His name is Moko, “as one speaks of Bono or Cher”. Every Grand Prix for decades, Moko is there, somewhere in the paddocks. He walks around, greets everyone as if he knows him.
Posted at 1:08 p.m.
His age ? We ignore it. ” Age is not important ! “, launches the friendly character in an interview with The PressSunday morning.
His work ? We also ignore it. “I don’t like to talk about what I do! I came here to watch the race, it doesn’t matter what I do! he exclaims.
What we do know is that his name is Moko, that he is Senegalese and that he is a motor racing enthusiast. Probably one of the biggest in the world. But he doesn’t like being given that label. “That’s what people say, because they have nothing to say,” he says.
“I hang out. I travel, for my passion! he sums up simply.
This passion comes to him from the 1970s, at the time of Apartheid, when South Africa was “divided between whites and blacks”.
“In those years when we played soccer or rugby, I, very young, decided to support a white man,” he says. And this white man, he was South African. This white, in an individual sport which is Formula 1, became world champion, the only African. For Ferrari. And that white guy’s name is Jody Scheckter. »
It is therefore the Ferrari team that he still supports to this day, and not “a driver in particular, because drivers change”. “The team is not changing. But they all give me pleasure,” he says.
Wherever Formula 1 goes, year after year, Moko is there. Since when ? “I don’t count anymore! he replies.
The man whose age is unknown does not consider himself a “supporter”, no. He prefers the term “passionate”.
“My passion for Formula 1 is no different from the enthusiast who is going to buy a 100 million Picasso painting, he says. Once they have the painting, they look for another one. Me, the difference, when the checkered flag lowers, I think of the other race. The money gap is huge, but my passion is the same. »
“It’s this duality between the machine and the man that gives me pleasure. I cannot describe it. »
“They see me”
In Montreal as elsewhere, in the paddocks, everyone greeted Moko on Sunday morning.
“They don’t know me, they see me,” he suggests. It’s different. There is a fascination, they realize that I am a passionate person who is pleasant to live with everyone. That’s all. They have always seen me! »
At the end of the interview, as we are about to turn off the recorder, Moko insists on talking about Montreal.
“I’m always delighted with the enthusiasm that the people of Montreal have for motor racing,” he says. And that, rest in peace Gilles Villeneuve. He was never world champion, it was his son who was, but I think that Montrealers unconsciously adopted the race in memory of Gilles. Because in this country, it’s hockey. »
“May God protect the City of Montreal and its inhabitants. In memory of Gilles Villeneuve, we come back. »