your body says 'stop'. Barcelona, with the last crash, was really hard and I was really scared. Now riding the bike with this care you cannot do the maximum, and you cannot get a good result like this.

I want to thank Kawasaki because we had a good time together, and we have a very good arrangement for the next two years - this year and 2008 as a development rider. I will be very involved in the team because I really trust them and really respect them a lot.

We have very good memories. The only thing that I want now is to help Kawasaki be at the top level. We have shown in the last tests and the last race in Barcelona that the bike is improving a lot and there is a good future for the team.

I will keep very, very good memories of my career here. There were difficult moments but also beautiful moments here. I want to thank the people I have been working with here.

Q. Was it a difficult decision to make?

OJ: After the Barcelona GP I came back on the Monday and we had a talk with Kawasaki. They were not really happy with the season and the development, because my target was more developing the bike. But I was crashing a couple of times and having some bad injuries. It meant development was not progressing.

Naoki Matsudo (Kawasaki's test rider) was also badly injured, he had a big crash in Japan, and so development was almost stopped. Everyone in the team was aware that if the bike is quite competitive, because of the development we did in the winter, they do not want to miss the opportunity for results.

So when I understand there was a door open to quit, I said if you don't see any problem we can quit and I can finish the season. I said I felt bad, not fit any more and it took such a long time to recover my arm, my back and my neck.

I felt very frustrated when I saw the team not working over a weekend because I was spending time in hospital. I didn't feel I could be at the top level any more, so I said if there was an opportunity to quit let me know. Then they tried Anthony West and we found a deal in the week. It was good for me also to quit.

Q. A lot of racing drivers and MotoGP riders say after they retire that they knew the point when they could not really carry on. Had you found that?

OJ: It was really difficult, but all the people around me, and my body and my brain, made me realise. You need to sit down, think and analyse all the things. Everybody around me, my people who were supporting me, my friends and my family, they were more aware about the critical situation in terms of health. As a rider alone it is difficult to take the decision, but this time I thought yes.

Q. When you came back to racing with Kawasaki you had that great second place in China, but more recent struggles. Any regrets about returning?

OJ: Not at all. What we have done with Kawasaki is my pleasure. We got a podium in 2005, but since then the bike has improved. The 800cc has improved a lot, and I am quite enthusiastic about the team. I am quite sure they can improve again because there is a big involvement in Kawasaki and from Japan. They really believe in the project and I am sure by the end of the year we will have a more competitive bike.

Q. Do you expect bigger steps forward now that you are able to help with development?

OJ: It is difficult to know, because it is not that easy. Sometimes you are looking for something and you never find it. And then sometimes the engineers find something quickly. But if I can give the best, show them the priority in the direction we have to take, then things can go quickly.