I don't know how Gabi’s relationship was with the other brands that he rode for, before I would think that the relationship would have been good, but with in Gas Gas I can explain to you that the enthusiasm and the energy was very high.
Albert with Malcolm and Rhoda Rathmell at the Rathmell's hotel in Grassington. Albert is clearly asleep. Was this a result of the Vodka and Coke or Rhoda and Malcolm's stories ?. I dont know ;).
A selection of photos taken during March 1986 when the Spanish federation team came to the UK for the World Trial at Pateley Bridge. The 1st photo shows Renales with Albert's bike. The 2nd photo shows the team about to embarque from Belgium to the UK. Lined up are Merlin rider Jorge Joanes from Bilbao, Juvantany, Joan Freixas, Ignacio Vernada, Renales, Ronald Garcia and Gallach. Jorge has a large motorcycle dealership in Galicia, Spain.
Federation Garibaldi jacket that's travelled the entire Retro Trials World in 1987. (The actual jacket seen in the ship photo below- 3rd from right ;) ).
The federation transported its riders and mechanics all squashed into the green land rover behind the team in the 2nd photo. It was bought cheap in Spain. Can you imagine how uncomfortable and long the trip would have been. Albert explained that on the boat trip to the UK everyone was sick. These photos were taken on the ferry and in the grounds and area of Malcolm Rathmell's hotel near Grassington.
This was development, so of course we have many problems but at the time we did not acknowledge them as problems they were simply showing us the way.
Gabino Renales - World Trial Finland 1987
When you are developing and testing and testing and testing you crash some parts and you break some parts, this is normal, there were times when I thought that we had problems with the rear end of the bike but in reality the rear develop so fast, it's true that one area we did have big problems with was the rear shock absorber and also the large u-shaped link which bent and broken many times before we got that right. Xevi Puigdemont was a massive rider, a very powerful rider, with a lot of speed and he help to test the Gas Gas Halley, the first bike and he help to find the weak parts of the bike by being hard with it. If the bike could cope with heavy, then haha we knew it was good and safe.
Xevi Puigdemont pictured below on the left is a 5 times Spanish enduro champion. He consistently achieved 3rd in the World championships. He started his involvement with GasGas during 1985 whilst testing the GasGas Halley. He was immensely loyal to GasGas, adored by Pibernat and Casas staying with them until 2003.
During this testing what parts broke the most and needed upgrading ?
Let me think. The swinging arms broke many times and also the big u bend where the rear shock connects under the fibreglass seat . Yes I remember, the covers of the engine also broke against the rocks and modification was needed here. At this stage the engine was produced by Villa and shipped to Gas Gas in parts. Many changes were made to that engine on the instructions of the Paxau or Piber, at this early stage.
Let me think. The swinging arms broke many times and also the big u bend where the rear shock connects under the fibreglass seat . Yes I remember, the covers of the engine also broke against the rocks and modification was needed here. At this stage the engine was produced by Villa and shipped to Gas Gas in parts. Many changes were made to that engine on the instructions of the Paxau or Piber, at this early stage.
Gabino Renales' 1987 GasGas 325 Halley