5 Interview with lifelong Montesa trial mechanic Paco Mateo |
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So you have seen big changes with Montesa ?
Yes yes because I live all of this time and work all this time with Montesa. I retire from Montesa in 1999 and work all of my life Montesa competition. I leave Montesa just before Dougie Lampkin come, but I work with Dougie father Martin, yes.
Yes yes because I live all of this time and work all this time with Montesa. I retire from Montesa in 1999 and work all of my life Montesa competition. I leave Montesa just before Dougie Lampkin come, but I work with Dougie father Martin, yes.
Paco with his 1983 Montesa Impalla standing outside is his hillside villa.
Montesa dealer and racer John Grace
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So what year was it that you started to travel with Montesa ?
In 1961 or 1962 I started to travel to Europe with Jose Maria Busquets ……. . he wins the 24hrs race of Montjuic.He was the first rider I go with. He race on the Montesa Brio. We go to Italy and everywhere in Europe to the races. I am traveling all of the time. I would travel and then return to the factory and then off traveling again. I never stops. Some mechanics who follow the world riders stop after a few years because of family or something , but I continue from 1961 until 1994. It was my life. I do this more than anyone. I remember before I travel to Europe in 1961 I also travel within Spain for championships. At this time it was difficult to leave Spain because of the rules of the country at the time. So you started your career working with the Montesa Brio and finished your career in competition working on the Montesa 314……That’s just incredible. It’s just such a long long time. Oh my god ha ha ha. Yes , in fact, before the Montesa Brio, I assist John Grace when he ride the Montesa sprint. He was a big Montesa dealer in Alicante and also friend of the Permanyer family. After this I work in the Impala, 175, 250, 360cc 400, always in competition …always. |
Paco with Busquets (right) Trophy time for the same Montesa team
Paco provides some emergency repairs in 1956 to the Montesa of Josep Busquet during the annual city street race of the 24 hours de Monjuic race in central Barcelona
When you look back on these times, who do you have fond memories of ? Who were you very happy with work with ?
It is difficult, but some I was close with and some not. My favourite was Busquets, Diego Bosis when he rider for Montesa of the 240. You know the cota 75?
Yes . Diego Bosis ride this. Also, I am very friendly with Lejeune and his wife. They are very good people and I go to their house many times. Very nice people.
It is difficult, but some I was close with and some not. My favourite was Busquets, Diego Bosis when he rider for Montesa of the 240. You know the cota 75?
Yes . Diego Bosis ride this. Also, I am very friendly with Lejeune and his wife. They are very good people and I go to their house many times. Very nice people.
1989 and Montesa rider, Eddy Lejeune rides in one of his last arena trials. 1986 and a smiling Diego waits on his Montesa whilst scrutineers mark his bike.
What was Diego Bosis like to work with ?
I no like Coutier, Coutier no like. Girard …no like. Amos Bilbao is a good man. He is a very good boy. Colomer is a very nice but a little strange boy. When he say something he always look at me strange ha ha. I work with Colomer when he rides the green Montesa. He lives in Alot, but for some time he lives in my house for 3 or 4 years and works with me in Esplugues.
And you worked with Andreu Codina?
Yes …..he was good person to work with . I work with him when he ride for Montesa and I stay with him on the road with the trial. I work with many many riders.
I no like Coutier, Coutier no like. Girard …no like. Amos Bilbao is a good man. He is a very good boy. Colomer is a very nice but a little strange boy. When he say something he always look at me strange ha ha. I work with Colomer when he rides the green Montesa. He lives in Alot, but for some time he lives in my house for 3 or 4 years and works with me in Esplugues.
And you worked with Andreu Codina?
Yes …..he was good person to work with . I work with him when he ride for Montesa and I stay with him on the road with the trial. I work with many many riders.
Montesa rider Andreu Codina with Paco Mateo shortly before the 1985 Italian World trial.
Once I go to the house of Michaud to get a contract to drive with Montesa. I go to Girard house and to Bosis house also. Also I go to the house of Amos and colomer to get them for Montesa. I always go with Miguel Cierra , just the 2 of us go to these places to take the drivers from other factories for next year for Montesa. Some times we take the motorcycle with us and we go to the house of the driver. We ask them to come with us and they say “how much?”. Miguel negotiate with them. Miguel was my boss .The big boss. The riders try the bike for some time while we wait and then they say if they like the bike or if they no like the bike and we negotiate. I do much work like this. Some times we get the rider and sometimes no. When I go these places and go the trial I am the money man for Montesa. I carry all of the money to pay for the trucks and food and fuel of the truck. I have many many monies with me and I pay everything. Sometimes we would leave Spain and then go to France trial and also Ireland and England and we no go home so I carry much much Montesa money . I pay everything. I am the administrator of the pecetas man ha ha ha .
Were there any riders who didn’t even want to test the bike, they just wanted a deal and signed up straight away ?
Yes , Berlatier, he no ride the bike he just want the deal …but his wife no happy with this so he have some trouble ha ha ha.
Were there any riders who didn’t even want to test the bike, they just wanted a deal and signed up straight away ?
Yes , Berlatier, he no ride the bike he just want the deal …but his wife no happy with this so he have some trouble ha ha ha.
Paco faces away from the camera at the 1989 UK World Trial located at Bainbridge. Photo by Peter Rhodes.