3 Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
Who showed you the motorcycle for the first time ?
My uncle, he ride the trial and he introduced me to the motorcycle when I was 18 years old. Now is different because at 4 years old the father says come on, we go trial and practise. 4 years and the children here start the trial, but me I was 18 ...much older.
But before did you have a little bike for the road ?
No no no nothing. Direct to the Cota 348.
My uncle, he ride the trial and he introduced me to the motorcycle when I was 18 years old. Now is different because at 4 years old the father says come on, we go trial and practise. 4 years and the children here start the trial, but me I was 18 ...much older.
But before did you have a little bike for the road ?
No no no nothing. Direct to the Cota 348.
But later yes ...some road bikes and track days
Did you start to ride before Gabino ?
We start to ride at the same time. All day we train together and all day in the restaurant together and all day to the race together. We spend all of our early lives together. Now is different because we all have families and lives and things change. Back then we were very very close.
It was very rare to find a photograph of you riding the Ossa ?
Later I show you the photos. Good picture. I was the first rider of the Mecatecno MR 326. I was with Mecatecno alone for the first year and then after this year another ride come called Ronald Garcia and then after Gabino. After Gabino, then Lluis Gallach.
We start to ride at the same time. All day we train together and all day in the restaurant together and all day to the race together. We spend all of our early lives together. Now is different because we all have families and lives and things change. Back then we were very very close.
It was very rare to find a photograph of you riding the Ossa ?
Later I show you the photos. Good picture. I was the first rider of the Mecatecno MR 326. I was with Mecatecno alone for the first year and then after this year another ride come called Ronald Garcia and then after Gabino. After Gabino, then Lluis Gallach.
2 great photos from Salva's collection. Note the extreme exhaust angle after it leaves the engine.
What age did you leave school ?
I was 18 or 19 years old.
Did you have a job immediately after school or did you just ride the motorcycle ?
My mother had a shop selling the flowers and I helped my mother there in this shop.
It was at this time that I first see the trial bike and I get my first motorcycle, the Montesa Cota 348. After this bike I no buy any motorcycle. I get them from the factories. I get the Ossa when I am 22 years old and then after Ossa I finish JJ Cobas and go with Mecatecno, with factory Mecatecno bike. I was with Mecatecno for 2 or 3 years and then after with Fantic and Subira.
I was 18 or 19 years old.
Did you have a job immediately after school or did you just ride the motorcycle ?
My mother had a shop selling the flowers and I helped my mother there in this shop.
It was at this time that I first see the trial bike and I get my first motorcycle, the Montesa Cota 348. After this bike I no buy any motorcycle. I get them from the factories. I get the Ossa when I am 22 years old and then after Ossa I finish JJ Cobas and go with Mecatecno, with factory Mecatecno bike. I was with Mecatecno for 2 or 3 years and then after with Fantic and Subira.
A 1983 Spanish Championship round with Salva on the Mecatecno MR326.
How did you get the deal with Mecatecno ?
Because Mecatecno was made in here, in Lliçà, the mechanic of Mecatecno, that was the mechanic of Angel Nieto, was Joan Ruiz from Martorelles and I was from Martorelles
Because Mecatecno was made in here, in Lliçà, the mechanic of Mecatecno, that was the mechanic of Angel Nieto, was Joan Ruiz from Martorelles and I was from Martorelles
A 22 year old Salva standing with Joan Ruiz central and his brother in law behind.