2014 - exclusive Gabino Renales Interview
Page 6
Then I went to Belgium and I won the race.
The Bilstain step in 2013.
Gabino firing up the infamous Bilstain step in 1987 on his way to the win of his career.
|
Gabino before , during and after recieving confirmation of the win in Bilstain. Big smiles all around.
|
Then I went to England and I finished 6th or 7th. Then I go to Ireland and this was something totally unbelievable for me to finish in the top ten in England or Ireland. So after these 4 races are finished I am leading the World Championship because Tarres had some problems in the first race in Spain. He was disqualified because he arrived too late. Gallach was the winner with Mecatecno. Yep, so it was good.
Was the Gasgas good straight away?
Yes, it was quite a reliable bike. We were a little with Paxau but not much only fix the valves. We have valves not the typical inlet. This was something that we fit to my bike at this time. That’s all we changed in 2 years almost. We had brake discs but later in 87 but that’s it.
Was the Gasgas good straight away?
Yes, it was quite a reliable bike. We were a little with Paxau but not much only fix the valves. We have valves not the typical inlet. This was something that we fit to my bike at this time. That’s all we changed in 2 years almost. We had brake discs but later in 87 but that’s it.
Ganino Renales 1987 Spanish World round watched by Josep Paxau, Eddy Lejeune, Michaud and Saunders.
Which marque do you associate as being your favourite days?
Gasgas definitely because they were the days I concentrate on myself to get better and I have the time to work on myself and not have to test and make changes to the bike so much. The bike, the Gasgas was good enough. But only a short time before you had decided to stop riding, so why did you all of a sudden change back? Because at that time Paxau had a very good relationship as a mechanic and as a technician and so I had confidence in him and I had confidence in him because I had seen his work before with Merlin and did the sort of preparation that worked very well and afterwards we did the same with Merlin so he was a person who had a clear idea of what was necessary in trials. The bike, when I try the bike I thought that it was good. I think Paxau also work a little on the Mecatecno of Gallach I think. Which GasGas factory were you based at when you ride for them? GasGas at this time was at the Salt factory. It was a very small factory. I remember Dani Font worked there. He was always smiling, a very funny guy. |
The late and effervescent Dani Font wearing the original GasGas jacket standing in the original GasGas shop
which was founded in 1973.
which was founded in 1973.
Dani is the freeholder of the shop so has always lived in the home above. He ran a repair shop here before GasGas was founded. He then let the shop to Narcis Casas and Josep Pibernat and worked for them as a mechanic and later as a Trial machine assembler. Dani is seen here standing in the shop. The beige building to the right is the location of the small workshop in Salt where some assembly also took place.
The 1988 Season brought a big and dissapointing surprise for Gabino, when he broke his right wrist in the final round on 1987.
Why did you leave Gasgas, because they still had a good bike?
Because in the 2nd year of Gasgas in the 5th race in Italy when I broke my wrist so then the whole year was a pain in the ass. I could move it but my wrist never was fixed properly etc. It was really a shame. I thought at this time I could have finished in the top 5 of the World Championship but it was because of this that I finished 10th of 11th . It was really a shame. Then again in Gasgas they were growing and there was also Andreu Codina and the resources were little. To be honest at that time I thought at that time I had proved to myself that I could ride at a top level but Gasgas said no, they have not the financial resources available. |
Montesa at this time was starting a new project with the Japanese and I thought I could bring a lot of experience to develop the bike and help them to develop the bike. The 307 at this time was below the Gasgas level but I thought that I had the influence to make the changes to make the bike better.
Is it always difficult when you have the great ideas to go to the manufacturer who is your employer ?. Is the risk that they might tame down or adapt your idea into something you didn’t want?
The Montesa was a much bigger bike than the Gasgas. This is no good for trial.
Is it always difficult when you have the great ideas to go to the manufacturer who is your employer ?. Is the risk that they might tame down or adapt your idea into something you didn’t want?
The Montesa was a much bigger bike than the Gasgas. This is no good for trial.
In 1988 Gabino started to ride for Montesa on the 307. These are 2 photos of Gabino's actual factory bike.
Gabino with his 1989 Montesa team mates Eddy Lejeune and Pascal Couturier.
You must have mentioned this to Montesa. Did you meet resistance?
Yes, of course, there are financial restrictions and also the investment and many more factors that you have to see. It is no easy. You are the rider and you have the responsibility about at the same time you do not have all of the power to decide. At this time it was not easy. In your riding career would you fill out a report for the company after each trial? Yes, we started something like this with Merlin and also with Mecatecno giving feedback to the factory about the bike. |
How did you get involved in the Olympics?
Actually you will have seen my bike when you went to the Bassella museum .
The Bassella Museum is 1hr 44 minutes / 149 kilometers west of Barcelona and houses one of the finest collection of motorcycles in the World. It is owned and operated by a trust which also manages the Barcelona Motorcycle museum.
The Bassella Museum is 1hr 44 minutes / 149 kilometers west of Barcelona and houses one of the finest collection of motorcycles in the World. It is owned and operated by a trust which also manages the Barcelona Motorcycle museum.
The head Trustee is the Bultaco factory competition manager Estanis Soler.