Mecatecno - THE MEN BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLES
THE MEN BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLES
To understand the history of Mecatecno , you must first briefly understand Derbi.
Derbi's origins began with a little bicycle workshop in the village of Mollet near Barcelona, founded in 1922 by Simón Rabasa i Singla. The focus remained the repair and hire of bicycles until May 1944 when Singla formed a limited company named Bicicletas Rabas with the aim of moving into manufacturing bicycles.
The venture proved very successful and in 1946, supported by its profits, work began on a motorised version.More moped than motorcycle, this first model, the 48cc SRS included damper rear suspension, and a motorcycle type gas tank and exhaust system. The SRS proved so successful it prompted a change in the companies direction, and on November 7, 1950, the company changed its name to the Nacional Motor SA , marking their venture into motorcycle manufacturing
Derbi was still a family company and many of the the Rabasa family members were employed there including Andrew Rabasa , Jordi Rabasa and Margaret Rabasa. Andrew Rabasa was one of the company directors and Margaret was his sister. Jordi Rabasa was the cousin of Andrew.
Jordi Rabasa , Juan Ruiz and Miguel Mira all worked for the large Spanish Motorcycle manufacturer Derbi.Derbi motorcycles is based in Mortolles a suberb of Barcelona.
Jordi Rabasa was the competition manager for the motorsport division. This was an important role for the company as the good performance of Derbi motorcycles in competition would reflect in good motorcycle sales. This role would take Rabasa all over the world. At this time Derbi was successfull in Grand Prix racing and motorcross.Jordi Rabasa was the cousin of Andrew Rabasa who was the director of Derbi.
Jordi was young and saw an opportunity to work for himself creating the motorcycles that he wanted to make. He would use the experience he gained from Derbi and steer his company Mecatecno in the direction he wanted. Derbi were a major manufacturer or small capacity motorcycles and Mecatecno were created to compete in this niche.
Jordi Rabsa left Derbi is 1978 and established Mecatecno.
Angel Mira
Angel Mira worked initially for Ducati and then Derbi as a motorcycle racer , such was his talent.
He started work with Mecatecno shortly after Rabasa.
Juan Ruiz was a keen and very able motorcycle mechanic.He had not been to college or University but had a very good understanding of motorcycles and taken on at Derbi as a mechanic and assembler. He was employed at Derbi in 1962 and initially started working on the production lines learning the Derbi motorcycle range.
In 1964 he was spotted internally and started working for the Derbi National Spanish race team travelling up and down the country supporting the best Spanish riders.He spent some time working in the off road motorcycle department
Then in 1967 he was given a excellent break and became Angel Nieto's race Mechanic. Angel Nieto was and still is considered as a Spanish God with 13 World Grand Prix championships to his name mostly on small capacity 50cc, 80cc and 125cc championship classes.Ruiz travelled the World with Nieto and a small team.
Juan Ruiz worked from 1962 untill 1982 at Derbi motorcycles
In the evenings however Ruiz would work in the outbuildings at Rabasa's home for Mecatecno.
It was at this time in 1982 that he joined Mecatecno , which had already been established and was owned by Jordi Rabasa
Juan worked with mecatecno untill 1992
Juan then worked for the Spanish after market motorcycle parts supplier Metrakit from 1992 untill 1996.
He then returned to Mecatecno in January 1996 untill September 1996.By September Juan hadnt been paid for 3 months and he realised that it was unlikley that he was going to see his pay or a future with the company .
In Sept 1996 he telephoned Mr Casas the owner of Gas Gas and started work immediately as manager of Research and Development.
Derbi's origins began with a little bicycle workshop in the village of Mollet near Barcelona, founded in 1922 by Simón Rabasa i Singla. The focus remained the repair and hire of bicycles until May 1944 when Singla formed a limited company named Bicicletas Rabas with the aim of moving into manufacturing bicycles.
The venture proved very successful and in 1946, supported by its profits, work began on a motorised version.More moped than motorcycle, this first model, the 48cc SRS included damper rear suspension, and a motorcycle type gas tank and exhaust system. The SRS proved so successful it prompted a change in the companies direction, and on November 7, 1950, the company changed its name to the Nacional Motor SA , marking their venture into motorcycle manufacturing
Derbi was still a family company and many of the the Rabasa family members were employed there including Andrew Rabasa , Jordi Rabasa and Margaret Rabasa. Andrew Rabasa was one of the company directors and Margaret was his sister. Jordi Rabasa was the cousin of Andrew.
Jordi Rabasa , Juan Ruiz and Miguel Mira all worked for the large Spanish Motorcycle manufacturer Derbi.Derbi motorcycles is based in Mortolles a suberb of Barcelona.
Jordi Rabasa was the competition manager for the motorsport division. This was an important role for the company as the good performance of Derbi motorcycles in competition would reflect in good motorcycle sales. This role would take Rabasa all over the world. At this time Derbi was successfull in Grand Prix racing and motorcross.Jordi Rabasa was the cousin of Andrew Rabasa who was the director of Derbi.
Jordi was young and saw an opportunity to work for himself creating the motorcycles that he wanted to make. He would use the experience he gained from Derbi and steer his company Mecatecno in the direction he wanted. Derbi were a major manufacturer or small capacity motorcycles and Mecatecno were created to compete in this niche.
Jordi Rabsa left Derbi is 1978 and established Mecatecno.
Angel Mira
Angel Mira worked initially for Ducati and then Derbi as a motorcycle racer , such was his talent.
He started work with Mecatecno shortly after Rabasa.
Juan Ruiz was a keen and very able motorcycle mechanic.He had not been to college or University but had a very good understanding of motorcycles and taken on at Derbi as a mechanic and assembler. He was employed at Derbi in 1962 and initially started working on the production lines learning the Derbi motorcycle range.
In 1964 he was spotted internally and started working for the Derbi National Spanish race team travelling up and down the country supporting the best Spanish riders.He spent some time working in the off road motorcycle department
Then in 1967 he was given a excellent break and became Angel Nieto's race Mechanic. Angel Nieto was and still is considered as a Spanish God with 13 World Grand Prix championships to his name mostly on small capacity 50cc, 80cc and 125cc championship classes.Ruiz travelled the World with Nieto and a small team.
Juan Ruiz worked from 1962 untill 1982 at Derbi motorcycles
In the evenings however Ruiz would work in the outbuildings at Rabasa's home for Mecatecno.
It was at this time in 1982 that he joined Mecatecno , which had already been established and was owned by Jordi Rabasa
Juan worked with mecatecno untill 1992
Juan then worked for the Spanish after market motorcycle parts supplier Metrakit from 1992 untill 1996.
He then returned to Mecatecno in January 1996 untill September 1996.By September Juan hadnt been paid for 3 months and he realised that it was unlikley that he was going to see his pay or a future with the company .
In Sept 1996 he telephoned Mr Casas the owner of Gas Gas and started work immediately as manager of Research and Development.
Juan Ruiz - left. Jordi Rabasa - Right in Jordi's workshop , where Mecatecno started back in 1978
Juan Ruiz and margarita ruiz Mecatecno Joan Ruiz with his wife Mararita who work in the offices of Mecatecno
Margarita Ruiz organised the day to day running of the company. She dealt with Bike and part orders , Incoming parts coordination, dealers , importers , Bike assembly. - Wonder woman!
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Juan ruiz at gas gas motos Mecatecno Joan Ruiz photo with GasGas R and D department
Back row - Juan Ruiz at Gas Gas R and D department
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Derbi factory photo
This was issued to Juan Ruiz in 1982 to celebrate his working for mecatecno for 20 years.If you look close you might spot him ;)
Ruiz photos
More memorabilia from Ruiz's garage wall
Ruiz / Nieto photos
Photograph from Ruiz's garage -
The left photo shows shows Juan Ruiz standing next Nieto at a race meeting. The photograph to the right shows then both relaxing at a race meeting. Nieto laying down and ruiz looking at the bike. Note the ralaxed nature of the meetings in the those days.These days then wouldnt be parked on a grass car park , they would be surrounded by managers and technicians in a race side garage. |
Ruiz / nieto photos
This photographs shows Nieto standing in the centre in leathers whilst Ruiz is behind the bike just off centre to the left.
 MORE MEMORABILIA FROM RUIZ'SWALL |
Derbi race team
Ruiz standing over his race team
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Angel Nieto
13 times World Champion.
Ruiz was Nietos chief mechanic during his World Championship winning reign with Derbi. |
 JUAN RUIZ'S OWN MECATECNO SKYWALKER IN HIS GARAGE
JUAN ALSO OWNS A MODERN GAS GAS |
 MORE MEMORABILIA ON RUIZ'SWALL |