When did Paxau come in and start working for you?
Paxau go and he have one agreement and he take 1000 pesetas for each bike. He then talk with Andreu with Sherco and say ok we go together with Sherco and after GasGas crash Andreu make a very good business. Sherco go up up and GasGas go up like this across 1000 bikes Paxau cash 5,000,000. When he make in 2nd year 5000 bikes he get cash 25,000,000. For me in business it’s fantastic he go. He make a big mistake Paxau to do this. Paxau don’t make nothing much for GasGas. Paxau makes only little things thats all. Paxau has one man who work with him who is a very good mechanic who makes things for GasGas. His name is Josep Montje. He is the mechanic who makes the bikes for GasGas. Nobody know about this man because he is in the back workshop. His name is Josep Montje and he is very clever. Montje is a top level mechanic with much idea. Montje do most of the work at Paxau workshop. Montje not talk much and works only for Paxau. |
Paxau at his workshop with the mustached Pere who works for him.
|
Josep Paxau owns and runs a Trials shop in Torello, northern Spain. Despite operating under the banner "shop" the most interesting work is carried out in the workshops to the rear. It is here that Paxau and his staff have over the years provided the best and most favourite place for the top trials riders to bring their machines for servicing and improvement. It is this work that Paxau is best known for. For decades, the competition bikes of the top riders have not returned to the factory for anything at all- ever. The riders themselves hardly even visited the factories. Home - Paxau - practice - train - home - practise etc etc. The riders went to Paxau because they would receive dedicated attention from someone under they're control. Trying to find someone at the factory to sort out even the smallest problem could be very frustrating.
In addition to the competition work, the workshops have sometimes, but not always, produced prototypes for factories to build as production bikes in the forthcoming year. Just look at the row of hacked Sherco's beneath, pictured at the Paxau workshop by me in 2012. Its far more economical, less distracting for the factory to contract out this work to specialist Paxau than do this themselves.
The workshop will in fact turn its hand to many things, including building the exhaust systems for many machines including Merlins and early GasGas, as you can see below.
The workshop will in fact turn its hand to many things, including building the exhaust systems for many machines including Merlins and early GasGas, as you can see below.
Photos from the Paxau workshop.
Am I right in thinking that Paxau’s job was to make the bike of the next year and he would develop this and then bring this new bike to you and you would adopt this new bike? You would then say yes or no and you would give him some money?
No no. Paxau make nothing. The bikes were made by Narcis and me and my team.
You gave Paxau money, what for?
He talk a lot, he is good for the media and for me this is good. For me good, no problem.
You give him money?
Yes yes
Why?
I pay
What for, what for?
For the publicity. He would talk and say I make this, I make that. Maybe one day he would arrive with the improvement and he would say look what I have made.
No no. Paxau make nothing. The bikes were made by Narcis and me and my team.
You gave Paxau money, what for?
He talk a lot, he is good for the media and for me this is good. For me good, no problem.
You give him money?
Yes yes
Why?
I pay
What for, what for?
For the publicity. He would talk and say I make this, I make that. Maybe one day he would arrive with the improvement and he would say look what I have made.
Back in the 80's and 90's if you weren't with Paxau, you hadn't made it. Even today Paxau commands this reputation preparing the machines of Cabestany and Pol Tarres. Paxau developed fuel injection for GasGas back in 1995, but it was not adopted by the factory.
Did Paxau not make chassis for Gasgas?
No, no make.
Swinging arms?
No, no maybe little things. Montje he make everything. Paxau arrive at the competition with one thing and tell everyone this is fantastic, I make this – phew. Paxau would work on the bike of Jordi but normally not on production bike development. Paxau is a man who would make one thing for the competition. Make one thing, good image and talk about this thing. He not make the development of GasGas.
Very very good are Mantje, Chico and Toni Gargedo for this work. Montje is a very good man, but he no talk, no speak nothing. He is crazy talented. He make everything on lathe, pistons, cylinders and the design, everything. Toni Garido and Montje make complete bikes for GasGas.
99% Montje Garido. 1% Xiu. A good man was Pedro. He work at the place of Paxau. He is very very good. Very clever and crazy crazy for the trial. He make the work for Paxau. He was very quiet and no say much , but do lots.
GasGas say thank you for Montje and Toni Garido at Paxau. They are very good.
Who designed the engines for GasGas?
GasGas engines since the beginning have always designed the Josep Montje. Pol was the person to confide from the beginning when we started the first engine, initially the first 30 were Villa and I made in Italy with Francesco Vila deribados a Bultaco, from engine number 30 and throughout these years Montje Collaborated with Toni Garrido Josep, Josep Paxau, Boni Geebelen, Josep Serra (Xiu), Francisco Carreras, Narcis Cot etc, etc
Montje worked at the GasGas factory as part of Piber's develoment team
No, no make.
Swinging arms?
No, no maybe little things. Montje he make everything. Paxau arrive at the competition with one thing and tell everyone this is fantastic, I make this – phew. Paxau would work on the bike of Jordi but normally not on production bike development. Paxau is a man who would make one thing for the competition. Make one thing, good image and talk about this thing. He not make the development of GasGas.
Very very good are Mantje, Chico and Toni Gargedo for this work. Montje is a very good man, but he no talk, no speak nothing. He is crazy talented. He make everything on lathe, pistons, cylinders and the design, everything. Toni Garido and Montje make complete bikes for GasGas.
99% Montje Garido. 1% Xiu. A good man was Pedro. He work at the place of Paxau. He is very very good. Very clever and crazy crazy for the trial. He make the work for Paxau. He was very quiet and no say much , but do lots.
GasGas say thank you for Montje and Toni Garido at Paxau. They are very good.
Who designed the engines for GasGas?
GasGas engines since the beginning have always designed the Josep Montje. Pol was the person to confide from the beginning when we started the first engine, initially the first 30 were Villa and I made in Italy with Francesco Vila deribados a Bultaco, from engine number 30 and throughout these years Montje Collaborated with Toni Garrido Josep, Josep Paxau, Boni Geebelen, Josep Serra (Xiu), Francisco Carreras, Narcis Cot etc, etc
Montje worked at the GasGas factory as part of Piber's develoment team
Paxau has always been associated with competition, not with production. The relative isolation of the 2 companies comes as a surprise. Both Piber and Xiu are men who enjoy and revel in tech. Its seems as though this might have bred a little to much competition. A lot of water has passed under the bridge for both of them. Its not surprising that a feelings like this might occur especially after Paxau's departure. There is no doubting the capability of the Paxau workshop.
Josep Paxau, Albert Callis, Gabino Renales, Josep Pibernat and Narcis Casas
|
Prototypes at Paxau's workshop. The red writing on the centre pictures says "proto 3717". That tells a story.
As far as GasGas is concerned Paxau develops the bikes for the top riders as well as making helping out with individual pieces. He was clearly someone that , at this time ,the company wanted to be associated with.
Paxau left Gasgas and go Sherco . Why was this ?
Maybe at this moment, I don’t know exactly but maybe they discuss with Narcis something and then he agree “Ok, I go” or maybe they say “I make something, come with me we are partners” ok ok. Maybe something like this but I don’t know. I think when Tessier and Codina make this agreement to start Sherco they take Paxau as he is number one. Maybe they think they take away number one salesman and number one mechanic Gasgas go down and Sherco go up. But GasGas now not have Paxau and save a lot of money. After these 2 people are gone, Gasgas stays the same and sells the same motos, Gasgas go up, up up up up.
Maybe at this moment, I don’t know exactly but maybe they discuss with Narcis something and then he agree “Ok, I go” or maybe they say “I make something, come with me we are partners” ok ok. Maybe something like this but I don’t know. I think when Tessier and Codina make this agreement to start Sherco they take Paxau as he is number one. Maybe they think they take away number one salesman and number one mechanic Gasgas go down and Sherco go up. But GasGas now not have Paxau and save a lot of money. After these 2 people are gone, Gasgas stays the same and sells the same motos, Gasgas go up, up up up up.
Have you ever been flying in a plane with Paxau as pilot ?
In a plane. No. I have the license for the flight. I have had this for many years. When I start GasGas I rent for 4000 pesetas a plane from Girona. This was very very cheap .Then in the morning I would maybe go Minorca , afternoon Ibiza and then go back. Then go Zaragoza , all in one day sometimes . I travel like this around Spain to make the sales for GasGas. Fly and go. Breakfast in Menorca was nice ha ha .
In a plane. No. I have the license for the flight. I have had this for many years. When I start GasGas I rent for 4000 pesetas a plane from Girona. This was very very cheap .Then in the morning I would maybe go Minorca , afternoon Ibiza and then go back. Then go Zaragoza , all in one day sometimes . I travel like this around Spain to make the sales for GasGas. Fly and go. Breakfast in Menorca was nice ha ha .