Page 19 2013 The best Amos Bilbao interview
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
In 93 I start to work a lot in the gym but also a lot with a psychologist. This help me a lot.
What did the psychologist help you with?
Well, he help me, we spend much time together. He come to practice and he talk with the people who have been working with me and find out my problems. He realise that I was a very good rider but I never have a plan. He start to make a plan for me and work with that and make sure we keep the plan. I must relax in the section at times and thinking about things and concentrating more. To make all this we make first a plan. It was very easy. Ok…wake up 2 hours before the race, go for practice. After practice just think a little about any things and in the race make a plan how it has to work. If you get there and there is something wrong and bad thing happen, how to know that it is going wrong and how to go back to the good place. This helped me a lot because section number 10, I was leading on 10 marks the trial, the rest 25. Next section 5 “Oh F*ck”. 12 – five, 13– five, 14 – five and this continued. Also I try very hard and with this it help in 94 it work very well and I get an incredible result.
If you had a five, did you rush to the next section and were you screaming around like a motocross?
Yes yes yes. It was about knowing and seeing the signs before something was about to happen. It was about me seeing this and thinking to myself “hey hey hey, why am I thinking this?” I don’t need to think about this. I was told to think myself and how I want to make the section and everything and make sure before I make the step how I am going to make the step. Everything. It was about thinking about the smallest thing. I want the front wheel here and make it happen. After, when I make this happen, it is what I expect. If it does not I look at this and think why did this happen and think “Why I cannot make this”. This would help me for the 2nd lap and this help me. Before this I was not doing this. It help me a lot for this year.
Was this psychologist recommended to you by someone?
He worked with my personal trainer. I never care much about the food I eat though. The psychologist tell me not to think about the other rider, not to think of their riding or their score, just think about me. It’s difficult for me to explain. I don’t know how. I remember many things but I don’t know how to say. Just look at the wheels of the bike, care about this, don’t care about that, don’t care about this sticker on his bike, just think about yourself ok. Ok I know that you are good, all these people know that you are good, ok we support you, don’t have any doubt, if you need something just ask direct, many things that make things easier. It’s very easy but I never think like this before. It is the way, you don’t need to be very clever but if you do not make it, you do not make it. This was in 1993, that I have this help.
Did you have to pay for this yourself?
I pay for this myself and I get some help from the federation as there was a man who helped with this.
What did the psychologist help you with?
Well, he help me, we spend much time together. He come to practice and he talk with the people who have been working with me and find out my problems. He realise that I was a very good rider but I never have a plan. He start to make a plan for me and work with that and make sure we keep the plan. I must relax in the section at times and thinking about things and concentrating more. To make all this we make first a plan. It was very easy. Ok…wake up 2 hours before the race, go for practice. After practice just think a little about any things and in the race make a plan how it has to work. If you get there and there is something wrong and bad thing happen, how to know that it is going wrong and how to go back to the good place. This helped me a lot because section number 10, I was leading on 10 marks the trial, the rest 25. Next section 5 “Oh F*ck”. 12 – five, 13– five, 14 – five and this continued. Also I try very hard and with this it help in 94 it work very well and I get an incredible result.
If you had a five, did you rush to the next section and were you screaming around like a motocross?
Yes yes yes. It was about knowing and seeing the signs before something was about to happen. It was about me seeing this and thinking to myself “hey hey hey, why am I thinking this?” I don’t need to think about this. I was told to think myself and how I want to make the section and everything and make sure before I make the step how I am going to make the step. Everything. It was about thinking about the smallest thing. I want the front wheel here and make it happen. After, when I make this happen, it is what I expect. If it does not I look at this and think why did this happen and think “Why I cannot make this”. This would help me for the 2nd lap and this help me. Before this I was not doing this. It help me a lot for this year.
Was this psychologist recommended to you by someone?
He worked with my personal trainer. I never care much about the food I eat though. The psychologist tell me not to think about the other rider, not to think of their riding or their score, just think about me. It’s difficult for me to explain. I don’t know how. I remember many things but I don’t know how to say. Just look at the wheels of the bike, care about this, don’t care about that, don’t care about this sticker on his bike, just think about yourself ok. Ok I know that you are good, all these people know that you are good, ok we support you, don’t have any doubt, if you need something just ask direct, many things that make things easier. It’s very easy but I never think like this before. It is the way, you don’t need to be very clever but if you do not make it, you do not make it. This was in 1993, that I have this help.
Did you have to pay for this yourself?
I pay for this myself and I get some help from the federation as there was a man who helped with this.
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
How did you realize that you needed help from this man and in this area?
When I started with this man I said I am going to try. Some people say “Hey why don’t you try this”. As I say many times I was leading and then 2 minutes after this I was losing many many marks. So some people very close say why don’t you try this to see and it worked for me. But this you have to keep working every day. Once you think that you know how to make it then you are f*cked. You have to practice every day. Not “Yes I know how to make it, I remember, I go to the race day, no problem”. No you have to keep working with it.
At this time in your career were you practicing on the moto every day?
Almost, almost. I’m not one of the riders who…….I’m not the one who practice less, but many riders practice more than me ..sure. In those days I don’t need to practice. I get tired, not physically, but mentally. I would get bored with riding every day.
Which minders did you have with Montesa?
I start with Gabino Renales and Daniel Delvaier. Daniel is now working with Sherco and he has been minder with Fajardo and has been minding with Bou before he start with Montesa. I know him since I was with Beta in 1986. He was riding as well in those days. He was riding with a bicycle also. He is a good friend of me, he was here last year.
Did you prefer indoors or outdoor trial?
When I started with this man I said I am going to try. Some people say “Hey why don’t you try this”. As I say many times I was leading and then 2 minutes after this I was losing many many marks. So some people very close say why don’t you try this to see and it worked for me. But this you have to keep working every day. Once you think that you know how to make it then you are f*cked. You have to practice every day. Not “Yes I know how to make it, I remember, I go to the race day, no problem”. No you have to keep working with it.
At this time in your career were you practicing on the moto every day?
Almost, almost. I’m not one of the riders who…….I’m not the one who practice less, but many riders practice more than me ..sure. In those days I don’t need to practice. I get tired, not physically, but mentally. I would get bored with riding every day.
Which minders did you have with Montesa?
I start with Gabino Renales and Daniel Delvaier. Daniel is now working with Sherco and he has been minder with Fajardo and has been minding with Bou before he start with Montesa. I know him since I was with Beta in 1986. He was riding as well in those days. He was riding with a bicycle also. He is a good friend of me, he was here last year.
Did you prefer indoors or outdoor trial?
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
Outdoor, in fact I like trial outdoor nonstop and I like indoor as a show, not competition. I remember that in those days we make a lot of competition and winning was important but it wasn’t the most important thing. We go to Salamanca bullring arena and we make our best, jump here and this and that.
A great photo of an early 1987 Arena Trial held in a bull ring in Catalonia
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
Sometimes wins Jordi, sometimes Bosis, sometimes me, Colomer and after the trial we go out for a few party.
A proud moment - Amos wins the USA 1992 World Trial
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
I understand the indoors like this, not like it is now like a competition. It’s all about the show.
Now, this was one special and unusual indoor trial.
The Girona Arena looks like a scene from "Ben Hur" and the chariot race. It was 1991.
The Girona Arena looks like a scene from "Ben Hur" and the chariot race. It was 1991.
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
Almost every one of the the World best riders are on the start line, ready for the 4 lap race around the oval circuit. From left to right
Tommi Ahvala, Lluis Gallach, Andreu Codina, Amos Bilbao, Marc Colomer, Donato Miglio, Diego Bosis and Gabino Renales.
Tommi Ahvala, Lluis Gallach, Andreu Codina, Amos Bilbao, Marc Colomer, Donato Miglio, Diego Bosis and Gabino Renales.
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Jordi Tarres and Takumi Narita sit out.
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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The flag goes down and Amos beats everyone to the inside line. Andreu is trying desperately to get around the outside line.
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Amos is younger, has motocross experience and loves to race. He's away, broad sliding on the dirt as he gives it the Gas.
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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You've guessed right......Amos won. Andreu's lines were too wide. Tommi and Donato are next and only a second behind.
Amos Bilbao Interview WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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You are famous for doing the crazy boy high jump trick where you ride over the high jump and then you let go of the bike in mid air?
Amos’s partner has joined us and I say to her “You have seen this?” and she reply “No”
I remember the first time that happened was in Girona with the Gasgas in 93 and I think it was my last race with Gasgas in the Gasgas home. I make the high jump and I make it very bad so in the air I say I will leave the bike as I will have very big crash. As soon as I throw the bike I thought “Oh they are going to think that I want to break the bike”, so I land and the bike was still going so I ran and jumped on the bike and everybody though that it was all planned, but it wasn’t . But after this sometimes I made this happen. Sometimes I would make this happen and sometimes I would have a crash. The first time I think I am going to kill myself so I throw the bike, then I think they are going to think I tried to smash the bike ha ha.
Amos’s partner has joined us and I say to her “You have seen this?” and she reply “No”
I remember the first time that happened was in Girona with the Gasgas in 93 and I think it was my last race with Gasgas in the Gasgas home. I make the high jump and I make it very bad so in the air I say I will leave the bike as I will have very big crash. As soon as I throw the bike I thought “Oh they are going to think that I want to break the bike”, so I land and the bike was still going so I ran and jumped on the bike and everybody though that it was all planned, but it wasn’t . But after this sometimes I made this happen. Sometimes I would make this happen and sometimes I would have a crash. The first time I think I am going to kill myself so I throw the bike, then I think they are going to think I tried to smash the bike ha ha.
Here is some of the best footage of Amos entertaining the crowd at indoor trial.
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