page 6 2013 Marc Colomer Exclusive interview
You have said earlier than you were not ready to win. Were you planning to be ready at a certain date? Please can you explain what you meant?
For example in 93 and 94 for sure I am not ready. In 95 ….at the beginning of 95 I think I am not ready to win the World Championship but at the end of the 95 World Championship my thing as different. I think that maybe my mistake was to think “I’m not ready “. I’m maybe in 1995 it was possible for me to win, maybe in my head I say to myself I’m not ready, I’m not ready, but at the end of 95 I think little different and do think I can win.
What changed this?
At the end of 95 I make a review of the 95 season and the problems with the bike and many things. I say hey, I’m ready for sure because even with these problems I finish 2nd until the last race fighting with Jordi for sure now it’s my time to win.
Did you have big celebrations after winning the World Championship in 1996?
No no. When I win in 96 ….it difficult to explain because for me it was not a problem if it was 96 or 95 or 97 but inside my head was normal because it was my goal from many years ago as I have been fighting and working every day for this. Then when I win it was good, but it was just normal for me, I had expected to do this and I had planned for me. It was not a surprise for me. Maybe you make a big party when it is something that you don’t expect but at this moment for me it as normal.
For example in 93 and 94 for sure I am not ready. In 95 ….at the beginning of 95 I think I am not ready to win the World Championship but at the end of the 95 World Championship my thing as different. I think that maybe my mistake was to think “I’m not ready “. I’m maybe in 1995 it was possible for me to win, maybe in my head I say to myself I’m not ready, I’m not ready, but at the end of 95 I think little different and do think I can win.
What changed this?
At the end of 95 I make a review of the 95 season and the problems with the bike and many things. I say hey, I’m ready for sure because even with these problems I finish 2nd until the last race fighting with Jordi for sure now it’s my time to win.
Did you have big celebrations after winning the World Championship in 1996?
No no. When I win in 96 ….it difficult to explain because for me it was not a problem if it was 96 or 95 or 97 but inside my head was normal because it was my goal from many years ago as I have been fighting and working every day for this. Then when I win it was good, but it was just normal for me, I had expected to do this and I had planned for me. It was not a surprise for me. Maybe you make a big party when it is something that you don’t expect but at this moment for me it as normal.
Who looked after you and helped you at Montesa?
The team manager at this time is like now, Miguel Cierra. He is the only man who stay there. The mechanics and other people all change. At this time the men who follow me every day with the bikes are Michelle Renard is from Belgium. He was also with me in Beta for one year in 93. In 95 and 96 he help me at the trial with Montesa and after he stop along came other people to help me at the trial and practise.
The team manager at this time is like now, Miguel Cierra. He is the only man who stay there. The mechanics and other people all change. At this time the men who follow me every day with the bikes are Michelle Renard is from Belgium. He was also with me in Beta for one year in 93. In 95 and 96 he help me at the trial with Montesa and after he stop along came other people to help me at the trial and practise.
Where did you get your motivation to keep riding and keep trying all of these years? Did it come from yourself or did you have great help like Jordi had Pedro Olle?
If I had one man like this, I have one man who help me many. It is Salva Garcia, you know, but from 98 onwards not before. In 97, I don’t have one for this minding. Michelle Renard was not like my relationship with Salva.
If I had one man like this, I have one man who help me many. It is Salva Garcia, you know, but from 98 onwards not before. In 97, I don’t have one for this minding. Michelle Renard was not like my relationship with Salva.
Marc Colomer with minder and friend Salador "Salva" Garcia
After you won in 1996, did you feel that you were going to get more wins afterwards?
No, no because when I win in 96 it was not difficult because of Jordi Tarres but I know Dougie Lampkin for sure comes stronger for 97 but when I win for 96 sure I was thinking to win in 97. In my head I spend more time thinking about why I didn’t win in 1995. That is the question for me. 1995 was for me was my fault, I lost the Championship in 95, not in 97. Many people say when you lost 97, no no, I no lose in 97, Dougie was stronger than me, but in 95 I lose it and I could have won.
No, no because when I win in 96 it was not difficult because of Jordi Tarres but I know Dougie Lampkin for sure comes stronger for 97 but when I win for 96 sure I was thinking to win in 97. In my head I spend more time thinking about why I didn’t win in 1995. That is the question for me. 1995 was for me was my fault, I lost the Championship in 95, not in 97. Many people say when you lost 97, no no, I no lose in 97, Dougie was stronger than me, but in 95 I lose it and I could have won.
There is a famous video of you having a crash on a waterfall at Indoor Arena Trial?
Argh yes, it is in Madrid.
What happened?
It look spectacular yes. The minder was Salva Garcia and I come up. At this time the waterfall was double. Normally it is 4 metres but at this time it was double. The main sponsor was Fortuna and they say to make this less time to ride. At one metre before I arrive at the top I put my foot down and I don’t know what happened. The minder, Salva Garcia, don’t catch me and I go down and also the bike fall down, luckily to another place. When I watch this video I think it is an incredible crash but at the end it happened so quickly. I don’t know why for 5 years after or maybe 10 years after many televisions come to see me about this and 2 or 3 from USA. They love the crash. In Spain there was on television program about the biggest crashes of the bikes and the cars. This video has been shown many times, for this it is famous.
Argh yes, it is in Madrid.
What happened?
It look spectacular yes. The minder was Salva Garcia and I come up. At this time the waterfall was double. Normally it is 4 metres but at this time it was double. The main sponsor was Fortuna and they say to make this less time to ride. At one metre before I arrive at the top I put my foot down and I don’t know what happened. The minder, Salva Garcia, don’t catch me and I go down and also the bike fall down, luckily to another place. When I watch this video I think it is an incredible crash but at the end it happened so quickly. I don’t know why for 5 years after or maybe 10 years after many televisions come to see me about this and 2 or 3 from USA. They love the crash. In Spain there was on television program about the biggest crashes of the bikes and the cars. This video has been shown many times, for this it is famous.
Well worth watching -
Pedro Olle was your minder. Did you get much benefit from him?
Yes, because he helped me understand the bike. Maybe he didn’t help me as much for the competition and how to ride better, but he did help me how to understand the bike better and develop the bike better. He was the best man in his time for this.
Yes, because he helped me understand the bike. Maybe he didn’t help me as much for the competition and how to ride better, but he did help me how to understand the bike better and develop the bike better. He was the best man in his time for this.
Did Jordi miss Pedro?
Yes, yes, yes, because I think Jordi talk sometimes with Pedro about things when he is with me. When Pedro finished working with me I think he spent another one or two years with Jordi and he helped him with the bike. When Pedro was with me I think Jordi miss him, yes. I think yes. Because for sure sometimes after the race they go and speak together and Pedro told me that Jordi asked him many things. It’s just a feeling, I don’t know.
Did you do Arena trial in Japan?
Yes, but just one time in 1994.
Yes, yes, yes, because I think Jordi talk sometimes with Pedro about things when he is with me. When Pedro finished working with me I think he spent another one or two years with Jordi and he helped him with the bike. When Pedro was with me I think Jordi miss him, yes. I think yes. Because for sure sometimes after the race they go and speak together and Pedro told me that Jordi asked him many things. It’s just a feeling, I don’t know.
Did you do Arena trial in Japan?
Yes, but just one time in 1994.