2013 - Amos Bilbao interview
Few trials riders provoke such good feelings Worldwide as the name Amos Bilbao.
He is loved and respected throughout the trials World for his incredible riding, being so approachable, his fun loving attitude to life and his flamboyant all out riding style. I would go so far as saying that Amos Bilbao is the most popular Trials rider of his generation. This popularity recently awarded him with being chosen by Honda to address the World's press discussing the 2 brand new Honda 4RT models. A smiling face and some fun up on stage wins a lots of hearts and minds. |
I chose this photo to head this page for this reason -
Amos is lined up with his contempories, ready to race. He is leaning forward over the front of the bike more so than anyone else, his eyes are locked on the starters flag more so than any other rider in the line. His mouth is open as he draws in as much air as he can and because he's concentrating on one thing, and that is getting a good start. You would put money on Amos winning this race......................and yes he did. The photo is a great example of Amos the showman giving 110 % effort. It is the Amos we love. The clean or five Amos. Photo Credit - Makoto Sugitani. |
These qualities have seen Amos carve out a successful and lengthy career in the motorcycle trials industry. Although Amos didn't win a World Championship, he had plenty, plenty of success.
Amos grew up immersed in the industry. His inside view of the industry shines an interesting light on subjects that haven't been touched here before. Amos talks of his hero's, his success, his problem of inconsistency and how he tried so hard to overcome it. The riders on the circuit and his friends. He answered so many questions I can't possibly summarize them all here, other than to say, there has never been an Amos Bilbao interview like this before. He talks about the past, the present and the future.
Amos grew up immersed in the industry. His inside view of the industry shines an interesting light on subjects that haven't been touched here before. Amos talks of his hero's, his success, his problem of inconsistency and how he tried so hard to overcome it. The riders on the circuit and his friends. He answered so many questions I can't possibly summarize them all here, other than to say, there has never been an Amos Bilbao interview like this before. He talks about the past, the present and the future.
|
Amos's Success
1996 Spanish Trials Champion 3 World Outdoor Trials Wins 11 Outdoor Podiums 1 World Indoor Trial win 19 Indoor Podiums 204 World Trial competitions Represented Spain 11 times in the Trials Des Nations ,winning 7 times 2002 Scottish Six Days Trials winner |
This interview will be interspersed with many many photos.
I feel very lucky to have been invited to Amos's house and speak with him and his family as Amos does not do interviews. Some time ago he did make some comments regarding the changes to no stop I think, but that it all. Amos is a private and very professional man. He does not use the internet often and certainly hasn't been anywhere near Facebook or anything like that. With this in mind tracking Amos down was not proving easy, but I got a lucky break and someone in the business I had already met suggested I wasn't all bad :). I was given Amos's telephone number and when I telephoned him, he had been expecting my call. We then booked a date for the interview.
The UK Penrith trial was around the corner and Amos suggested that we meet at the Montesa compound where we could have a chat and he could give me his address. We met on the Sunday morning before the trial and there was the usual sense of slight tension and apprehension in the Montesa camp. These trials mean a lot to them and everyone has to concentrate to get it right. Never the less Amos and Oscar Giro were just a little more at ease with the morning ahead. They have experience and no doubt this helps them a lot. Amos and I had a chat and he explained to me that his house was very difficult to find. I explained that I had a navigation system and he wrote down his address for me.
I spoke with Amos a few times on the phone before my journey just to confirm my travel plans and on the last occasion Amos gave me the good news that he was going to be cooking Paella. This was sounding superb. He thought I was crazy flying into Barcelona and then driving to east of Santander. I suppose it is a long way.
Yes........I can confirm that 750 Kilometers each way is a very long way in a Chevy Spark 950cc - ha ha . A Chevy Spark does not do very many miles to the litre when it is being revved at 7000 RPM on the motorway and it does not like cross winds :) !
I feel very lucky to have been invited to Amos's house and speak with him and his family as Amos does not do interviews. Some time ago he did make some comments regarding the changes to no stop I think, but that it all. Amos is a private and very professional man. He does not use the internet often and certainly hasn't been anywhere near Facebook or anything like that. With this in mind tracking Amos down was not proving easy, but I got a lucky break and someone in the business I had already met suggested I wasn't all bad :). I was given Amos's telephone number and when I telephoned him, he had been expecting my call. We then booked a date for the interview.
The UK Penrith trial was around the corner and Amos suggested that we meet at the Montesa compound where we could have a chat and he could give me his address. We met on the Sunday morning before the trial and there was the usual sense of slight tension and apprehension in the Montesa camp. These trials mean a lot to them and everyone has to concentrate to get it right. Never the less Amos and Oscar Giro were just a little more at ease with the morning ahead. They have experience and no doubt this helps them a lot. Amos and I had a chat and he explained to me that his house was very difficult to find. I explained that I had a navigation system and he wrote down his address for me.
I spoke with Amos a few times on the phone before my journey just to confirm my travel plans and on the last occasion Amos gave me the good news that he was going to be cooking Paella. This was sounding superb. He thought I was crazy flying into Barcelona and then driving to east of Santander. I suppose it is a long way.
Yes........I can confirm that 750 Kilometers each way is a very long way in a Chevy Spark 950cc - ha ha . A Chevy Spark does not do very many miles to the litre when it is being revved at 7000 RPM on the motorway and it does not like cross winds :) !