4 Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
Mecatecno's first adult motorcycle was actually a twinshock ...and they built only one. This bike resembled a Fantic 200 but when you looked closer it was mostly different. It featured a Minerelli 200cc engine and was piloted by Marcellino Corches.
This is a previously unpublished photo of Marcelino Corches riding the 200cc Mecatecno twinshock. Sadly Marcelino died in a car crash on his way to a trial in 1984.
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What they presented was revolutionary. I don’t know exactly but at that time I suppose I was doing it quite well. I had to make the leap to the higher category and I said let’s try it with him. We discussed it one day, I saw it at the SALON (Salon del automobile de Barcelona), and everything started there. I saw Jordi Rabassa, we agreed, we signed a small contract.
Which bikes did you ride with Mecatecno ?
I rode with the green MR 326 Mecatecno. It was the first bike that had the monoshock at the rear. I remember that there were places where I had a great difference with the others, I was not aware of it, I could not believe it, it was an advantage. It was a real difference between mono or twin shook. Then others started to fit the mono shock. Only this motorcycle. Before this motorcycle the factory has an idea to make a gearbox with many gears and also the 2 ratio changes like the off road car. They think this, but they never make. The rotary valve engine was strange but very potent. I’m a person that likes potent engines and…..well the valve was a strange thing, but the engine was potent and I liked it. After this one, they went into production, but this one is the first one.
Where is this moto now, you have this moto ?
No, no, no this moto is broken, is one of these things.
Which bikes did you ride with Mecatecno ?
I rode with the green MR 326 Mecatecno. It was the first bike that had the monoshock at the rear. I remember that there were places where I had a great difference with the others, I was not aware of it, I could not believe it, it was an advantage. It was a real difference between mono or twin shook. Then others started to fit the mono shock. Only this motorcycle. Before this motorcycle the factory has an idea to make a gearbox with many gears and also the 2 ratio changes like the off road car. They think this, but they never make. The rotary valve engine was strange but very potent. I’m a person that likes potent engines and…..well the valve was a strange thing, but the engine was potent and I liked it. After this one, they went into production, but this one is the first one.
Where is this moto now, you have this moto ?
No, no, no this moto is broken, is one of these things.
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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The 1983 released Mecatecno Mr326 was the marques first production motorcycle. For its time it was very advanced and beat most other manufacturers as being one of the first trials bikes with a single shock rear end that was modeled on the Yamaha. It was powered by a rotary valve 325cc engine hanging from the over head chassis and also providing the torsion in the frame.
Creating a complete bike including their own engine was an incredible achievement for the small independent marque. Looking at the photos beneath you start to appreciate the work that went into creating the many prototypes that were engineered completely in the factory. Only once the factory was happy with the machine, did they contract out parts.
Photo 1 shows the MR326's first appearance in public in 1982 at the Barcelona motorcycle show. The hand sculpted fibre glass tank had integral air ducts. The silencer was mounted on the left hand side and the clutch adjustment was via a circular access.
Photo 2 shows an early 1983 prototype as ridden by Salva Garcia in competition. Here you can see the inlet manifold, clutch access hole, seat and tank had all changed. The bike also had the strangest 2 pivot point gear lever set up I have ever seen on a trials bike. The silencer had also changed and was now located on the right hand side.
Creating a complete bike including their own engine was an incredible achievement for the small independent marque. Looking at the photos beneath you start to appreciate the work that went into creating the many prototypes that were engineered completely in the factory. Only once the factory was happy with the machine, did they contract out parts.
Photo 1 shows the MR326's first appearance in public in 1982 at the Barcelona motorcycle show. The hand sculpted fibre glass tank had integral air ducts. The silencer was mounted on the left hand side and the clutch adjustment was via a circular access.
Photo 2 shows an early 1983 prototype as ridden by Salva Garcia in competition. Here you can see the inlet manifold, clutch access hole, seat and tank had all changed. The bike also had the strangest 2 pivot point gear lever set up I have ever seen on a trials bike. The silencer had also changed and was now located on the right hand side.
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
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The 1983 Production model .
So you can see , that the engine has changed externally / internally and the chassis also |
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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What was Mecatecno like to work for ?
Jordi Rabassa was very very good boy and good friend all the days I work with him. I would say to him that I need this to be changed on the bike and also this he would say no no no. I tell things to Jordi to change with the bike but Jordi say “no, it is this way”. Mecatecno, phew… a little bit complicated. Mecatecno, very good people but sometimes very narrow minded with their ideas and made it difficult to change/evolve.
Which factory was Mecatecno at when you rode for them ?
It was the factory at El Xops.
Jordi Rabassa was very very good boy and good friend all the days I work with him. I would say to him that I need this to be changed on the bike and also this he would say no no no. I tell things to Jordi to change with the bike but Jordi say “no, it is this way”. Mecatecno, phew… a little bit complicated. Mecatecno, very good people but sometimes very narrow minded with their ideas and made it difficult to change/evolve.
Which factory was Mecatecno at when you rode for them ?
It was the factory at El Xops.
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao www.retrotrials.com
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What do you remember about the MR326, green Mecatecno ?
The Mecatecno was the first mono shock bike, before Yamaha and I have a big advantage over the other riders as I could do things on this bike that the other riders could not do. It was very superior and was the first mono shock production bike. I had an advantage. It was very different to ride. With the twin shocks all the time the reaction was always the same and it did not matter where you ride, the reaction was the same. With the mono shock for the first time, things are different and this helped me greatly in many different conditions to make progress through the sections. For me ...I was through. It was excellent ha ha ha.
How did you like the engine on this Mecatecno. It was the first Mecatecno engine ?
I liked the engine because it was very powerful. The action of the rotary valve engine is different and the engine make much much power and I like. I liked the big engines and this engine was great for me.
The Mecatecno was the first mono shock bike, before Yamaha and I have a big advantage over the other riders as I could do things on this bike that the other riders could not do. It was very superior and was the first mono shock production bike. I had an advantage. It was very different to ride. With the twin shocks all the time the reaction was always the same and it did not matter where you ride, the reaction was the same. With the mono shock for the first time, things are different and this helped me greatly in many different conditions to make progress through the sections. For me ...I was through. It was excellent ha ha ha.
How did you like the engine on this Mecatecno. It was the first Mecatecno engine ?
I liked the engine because it was very powerful. The action of the rotary valve engine is different and the engine make much much power and I like. I liked the big engines and this engine was great for me.
Mecatecno's chief mechanic Joan Ruiz in the centre with his brother in law to the left and Salva to the right. This photo was taken immediately outside of the front wall of the factory. You will see the brick work is very distinctive.
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao www.retrotrials.com
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In fact I went one stage further. I am awaiting the results of some DNA swabs I have taken ;) .
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
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The Els Xops factory front door at the time of Salva's ride with Mecatecno.
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
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Another angle from this batch of publicity photos. In fact Joan's brother in law wasn't the only member of his family working at Mecatecno. His wife Margarita also worked there in the office.
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao
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Which Championships did you ride when you ride with Mecatecno ?
I ride the Spanish Championship. I ride one time in Valencia in Actalunia, I ride the first lap first and the 2nd lap, then come the 3rd lap and many many nervous for me and I finish behind Pedro Olle in 4 or 5 position. This was only one time.
I ride the Spanish Championship. I ride one time in Valencia in Actalunia, I ride the first lap first and the 2nd lap, then come the 3rd lap and many many nervous for me and I finish behind Pedro Olle in 4 or 5 position. This was only one time.
Salvador Garcia riding the Mecatecno MR326 in 1984 (left) and 1985. Both photos were taken at the popular 3 days of Cingles Trial
Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive interview with Salva Garcia -
Minder to Tarres, Colomer and Bilbao www.retrotrials.com
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Did you travel to all of the World Trials with Mecatecno, such as America ?
No, all Europe because this year in America, I no remember.
Did you go to the trial with the federation ?
Yes, with the federation I go to the trail with Mecatecno and Ronald for one year. This was in 1984 or 1983 I think.
No, all Europe because this year in America, I no remember.
Did you go to the trial with the federation ?
Yes, with the federation I go to the trail with Mecatecno and Ronald for one year. This was in 1984 or 1983 I think.