It's amazing Marc Colomer was so successful in modern trial after falling victim to England's pub grub. Thankfully he escaped by the skin of his teeth by choosing a salad.
Pep Sala, minder and friend of Montesa, Montesa Mechanic Paco Mateo, Gabino Renales, Marc Colomer, Albert Callis and rider Christian Cheriou.
Pep Sala, minder and friend of Montesa, Montesa Mechanic Paco Mateo, Gabino Renales, Marc Colomer, Albert Callis and rider Christian Cheriou.
So what made you decide to actually leave the relationship that you had up there in Torello ?
I left in 199 because this was very sad year in my life. My wife passed away in a car accident in England, so at this time I need changes in my life and to get away and to escape and be out. It was a strange situation. I took three years to recover from this and after this I picked myself up and started my new life.
I left in 199 because this was very sad year in my life. My wife passed away in a car accident in England, so at this time I need changes in my life and to get away and to escape and be out. It was a strange situation. I took three years to recover from this and after this I picked myself up and started my new life.
The 1989 Montesa festival and Albert is pictured here with his 1st wife. She tragically passed away following a car accident they were both in, on their Honeymoon in the UK. Same time and place - Albert with Javier Ullate and editor of Solo Moto editor Ignacio Bertran.
Did you have any experience of the development of Jordi Tarres’s bikes at the Paxau workshop ?
Yes, at the moment I saw this, Salva was working as the mechanic and minder to Tarres. Paxau worked on the development of this bike and made it so strong. The engine was so so different to the standard model.
How was Tarres’s engine different to a production Trials bike at this time ?
At this time I had left Paxau working, but I returned some times and also I have knowledge of the changes that are seen in the bikes of the top riders as I have been with Paxau for years. The dimensions and the angles were completely different. The engine also was nothing similar to standard production. Suspension, clutch, engine, chassis all different. A bike for a leader, a top top rider cannot be a perfect bike for anyone else. We cannot ride the bike, a Tarres bike.
Yes, at the moment I saw this, Salva was working as the mechanic and minder to Tarres. Paxau worked on the development of this bike and made it so strong. The engine was so so different to the standard model.
How was Tarres’s engine different to a production Trials bike at this time ?
At this time I had left Paxau working, but I returned some times and also I have knowledge of the changes that are seen in the bikes of the top riders as I have been with Paxau for years. The dimensions and the angles were completely different. The engine also was nothing similar to standard production. Suspension, clutch, engine, chassis all different. A bike for a leader, a top top rider cannot be a perfect bike for anyone else. We cannot ride the bike, a Tarres bike.
They are doing so many different things to us. If you watch the top riders they are moving their bodies and limbs so very much and so very more than normal competitors. They are doing so much more movement on the bike and so they need a bike that can cope with this. The top riders need a completely different product and that's exactly what Paxau gave him. One aspect of the engine that I can describe to you of the engine power and the 2nd GasGas.
No production bike has this. They need to escape from so many critical situations when you open the gas and the engine speed increases and then it increases again to an engine speed so much greater. This develops so much power and it then explodes and takes off. It's impossible for anybody to ride a bike like this other than an absolute top rider. You cannot sell a bike like this to the people.
Albert's involvement at Torello declined after 1991, however Paxau continued, developing further GasGas models, the new Bultaco model in 1999 and the subsequent Sherco Trials range's.
You will receive the bike on your helmet, but they need this. I give you an example - Đoković for sure, his racket is completely different and not a standard racket. You cannot purchase this and most probable that this racket it not good for anyone else. Also the bike is so great deal longer than standard. The swinging arm is much longer and the axles further apart. You cannot move this bike easily but he needs his bike like this because he can move it easily and the length provide stability at speed and stops the bike getting crossed up. Always working with Paxau we worked in 2 different areas and remembered that the race team has nothing to do with production. Production is just colours. Instantly when you look they are the same but you cannot produce the top top bike.