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13 Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials  champion Ulf karlson

​Were you ever sick with nerves like Eddy Lejeune and Tomi Ahvala were before the trial?

No no I was never sick like this.
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Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
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Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
The result of second place for the year in 1974 was tremendous for you and you must have been happy with us, but when you look back now at this year with Malcolm Rathmell beating you at this last trial, how do you deal with this? What do you think about this?

It is tough yeah. I think he beat me by 1 point for the year but I'm happy because I get the revenge in his home place in Yorkshire in the World round in 1981, so this makes me feel a little better about 1974 hahahahaha. I beat Martin and Malcolm on their own soil and at their own area.
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Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
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Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
​So after this great result in 74 and the narrow defeat for you, I'm sure you had big plans for 75?

Yes yes of course. I wanted to win this. I wanted to go one little bit better and win the championship. I could see it right in front of me and there was no real reason why I could not get it, it was at this time that I get a contract from the Montesa factory for 4-3 years. I get the bikes, I get the parts, I get the travel money and more, as well as prize money, they thought maybe me was the champion in the future and so they look after me very well. Maybe this year of this factory sponsorship was the first year after 1974. Maybe this gave me some pressure.

You think this pressure affected you?
​
Yes a little bit yes a little bit. I was young at this time and I am sure the pressure affected me a little bit. 1975 I find myself in a team with the Malcolm Rathmell who is the person who beat me by one point in the previous year.
3 days Cingles
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Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
What was your relationship like with Rathmell ?

You talk about Rathmell, he was a gentleman but maybe a little special man, but we're not a good match, no not so good together because Malcolm wanted this and this and this from the factory and spares and the mechanics and maybe I only got this one thing, obviously this makes me not happy with the situation with Rathmell, before everything was good because of this reason, we no speak. Malcolm was very professional and if you wanted something he would ask and keep asking. I was from Sweden and I didn't say so much and I would just accept very little instead of asking for more and more, this is the character of the Swedish people, not everyone it is a little bit like um the Swedish and the Finish, you see Vesterinen is always very quiet. He is Finish, this is typical. Also in the team was Jean-Marie Lejeune. Rob Edwards was in the team but this was before me.
Team mates Rob Edwards me and Jaime Subira
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Exclusive - A detailed career interview with the 1980 world trials champion Ulf karlson
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