out on the opening lap and in the Valencian Community race, he did likewise on lap 7. At the final four races of the season - the Pacific, Australian, Malaysian and Rio de Janeiro rounds - Crivillé finished eleventh twice, sixth and seventh. Crivillé finished eighth in the championship with 120 points, 205 points behind the champion Valentino Rossi and 90 points behind runner-up Max Biaggi. Retirement At a press conference before the 2001 Portuguese Grand Prix in September, the press asked him about rumours regarding his future with the Repsol Honda team, to which he replied "I don't know what's going on," and "We are in talks right now but I have options should there not be a suitable offer from Honda.", hinting at possible alternatives if he were to not continue riding for the team. On November 12, 2001, Crivillé announced that he had parted ways with the Repsol Honda team after ten years with the team and that he was considering his options for the 2002 season. "This week everything will be decided and it will be me and no one else that makes the decision," he said. Originally there were plans to ride a Factory Aprilia four-stroke bike in 2002. However the proposal deal he had hoped for did not appear and as a result, he started talking to Yamaha boss Luis d'Antin, owner of the Pramac d'Antin squad, for a chance to ride for the team and partner Norifumi Abe. Crivillé also did not rule out retiring either, starting that "I am not going to close any door, and I could still go to Aprilia or even retire," and that "I alone will decide my future." However, Crivillé was not able to start in 2002 due to undetermined health problems. He stated in a press conference in late 2001 that "I have been forced to take a break from my sporting career due to physical problems. Since 1999, I have had a condition whereby I temporarily lose consciousness from time to time. It is not serious, but after consulting the best specialists in the field I was advised to stop riding for a while, to take the time to relax and undergo the necessary tests." He stated that he did not intend to retire and that this was simply a necessary break from the sport for medical reasons. On May 5, 2002 however, the now