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page 4 The best Jordi Tarres Interview ever -  June 2012

RT - What was your favourite bike that you had?

Jordi - It was the first Beta Zero from the factory because it is my best bike at my best moment of my career. I win 14 rounds all together and its very good memories of this bike. It is here in my house

RT - It was very different from the other bikes around, did Paxau work at the Fornells factory 

Jordi - No, Paxau working for the factory but it is like me here now (Jordi is referring to him developing the Jotagas in his workshops). The development for the bike is carried out in Torino. GasGas factory did not make racing bikes for me. They were made in the house of Paxau. Every year he make the bike for Jordi and for GasGas.

RT - You have been 7 times World Champion and I have been 0 times World Champion. Why you and not me? 

Jordi - You need to arrive at many different conditions. The most important and the biggest one is to love the sport that you want to work in. If you love the sport a lot it is easier for you to make more. You like trials 54% and me I like 110%. For me it is very easy to practise every day 10 hours, for you 1 hour a day. The most important is that you need to love the sport. After you need many more things. It depends on the character for example, my son I don’t like him to get interest at sport. He like to play football because we win together. With me, everything must be for me. It is good and bad thing. For an individual it is important you must think of you and only you. After you sacrifice the training and the getting your head right, there are many things. The more complete you are the more chance you have of becoming World Champion one time or two times. It is difficult, but seven times like Lampkin, me and I think Bou, arrive because they have many things other than the other riders. 
One good thing about my success is because I am very professional and when I start riding I make difficult preparation with a teacher. No one do this at the time. Someone at the trials smoking, someone drinking and some just joke. I am the first one to take the riding like a real job and train the body well. I was training with the motorcycle and training with the body every day and just work hard for the win 

RT - Did GasGas feel like a better family for you.

Jordi - Yes, yes, more then Beta. Beta I had very good relations with but at the end of the time with them I had very bad problems. We have problems with money, that is big problem. With GasGas it is very funny and special because the bosses ride before, not only business men. They think a lot about the problems of the rides. It was very easy to speak with them about any problems because he knows. He is speak with someone now has never ridden it is difficult. The most important thing is that we speak the same language and is a lot better to work problems. It is very special connection for the competition

RT - When you go away in the early days, you sleep in the truck, did you miss home, because you were a young boy and taken out and around the world. 



Jordi - That is another thing that is easy for me to be Champions to make competition you have to travel a lot. Some people don’t want to travel a lot because I want to stay with my friends or girlfriends and go to the discotech. For me the best is to make trial and I sacrifice party. Of course when I go to competition I like to take my girlfriend Clara and everything, my house and my love, it is better. I go to competitions alone for some years. 

RT - Did your girlfriend ever get sick and tired of the trial. Did she ever say to you “Jordi stop talking about the trial”.

Jordi - No because the woman with me know the first is trial at this moment.

RT - I talk about sponsorship now. In 1990 you had Pepsi and Schweppes patches on your suit. Were you sponsored by both? I hear rumor that you put Pepsi patch on and Coca Cola come and give you sponsorship and say we want you, not pepsi.

Jordi - Yes, at this moment I have managers arranging all of this. Pepsi say ok we sponsor Tarres, and we go to some special events with Pepsi but then they don’t pay . After its true that when we go to Coca Cola it is easier as we have Pepsi already.

RT - Back in the GasGas days did you have an agent

Jordi - Yes, not me. After 87 when I start to win money I take manager, but managers only talked to outside sponsors. I don’t want them to decide my boots for me or helmet because this is very important for the trial. The Coca Cola or Fortuna product means nothing for me, but the oil and the motorcycle important. 

RT - Over the years did you earn more money from the sponsors of from the factory ?

Jordi - No much more from the sponsors, much more. Some years I don’t need the factory. It’s good for me. There was a possibility that I could win without the factory. It was good because he know, I know. When I start in 85, 86, I need factory and factory not need me and he know. I say, please pay me and he say “no no “, you have the bike.

RT - Was there ever a time that you doubted your ability and thought that Jordi is going bad now. I was good and its is now going bad?

Jordi - I win the last time in 95. This year was very very hard for me. When I win I know its not possible for me to win again. I try one more time but I am very tired

RT - Did the motivation go down in 96 as you win so much 

Jordi - The motivation for me all the time is good. I think when you win you have good motivation because its the best. The problem is that I want to win and I don’t like to ride to make third or 5 because I win before. The last year I came 5th and I am happy because I know I make everything that is possible for me. Its not possible for me to make better. I am happy.

RT - What is the best time in your career

Jordi - The best year is 89, 90, 91, the moment of being young. 

RT - What was your favourite palce to ride in

Jordi - The best places are Spain, Italy and France because people support me a lot and I like the places. England and Ireland I like but the mud, it is very difficult for me. I now have more connection with the public. In Italy I like maybe more then Spain because  I ride a lot of times with Beta and many people like me I know I am not Italian but I get the support of the public

RT - Now for the strange questions

RT - Did you have any lucky socks when you ride

Jordi - Yes, many things. I am not supersticous but I have some things. 

AT THIS MOMENT JORDI PULLS HIS TOP UP AND SHOWS US THE TOP OF HIS BOXER SHORTS.

Jordi - For some time my friend Bosco motor. Bosco make the gloves, they make me special pants with my name. I like riding with this material, nobody knows

RT - You used to touch the peak of your helmet a lot

Jordi - This is because the helmet is bad – laughs

RT - Do you smoke

Jordi - Never, never

RT - Do you drink 

Jordi - No, but sometimes, now I  finish riding some wine but never before

RT - Do you siesta

Jordi - Yes ,sometimes in the summer like now it is very warm and I like 15 minutes

RT - Who does the work around the house, who looks after the garden, do you

Jordi - No, (he laughs). The garden is very big

RT - Many trials riders like Enduro and you like Enduro as well. Have you ever thought about doing the Dakar rally?.

Jordi - Yes, sometimes ago somebody speak with me to ride. With motorcycle I am not interested because I think its very dangerous and its many hours. I was thinking about with a car sometimes ago but not with motorcycle

RT - Who is your favourite motorcycle rider out of everybody

Jordi - Freddie Spencer and his moment he win all the classes. 

RT - Do you watch the Moto GP's

Jordi - Yes

RT - What is you favourite movie

Jordi - Its is the one like 007, when you say something not true. Jordi taps away on his Iphone. Its this film...............True Lies

RT - How long have you dreamt about making your own bike like the Jotagas

Jordi - For along time I have been wanting to do this and now I have the opportunity is has become a reality. For over 2 years I have been working on this Jotagas.

RT - Are you still working on JT7

Jordo - Yes

RT - Have you ever ridden the work Montesa?

Jordi - I have test yes, the Bou bike. It was much better than the old bikes.

RT - Do you think the minimum weight level should be reduced

Jordi - For me the minimum weight level is not necessary as it is evolution. 25 years ago the bike is 90 kilo, now it is 66, why shouldn’t it be 40 kilos in 20 years time? Why not its evolution. If we have the opportunity to do something like this, why not, it is my opinion

RT - So you say reduce the weight

Jordi - Yes

RT - I know the Jotagas is the minimum weight. Can you make this lighter.

Jordi - Yes, we have the possibility to make lighter

RT - What do you feel about just a few riders at the top riding the Championship

Jordi - The problem is that the level of the riders is so high. It is very difficult for the younger riders to arrive because they need a lot of time and a lot of money a minder a bike and its difficult. Its more difficult now as the last 5 or 6 years its not possible for the younger riders to ride with the 250 engines, it must be 125cc. Its now a big step from the younger to the bigger class. Its true that when I ride there were 5, 6, 7 riders that could possibly win the round. Now its only Bou, Cabestany, Raga and Fejerdo but Cabestany, Fujinami and Raga are so old more then 30 years and they will come down. They are training a lot and ride at a good level but no riders will catch him no young riders catch him. Now the level of the top riders to the 2nd group is very different. I hope in 2 or 3 years time things change as Raga, Cabestany and Fujinami get older, someone young come in. At the moment the level is not so good. Maybe someone arrive in the future, Challoner, Gubiane and get to this level, but at the moment not good enough level at the moment. Trials is very different now. It needs a lot of years training and when you arrive you can be good but not good enough for the glory

RT - Do you work with Pol, to make him better.

Jordi - I work with him, but not when I stay with Pedro, because now for the past 2 years I work a lot with technical parts, engines and frames. Sometimes I go training with him but not like I want. I'd like to be with him evey day , but I don’t have time

RT - Do you think Pol gets pushed enough to get better, do you think he needs to be pushed harder or do you think he is on track to get better?

Jordi - I think he is on the track. He have big problem this year because he has broken scaphoid and for the trial when something like this arrive we need time and at the moment it is not so good. The evolution of this year is like last year. We are also working with the bike to make it better and better and its not as thought we have an old bike with everything perfect .

RT - Other than JT7 and Jotagas, what else do you do?

Jordi - Now I am full time with Jotagas, Jt7 I make only small things because also the market is going down a lot for the special parts and now I work all time for the bike.

RT - What do you think about Ossa joining with GasGas?

Jordi - I think it is not true going together I think it not possible. I think the government bring some money to them if they are together, but it is not real. This is just my opinion. I don’t think it is possible

RT - You are a very competitive man. Maybe less now than then. What do you do now to compete ? Do you compete in anything these days?

Jordi - No I fight a lot of time and I have lost of pressure, when I finish I really don’t want the pressure. I like music, I like to make fun but I don’t want to be competitive because I make for many years 

RT - I think that maybe it is because there would be pressure on you to immediately do brilliantly again, Do you ever ride the trial 

Jordi - I don’t ride because I think it is not good that I am Champion 14 years ago and I go riding with normal boys friends.  I like riding for fun. The problem is also I have big problem with my back and do not have the possibility to ride like I want . Also I don’t think it’s sporting to ride with the same people as I have more possibility there. If someone need this fun ok, but not me. I do not need this to be happy.

RT - Does your back give you problems a lot

Jordi - Yes, with trial bike yes. For normal life sometimes. It starts in 96. It was a big problem for me because in 95 I win my last World Championship and 10 days before I start the World Round in Spain I have this problem for the first time and I've never had this problem and don’t know why this is. I start the rounds very bad. You know, I was older and this all reduce my possibilities for the season . After this then I started having problems physical. If you are not 100 percent it is difficult 

RT - Where do you think the biggest change will be in the next 10 years

Jordi - Its impossible to know. Things have changed very fast, much faster than many years ago. Maybe in 10 years we will be riding electrical bikes I don’t know. The evolution of the trials bike started years ago. Now we change only small things to make a very good bike. Small things make a good bike. Its is like the cars, they are much better these days. Everyone make a good product. Its just down to what you want. In the future the materials will be different and there will be potential to make it lighter and the suspension will get better becaue we have alot of information. This will come together with the evolution of the riders.

RT - Do you train younger people at schools?

Jordi - Yes sometimes I make trials school. Before I make more but now I have less time. I make some in Italy, in Spain. These days people have less money and more people are doing the trials school, Paxau, Joan Pons, Cobos and others.

RT - A personal question please, With the money you make over the years did that give you the choice to never work again? 



Jordi - It depends what you want. If you want go restaurant every day and make travel every day and have Ferrari, it depends of your level of life. If you have life of normal level there is possibility to live good. This is not interesting for me as I want to make something because I want to work. I look for new motivations every day.

RT - Are you married

Jordi - I was married and divorced with Clara 7 years ago

RT - What other sports do you do.

Jordi - I ride my mountain bike and ride on my road bike make enduro and some swimming and some physical. I want to do more but I don’t have enough time.

RT - What music do you listen to 

Jordi - It depends on the moment. I like a lot of music for example now I like a lot of Catalan music. Now I want to know what is being said. This is the most important. Its not just the sound, its about the message and words. Some years ago I was younger it was different. I want the British Pop

RT - Have you ever thought about getting into the classic trials. 

Jordi - I am not interested in this at all. I like trial, I don’t understand the people who ride with old bikes. I would compare it to the girls. I have opportunity to take a younger one and I take an old. Understand. What do you prefer, old or young. I think you understand because there is a lot of nostalgia. We think about back then when we start and with the bikes and it is a very special feeling. When I try I prefer the new one.

RT - What is there left for you to achieve with the rest of your time

Jordi - I think, trial is my life. I started young and I like to be here for long time. I start and after I win, I am a manager with younger riders and we win World Championships. I have motivation to make bike. The next motivation is to win with this bike. We win 2 weeks ago in Japana, first round. For me this is very good. With the future the motivation is to be one of the best marques of trials bikes and arrive one day and win World championships. This is my motivation 

You are the most successful trials rider of all time.There is no doubt. You always looked like a very friendly and approachable person and this is true.

 Please tell me something that you are not very good at in life

Many things.  Am normal person  like everybody. I have something good and something not My character is good for someone and shit for another

What was the specific type of sections that you didn’t like riding.

I don’t like a lot when we go down hill. I don’t like because i don’t have good control .

When do you think you will get he production numbers up at jotagas.

Yes, now i think we need to bring confidence to the market. The people like the bike but they need to know its reliable and is riding good and the project is consistent. We need some time to arrive to the market. We start good on the bike and we sort out the small problems. This is very normal. If you have a bike for 10 years it will get better and better, like a car. We know the basics are very good and we are working there. We hope the 2013 model will bring much more confidence to the people because they are waiting to see the bike and what people think and if there are any problems. Now people wait for the 2013 model. We make many good new things. This year we start now and i think we are selling much more. We don’t want to sell a lot because the factory as you see is small and we don’t have the possibility to make more than 10 bikes per day. Also we know the market is very difficult because people do not have a lot of money, bikes are expensive. It is not the best moment but the light is very strong and we are working very hard. We are very small and we don’t want to catch a disease. We want to go slowly. We want to prepare the bike and make it better and better. The confidence from the public will come and this is the only way.

Jordi confirmed that his favourite practise area as a boy was in the valley by the watermill.

jordi page 5
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