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7 -Exclusive Interview with GasGas co Founder
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So we are loaded back up and head out of the tight and twisting traditional old working part of Barc and head back north. Time to resume the interview .
What did you do for a job when you left school?
I was a carpenter. I was a carpenter until I was 21 years. Then I go for 2 years in the military and after I finished this I go and make the motorbikes. I started as a pilot for Bultaco and then I start the company GasGas in 1974. So at 21 I go military and after military I start competitions. I leave military at 23 and I am then married and then make the company.
What sort of carpenter were you?. What did you make?
I make the complete houses of wood and I make the tables also ...what do you call this ....Furniture.
Yes, so I make these 2 things.
So why did you decide to stop carpentry and make the motorcycle business?
My passion is the bikes and I like a lot the carpenter work and I have a lot of work but I had the passion for the bikes and after not possible to follow 2 things and then I need to finish some house and I wanted to ride in the competition and this was not possible because I had to work on the house. In the final I said ok I go with the bikes and close the carpentry, for passion.
What work did you do in the Army?
I work near Figueres.
Did you fight in the Army? Did you drive?
I don't make nothing. No no no my Military captain is young, the number 1 of the ranks. He is the first Captain and the first General and the number one of these in Spain. He was a very clever man and I go speak with him and say I need work as my father and mother they seperate and I need to assist my little sister who is 15 years more young than me. I need work so I say to him that we must go training together. I say to him that I need work at San Rosa in the mountain and I also have work in Umphaloria which is very close. We go shooting together and I say to him that if I make more better target shooting than you I can do my things no problem. I win this and we enjoy to drink in the bar and after this we make good relations with the Captain and I get the permits to go working every day. Every day I start work at 6 o'clock and I formed a small business as a carpenter in the Army and I did this every day.
So your job was the Army but you no have to do this?
Yes yes, I go the Army but I make one agreement with my captain in the first week. I would make things for the Army as well. I make the pole for the flag. They say is this possible for you to make. I say yes and I make. I do this and go home to make these things for a few days and then bring back the pieces I make. After I make the tables for the play the ping pong ha ha. My company in the Army had 250 peoples but many thousands people use these things I make. I then go speak with my captain and I say I need take the money for me and he give no problem for the things I make. He is happy with my shooting. I like the arms and everything. My first thing is the shooting and my second thing is the bikes. We have a good relations. He was 30 years and I was about 20 years. The relations even today is fantastic. Now his children are in California and one is training the Navy Seals for shooting. The other is an ambassador. He arrive at the rank of General. We had a very good relations. Many times different companies in the Army would come for me and as for a carpenter and say you can make this and then make this also. I was very busy. When I finish this I make the buildings for some time in Rosa and I no take money I am paid with an apartment. Then after the captain let me train for the motocross and the enduro and I go places and maybe stay 150 days out of Spain in one year riding the competitions. We had a good relations.
What happened then after you left the Army?
I make a little carpentry as I say and then I go moto all the time. I was Professional when I was 20 years, in Bultaco. In 1973 I was in the 6 days in America, Boston and I make the first gold medal in the six days. Bultaco were my first sponsor and myself. I work and I pay at the very start. They then pay all.
What did you do for a job when you left school?
I was a carpenter. I was a carpenter until I was 21 years. Then I go for 2 years in the military and after I finished this I go and make the motorbikes. I started as a pilot for Bultaco and then I start the company GasGas in 1974. So at 21 I go military and after military I start competitions. I leave military at 23 and I am then married and then make the company.
What sort of carpenter were you?. What did you make?
I make the complete houses of wood and I make the tables also ...what do you call this ....Furniture.
Yes, so I make these 2 things.
So why did you decide to stop carpentry and make the motorcycle business?
My passion is the bikes and I like a lot the carpenter work and I have a lot of work but I had the passion for the bikes and after not possible to follow 2 things and then I need to finish some house and I wanted to ride in the competition and this was not possible because I had to work on the house. In the final I said ok I go with the bikes and close the carpentry, for passion.
What work did you do in the Army?
I work near Figueres.
Did you fight in the Army? Did you drive?
I don't make nothing. No no no my Military captain is young, the number 1 of the ranks. He is the first Captain and the first General and the number one of these in Spain. He was a very clever man and I go speak with him and say I need work as my father and mother they seperate and I need to assist my little sister who is 15 years more young than me. I need work so I say to him that we must go training together. I say to him that I need work at San Rosa in the mountain and I also have work in Umphaloria which is very close. We go shooting together and I say to him that if I make more better target shooting than you I can do my things no problem. I win this and we enjoy to drink in the bar and after this we make good relations with the Captain and I get the permits to go working every day. Every day I start work at 6 o'clock and I formed a small business as a carpenter in the Army and I did this every day.
So your job was the Army but you no have to do this?
Yes yes, I go the Army but I make one agreement with my captain in the first week. I would make things for the Army as well. I make the pole for the flag. They say is this possible for you to make. I say yes and I make. I do this and go home to make these things for a few days and then bring back the pieces I make. After I make the tables for the play the ping pong ha ha. My company in the Army had 250 peoples but many thousands people use these things I make. I then go speak with my captain and I say I need take the money for me and he give no problem for the things I make. He is happy with my shooting. I like the arms and everything. My first thing is the shooting and my second thing is the bikes. We have a good relations. He was 30 years and I was about 20 years. The relations even today is fantastic. Now his children are in California and one is training the Navy Seals for shooting. The other is an ambassador. He arrive at the rank of General. We had a very good relations. Many times different companies in the Army would come for me and as for a carpenter and say you can make this and then make this also. I was very busy. When I finish this I make the buildings for some time in Rosa and I no take money I am paid with an apartment. Then after the captain let me train for the motocross and the enduro and I go places and maybe stay 150 days out of Spain in one year riding the competitions. We had a good relations.
What happened then after you left the Army?
I make a little carpentry as I say and then I go moto all the time. I was Professional when I was 20 years, in Bultaco. In 1973 I was in the 6 days in America, Boston and I make the first gold medal in the six days. Bultaco were my first sponsor and myself. I work and I pay at the very start. They then pay all.
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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How did you get noticed by the Bultaco factory?
I remember one competition I ride in 1973 in Girona. It is very very very wet. The rain is incredible. This Girona competition was a big events because it was near to the factories. The competition was strong and very hard. Only 2 people finish. Narcis and me.
I remember one competition I ride in 1973 in Girona. It is very very very wet. The rain is incredible. This Girona competition was a big events because it was near to the factories. The competition was strong and very hard. Only 2 people finish. Narcis and me.
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
Narcis is 5 years older than me and is with Bultaco also. This was a Spanish championship event and nobody know me. I take my
bike and prepare nothing. This is like when I ride the Paris Dakar. I go one shop buy one motorbike take a Suzuki and place one Ohlins shock and go. No prepare nothing. Nothing special no. In the rally of Peru I take one Husqvarna put on big tank Acerbis and go. GasGas sticker and go. GasGas sticker on the head and go ha ha.
bike and prepare nothing. This is like when I ride the Paris Dakar. I go one shop buy one motorbike take a Suzuki and place one Ohlins shock and go. No prepare nothing. Nothing special no. In the rally of Peru I take one Husqvarna put on big tank Acerbis and go. GasGas sticker and go. GasGas sticker on the head and go ha ha.
And here is a photo of that bike and another of the trip to Machu Picchu .... and another of the GasGas sticker on the head :).
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com
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After I finish this events with Narcis in Girona, Bulto the boss of Bultaco he come to me and say this was your passport to the six days in America . Here come the federation men and this success with Narcis open for me the door to Bultaco.
In this dinner photo you can see Ignacio Bulto on the left with the black tie. To his right is Narcis Casas and then Josep Pibernat. On the far right is Estanis Soler, competition manager of Bultaco with Piber's wife sitting next to him.
In this dinner photo you can see Ignacio Bulto on the left with the black tie. To his right is Narcis Casas and then Josep Pibernat. On the far right is Estanis Soler, competition manager of Bultaco with Piber's wife sitting next to him.
Exclusive Interview with GasGas motorcycles co Founder Josep Pibernat www.retrotrials.com