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Exclusive Interview with GasGas co Founder Josep Pibernat |
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Many of the people featured in the interviews of Retrotrials.com have been of a great influence to others around the motorcycling World. The spectrum of influence ranges from changing a World's riding style to developing new sports. There are however a significant number of people who don't compete. They don't know what is going on in motorcycle sport, who is World Champion. They just get on their bikes and ride them for fun. Whether they are hardcore bike nuts, commuters, green laners, 16 year old's on their first bike or simply spectators they all like, need or use bikes.
In terms of influence by numbers of users GasGas joint founder Josep Pibernat rates as being one of the most influential Spanish figures of this generation. Starting with very humble beginnings, Piber, as he is known to his friends competed at the highest level in Enduro including the Dakar rally and winning several ISDE gold medals. He built GasGas motorcycles from nothing. This developed into a global network supplying hundreds of thousands of class leading motorcycles, spares, clothing and accessories that grew into an international company with a turnover of £60 million Euro's. You have probably owned one or more of his bikes, perhaps worn his clothing or watched his competition teams. Piber has been there, hidden and walking around anonymously right in the middle of the motorcycle scene since the early 70's influencing everyone one of you, yet he almost went by unnoticed. Well.....not by me , and i wanted to find out the real story not just a few lines.
In terms of influence by numbers of users GasGas joint founder Josep Pibernat rates as being one of the most influential Spanish figures of this generation. Starting with very humble beginnings, Piber, as he is known to his friends competed at the highest level in Enduro including the Dakar rally and winning several ISDE gold medals. He built GasGas motorcycles from nothing. This developed into a global network supplying hundreds of thousands of class leading motorcycles, spares, clothing and accessories that grew into an international company with a turnover of £60 million Euro's. You have probably owned one or more of his bikes, perhaps worn his clothing or watched his competition teams. Piber has been there, hidden and walking around anonymously right in the middle of the motorcycle scene since the early 70's influencing everyone one of you, yet he almost went by unnoticed. Well.....not by me , and i wanted to find out the real story not just a few lines.
For Retrotrials the interest in Trials and Enduro stretches beyond the bikes and the top riders to the factories and entrepreneurs. Whilst most of us live our relatively normal lives going to work, taking our pay and living within a small area of risk there are others born of, or shaped into somehow a completely different mould. These people live outside these perimeters of risk. They would say, "There was no risk, I worked it out", but never the less they financed their houses to the maximum, ran their bank loans up, borrowed money from friends, family and children's bank accounts, JUST to follow the dream that they were convinced would work out. MOST of us wouldn't do that. Most of us want a low level of stress and would just take the easy path. Many start new business and get blown off course. After listening to so many top performers in trials and enduro i have heard about their uncompromising attitude time and time again. Sure they listened to others , but ultimately they stuck on their own path relentlessly. Strong entrepreneurs are uncompromising. They listen to the words of consideration and caution that you might have and then come back knocking everything flat. They are convinced of their idea and nothing will get in their way. Not a Friday out with friends, not a Saturday morning shopping with the wife ......nothing !. Whilst there are positive and negative sides to this strong business character, I find these characteristics impressive. They're impressive because they have made the seemingly incredible and outlandish possible AND successful. This IS what makes the difference. After spending time with Josep Pibernat i can see this uncompromising vein running right through him. This is why he has achieved so much. You'l learn about this later.
Despite his achievements , Josep Pibernat has only been interviewed once and this was back in 1982 when he spoke about his retirement from Enduro competition. Boy !! has this guy been overlooked !!. His name has featured prominently in many of the interviews on this website . How could it not. He was making the bikes and paying the bills. You would have thought that someone would have tracked down the man behind the bikes and interviewed Piber. It still amazes me, that it's not happened. This guy is a giant in the Trials and Enduro World. I cant think of anyone who out trumps him. Perhaps the talk of the factory floor and the business stood no chance, contrasted with the glamorous colourful action photos that could easily fill the same column inches.
After all that's what sells papers and magazines. Photos are quicker and easier to take than interviews - thats for sure.
Despite his achievements , Josep Pibernat has only been interviewed once and this was back in 1982 when he spoke about his retirement from Enduro competition. Boy !! has this guy been overlooked !!. His name has featured prominently in many of the interviews on this website . How could it not. He was making the bikes and paying the bills. You would have thought that someone would have tracked down the man behind the bikes and interviewed Piber. It still amazes me, that it's not happened. This guy is a giant in the Trials and Enduro World. I cant think of anyone who out trumps him. Perhaps the talk of the factory floor and the business stood no chance, contrasted with the glamorous colourful action photos that could easily fill the same column inches.
After all that's what sells papers and magazines. Photos are quicker and easier to take than interviews - thats for sure.
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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My experience with Jotagas started with a visit to the factory in 2012 and prior to the Andorran World Trial. After this visit I would later meet up with 7 times World Champion Jordi Tarres. Then, on my world wind journey around southern Europe I headed up and met the remainder on the Jotagas team at the Andorran World Trial in St Julia. Here is where I met and interviewed Joan Freixas . It was here that the new 2013 Jotagas was being launched and I borrowed Joan's bike for a spin on the hillside. It was everything I had wanted from a bike. It's trick to look at. Different from the normal bike. Designed by Jordi Tarres, It's light and fantastic to ride. So I didn't delay and I bought the first one into the UK for 2013.
Little did I know that this visit would take me on so many different adventures.
Little did I know that this visit would take me on so many different adventures.
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Part of team Jotagas Joan Freixas.
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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Narcis Casas, Josep Pibernat's partner in GasGas.
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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I had heard stories about Josep Pibernat. I had heard about his huge house on the hill with the views for miles. I had heard about his driving on two wheels in his Lancia Delta Intergrale, but this was all. He was gone now from the industry and for me he so far out of reach that I couldn't have hoped for an interview and to meet him.
I couldn't have been more wrong and little by little, without any clue I was getting closer to his front door.
It was in fact, the circle of contacts that I had built up in Spain as well as my writings on this web about Jotagas that over time helped me gain access to Piber. Soon afterwards I would meet the man and for me the reason for no interviews over 40 years in the industry, would be come more clear.
One day much later I fired off an email to a Spanish friend asking him for the contact details for Mr Pibernat. I Immediately got a reply with the information and that they had told Mr Pibernat that I would be contacting him. I then sent Mr Pibernat an email and 2 hours later I got a warm acceptance. It was incredible. It made my day !! :). A few emails later the date was agreed. I would tie my Jotagas new factory tour in with the interview of Mr Pibernat.
I landed in Barcelona terminal 2 with Ryanair and walked out of arrivals into the main hall expecting to see Piber waiting for me .......but no. Then, my phone rang and his name appeared on the screen but I could not answer it in time as my hands were full of baggage and Mecatecno mudguards for friends in Spain. Then he was gone. I was scanning the faces in the busy hall, comparing them all with the last picture I had seen of Piber, in his Gasgas days, say back in 2005 or 6. Then as I looked around towards the doors, Josep Pibernat appeared out of the revolving doors. I waved to him and we met with a warm hand shake and greeting. Piber is a short, well built strong man, with a strong face and a chest that he holds out, like your mother always told you to do. He had presence and had standing. He spoke good English although he modestly denies this.
I then followed him out to his Mercedes Vito people carrier. The side door opened and silently closed on an electronic motor. Inside the rear was a huge industrial MIG welder. I placed my case inside along with the 3 Mecatecno mudguards that I had already promised to two friends about a year ago. I then sat in the front and buckled up. Piber is known in the industry for being a fast driver. I joked to him that I had hoped to be collected in the Lancia Intergrale. He replied sternly that he had three of them. I thought "Ooops". We then set out on our journey to Girona and Piber's house. I had no idea where this was. I only knew that it was in Girona somewhere. The conversation between us then immediately became very very easy and he was a good guy to talk to. We had so much in common. Ok, I'm not an industrialist and haven't been involved in running multi million pound companies ha ha, but believe me, we had lots to talk about. Bikes, bikes ......and bikes ha ha. GasGas, Jotagas and more bikes.
He drove us for what seemed like 45 minutes, stopping occasionally at Tolls to pay our way. We then turned off the main motorway and the size of the roads got increasingly smaller until I found myself going up a steep hill, bordered by Grand Grand houses on either side. After a few more twists and turns we pulled up outside some huge 10 foot tall gates flanked by ever so tall strong stone walls. The gates slid open and we drove up the steep drive way. The driveway twisted and turned and we eventually parked in a very generously sized area for vehicles. Behind us was a huge waterfall, perhaps 60 feet wide by 15 feet. In front of us was Piber's house. This is an immense twin story property taking up such a huge footprint. The open front porch was 40 feet by 10 feet in depth. Under the porch were perhaps 5 scooters and a GasGas enduro bike strapped down to a trailer.
It was dark and getting late. My plane had landed at 8 and it was now 9. Piber's wife Anna came to the door and she was very welcoming. We went inside the huge hallway with solid wood staircase to the first floor. The floors were all marbled and everything was of the best quality. I was then led down a long corridor to my bedroom suite.
I couldn't have been more wrong and little by little, without any clue I was getting closer to his front door.
It was in fact, the circle of contacts that I had built up in Spain as well as my writings on this web about Jotagas that over time helped me gain access to Piber. Soon afterwards I would meet the man and for me the reason for no interviews over 40 years in the industry, would be come more clear.
One day much later I fired off an email to a Spanish friend asking him for the contact details for Mr Pibernat. I Immediately got a reply with the information and that they had told Mr Pibernat that I would be contacting him. I then sent Mr Pibernat an email and 2 hours later I got a warm acceptance. It was incredible. It made my day !! :). A few emails later the date was agreed. I would tie my Jotagas new factory tour in with the interview of Mr Pibernat.
I landed in Barcelona terminal 2 with Ryanair and walked out of arrivals into the main hall expecting to see Piber waiting for me .......but no. Then, my phone rang and his name appeared on the screen but I could not answer it in time as my hands were full of baggage and Mecatecno mudguards for friends in Spain. Then he was gone. I was scanning the faces in the busy hall, comparing them all with the last picture I had seen of Piber, in his Gasgas days, say back in 2005 or 6. Then as I looked around towards the doors, Josep Pibernat appeared out of the revolving doors. I waved to him and we met with a warm hand shake and greeting. Piber is a short, well built strong man, with a strong face and a chest that he holds out, like your mother always told you to do. He had presence and had standing. He spoke good English although he modestly denies this.
I then followed him out to his Mercedes Vito people carrier. The side door opened and silently closed on an electronic motor. Inside the rear was a huge industrial MIG welder. I placed my case inside along with the 3 Mecatecno mudguards that I had already promised to two friends about a year ago. I then sat in the front and buckled up. Piber is known in the industry for being a fast driver. I joked to him that I had hoped to be collected in the Lancia Intergrale. He replied sternly that he had three of them. I thought "Ooops". We then set out on our journey to Girona and Piber's house. I had no idea where this was. I only knew that it was in Girona somewhere. The conversation between us then immediately became very very easy and he was a good guy to talk to. We had so much in common. Ok, I'm not an industrialist and haven't been involved in running multi million pound companies ha ha, but believe me, we had lots to talk about. Bikes, bikes ......and bikes ha ha. GasGas, Jotagas and more bikes.
He drove us for what seemed like 45 minutes, stopping occasionally at Tolls to pay our way. We then turned off the main motorway and the size of the roads got increasingly smaller until I found myself going up a steep hill, bordered by Grand Grand houses on either side. After a few more twists and turns we pulled up outside some huge 10 foot tall gates flanked by ever so tall strong stone walls. The gates slid open and we drove up the steep drive way. The driveway twisted and turned and we eventually parked in a very generously sized area for vehicles. Behind us was a huge waterfall, perhaps 60 feet wide by 15 feet. In front of us was Piber's house. This is an immense twin story property taking up such a huge footprint. The open front porch was 40 feet by 10 feet in depth. Under the porch were perhaps 5 scooters and a GasGas enduro bike strapped down to a trailer.
It was dark and getting late. My plane had landed at 8 and it was now 9. Piber's wife Anna came to the door and she was very welcoming. We went inside the huge hallway with solid wood staircase to the first floor. The floors were all marbled and everything was of the best quality. I was then led down a long corridor to my bedroom suite.
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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