Before Alonsos, De la Rosas or Sainzs, there was a Javanese single-seater driver who had no rival on the Spanish circuits. So much so that to this day he still has a record that nobody has been able to overcome, which earned him 5 audiences with the king of Spain himself, achieved with the help of friends who made history in Formula 1, and thanks to his own efforts. and knowledge of the world of mechanics. Today, although retired and 74 years old, he continues with the wheel at hand and taking advantage of the minimum to put the wheels back on the asphalt.
In a secluded area of Xàbia, where almost the entire landscape is occupied by expensive villas, awaits us Jose Bisquert. His house differs from everything around it, as it is a much more humble building. As he tells us, one of the first houses that was in the place, built by his grandfather almost two centuries ago. In front of this is a second smaller construction, where our host welcomes us.
Inside we waited for altars filled with memorabilia from his glory days, or at least shelves full of trophies. But, on the contrary, we find a fairly ordinary country room. The only elements that take us out of that everyday life are a couple of old photos of José competing, a steering wheel on a shelf, a helmet on a piece of furniture and a small glass that is barely visible. As he would confirm to us later, he got rid of all the trophies that he no longer knew where to keep.
But they existed. This is how he shows it in one of the many photos that he leaves next to him on the table, like an album of press clippings where his greatest achievements are collected. He offers us a beer, which is appreciated with the one that is falling, and wait a little nervous for the first question. Perhaps this is the most logical given how unusual it is to treat this type of sport. Why a kart?
A life "between oil and grease"
Jose Bisquert was born in 47, at a time when the economic situation in the area was more than worrying. Like many others, it was seen forced to work since he was a child. At the age of 12, he began the trade to which he dedicated his entire life until retirement: vehicle mechanics. "I've always been between oil and fat," jokes José. Dedicating himself to this, it is not surprising that this purely working relationship with the engine ended up giving the leap to a much more passionate relationship, which gave him so much joy.
He says that his first contact with that world was when he was 21 years old, returning from the military, when he found out that I had opened a karting in Xàbia. At that time I was very fond, as a spectator, for the world of rallying. One day a friend told him that he had bought a kart. "What is that?" He asked, to which he replied that it was "one of those little strollers." José didn't even know what it was, but they went to test it.
His first broken engine, his first car and his first victory
It was his first contact with a kart and a circuit, and the result was not as motivating as these types of stories are used to. A heads or tails were played who drove the vehicle first, José winning. After a few laps of the circuit, the kart gave up. Had pierced the piston. And thus ended his first experience: with a broken engine.
But he liked it, so he decided to build his own kart with it. motorcycle engine and relying solely on his knowledge of mechanics. With that homemade car he faced his first comxicotetion, in a urban circuit through the streets of Oliva. It was his first race and his first victory, winning 2.000 pesetas that he reinvested in a Montesa engine for karts that the owner of the Xàbia circuit sold him, with which he ran a couple of races before moving on to the Senior category.
The jump to national and international comxicotetion
His addiction for speed began to increase, which led him to compete in the highest categories nationally and internationally. At the beginning with the support of a real estate that he formed a team, but above all with the help of the money he was making on and off the circuits. But resources were insufficient, so he couldn't run as many races as he would have liked.
Soon his name began to appear on the main sports media, being one of the most important figures, if not the most, in the country's kart comxicotetion. On 1972 compete in your first Spain Championship, which was held in Mataró, remaining seventh.
Now, to get to that first Spanish Championship he had to compete before in La Nucía. A race in which their participation in the main comxicotetion in the country was at stake. And not for qualifying reasons, but merely economic. Was at stake 9.000 pesetas for the first to cross the finish line.
"It was the smallest cup of my career, but the 9.000 pesetas allowed me to go to Mataró, with a hotel and everything!", José recalls amused. The smallest cup, but the only one still keep Today.
The record that no one has yet broken and his 5 real congratulations
The one in Mataró in 72 was the first of almost fifteen Spanish Championships who competed in a row. However, he had to wait until 1979 to step on the first position of the podium and, therefore, have the first audience with the then King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, which personally congratulated him. A championship that he won with the chassis left by his good friend Ayrton Senna. But let's not move on ...
The emeritus king would have time to keep the face and name of José Bisquert, since he had to receive it up to 5 times almost in a row during those years. Since 79, almost consecutively, he achieved the milestone that nobody has yet been able to overcome: first in 5 Senior Spanish Championships. And all practically followed, except for Benidorm from 83, where he was second.
En 1984 sentenced this unbeaten record by winning his fifth and final first place. To date, behind José, the rider who has obtained the most Senior Spanish Championships has achieved solo 3.
I ask him what number he used to compete with. José, as nice as he is vacilón, answers with a laugh: "The number that I have worn the most is number 1."
International comxicotetion: rivalry and friendship with the Formula 1 legend
Also in 79, before achieving his first Spanish Championship, he competed against the best of each country in the World. This year managed to win the qualifying rounds of the international championship, something that no other Spaniard had ever achieved. Not only that, but he was fourth, even breaking the engine.
However, he got to put second in the race, until the kart could not take it any more, overtaking a Brazilian driver with whom he struck up a great friendship and who reached the top of the sport, making history in Formula 1. A Brazilian called Ayrton Senna.
In fact, chassis with which he won his first Spanish Championship was a gift from Senna for having overtaken him during that race, in which José came second... but his engine did not want to continue.
José competed in up to 5 World Cups against Ayrton Senna. On the track and off it. He laughs at his usual spades playing table tennis and table football. We played a lot of times. And he never let me pay! «Ping-pong and table football were also good, collons! And he got very angry when he beat him, ranting in Italian, since he lived in Italy.
They struck up a great friendship off the track. Within they were rivals until 83, last World Championship of both pilots. The Brazilian himself was in charge of taking José and his wife to the airport during that tournament.
The economic barriers that kept him from the circuit
The next question is clear: having been such a good friend to Ayrton Senna and being so good at karting, how come he never got around to it? the jump to Formula 1? "I didn't even have the money to go to England to talk to them." José would do everything for him, pay for everything and prepare everything for him. Until 79 he had the help of a friend, Richard Galvani, to pay for the tournaments, but he left Spain a month before the first Spanish Championship he won was held.
In Vila-real, in the 86, was when he decided to end the comxicotetion. Again money was the great obstacle that prevented him from continuing behind the wheel. The little bet of Spanish sponsors for the comxicotetion sentenced him. Everything became too expensive, he tells us.
A reunion with the track since the veteran
Since then he has stayed away from the circuits ... or at least he was until 5 years ago. "I spent a day on the go-kart track and when we saw the acquaintances again, we met to get together to make a paella and, incidentally, to do some old glories run." He liked the idea so much that 2 years ago he returned to compete in the 5 hours of karting on the Oliva track. "I was first in our category and third in the general."
José Bisquert, now that he has returned to meet the track, it seems that he does not want to close his record. Before saying goodbye, he shows us, somewhat hidden behind the house, the last kart he owns, with which he still rolls to this day and with which he tells us that in September he will compete again with his veteran friends. Almost 40 years after achieving, with his fifth Spanish Championship, the milestone that no one has been able to overcome.
I do not usually enter Xabia, com and less comment, but it was very pleasant to see this article. I have had very little relationship with Pepe, but I remember him as a marine engine mechanic in the nautical sector and what I can say about him is that apart from being a champion, and a good mechanic, he is an excellent person, of whom there are few. His energy, enthusiasm for life and his way of being, open-minded and good people characterize him. I remember when I was a child I was in a race where I ran and was impressed, I think the race was in "el buit", if I remember correctly.
I am glad that a space is dedicated to it and that it is recognized. I wish there were many people like him. Amunt Campió.
In the family he has always been known about his constant achievements with Karts cars in his life, in fact I saw them at his house as a child, and my father always informed us of his exploits.
It's a shame that money was an obstacle, it sure would have gone a long way… ..
We are glad to know that he is still enjoying his greatest passion, Tío Pepe is a champion… ..