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Page 3 Factory rider Joan Freixas Interview June 2012

Yes, a lot of changes. It is normal . This was a prototype

RT - Was it competitive at the time

It was competitive because it was their job to make it good in competition but not the bike at all..

RT - Why use the Cagiva engine?

There was no engine and they come to agreement with Cagiva. I was not involved

RT - Did Merlin change the engines as all or was it standard?

Yes, the engine for trial was the same for the trail bike and motocross engine. They change it a lot for the trial they cut the fins down they change the gears to make closer and they change the clutch

RT - Did Merlin change the engine or did Cagiva?

Cagiva make these changes not Merlin. They did it for Merlin

RT - In 1982 you got 14th in Trials world Championship and in 1983 you got no points why?

I had to got the army on compulsory service for three years

RT - Was the twinshock 1982 influenced by Bultaco ?

Yes ,Ignacio was from Bultaco so yes. Ignacio was the technical man for Merlin and after the partner Pedro Arpa. I think Ignacio was only technical the three partners were Pedro Arpa, Jony Regas and Lluis Planes

Pedro Arpa has died

RT - Did Paxau work on the Merlin?

He worked for Merlin but not in the factory. He just prepared the bikes for Gallach and me a little. He was a technical man. Paxau really just supported the riders to make adjustments to the bikes for competition

RT - Did he help develop the bikes from one year to the next ?

No ,he was responsible because he would go the competitions with the riders and make changes these changes would be on the next  years bike

RT - Who designed the red Merlin with the white wheels.

Maybe Ignacio , i don’t know.

RT - The 1985 Gallach bike had 6 spoke wheels.Where did that i deal come from ?

From Ignacio bulto

RT - Was this a big risk at the time?

Yes,It was forbidden for this bike to be ridden in some country. In Belgium it was necessary to put a spacer between the spokes.

RT - Which was the best selling bike for Merlin.

The red Merlin 1988.

RT - You ride for Merlin at the competitions but what did you do during the week ?

 I work for Merlin. Yes i work and ride

RT - What did you do at the factory ?

Only prepared the bike for the trial, just the competition department

RT - Upstairs at the Fornells factory what was the large room used for ?

It was a warehouse

RT - Why did Merlin go bad?

I there was not enough evolution of the motorcycles .The engine is old and very big and many people say it needs a new engine . They didn’t and the company was decided not to build another bike and they then decided to sell the factory to GasGas. The problem also was that Ignacio make one bike with Ducati four stroke. The name was DG11. This is bad . All the money went bad. The engine was very bad and they all go wrong


Picture
Joan Freixas with the Jotagas 300
RT - I hear that a water cooled Merlin was made . Is this true ?

No never.

RT - Why was the 1985 Merlin twinshock made when the Yamaha trial bike was already a mono shock?

Because they started developing the single shock with Paxau and they did not start prpduction with this bike until later. They were slower with the evolution of the bike, although they have the Paxau single shock bike

RT - What did you do after Merlin?

After Merlin I stay at the factory and GasGas take the factory 

RT - What did you do for GasGas?

I only work and only a little drive. Issued to test the bikes before were sold to make sure they worked properly.

RT - Do you have a good technical knowledge?.

 I work with the motorcycle all of my life. I know when an engine is good and can identify engines that are good for competition. This is  good for everybody . Yes , i know this.

RT - When Lejeuene was employed by Merlin did Merlin call Lejeuene or did Lejeune call Merlin?

Merlin called him . He has problem with the Honda , i think before and they finish his competition

RT - Did Paco Bulto every come to the factory to see his son and to see how things were?.

Paco speak many times with Ignacio on the telephone but he never came to the factory , no

RT - What was the best time in your career?

I got a 6th place at the Spanish trials in 1987.

One 6th in Germany 

RT - You were chosen to ride the trials des Nations . That must have been a great honour for you?

Yes , three times. , yes

I have some photo of the factory . I will send you.

Thank you Joan.

Picture
Tarres , Cordina ,Freixas and Gallach The 1985 Spanish Trials Des Nations tram.

Freixas World championship results

1 22/02/1981                 SPAIN MURA                                                  24 th MONTESA
2 1/03/1981                   BELGIUM AYWAILLE                                     45 th OSSA
3 7/03/1981                   IRELAND NEWTOWNARDS                            42 nd MONTESA
4 15/03/1981                 GREAT BRITAIN BAINBRIDGE                       40 th MONTESA
5 17/05/1981                 FRANCE LES ROUSSES                                 37 th MONTESA
6 24/05/1981                 ITALY CUORGNE                                            30 th MONTESA
7 21/02/1982                 SPAIN OLOT                                                    27 th MERLIN
8 28/02/1982                 BELGIUM BILSTAIN                                        40 th MERLIN
9 16/05/1982                 ITALY CONCEI                                                16 th MERLIN
10 23/05/1982               FRANCE ST.LEONARD DES BOIS                  28 th MERLIN
11 30/05/1982               GERMANY SULZ AM WILBERG                     6 th MERLIN
12 6/06/1982                 AUSTRIA HEINRICH AM WEITRA                   9 th MERLIN
13 5/09/1982                 FINLAND EKENÄS                                          27 th MERLIN
14 12/09/1982               SWEDEN VÄRNAMÖ                                      42 nd MERLIN
15 20/02/1983               SPAIN OLOT                                                   17 th MERLIN
16 27/02/1983               BELGIUM BILSTAIN                                       28 th MERLIN
17 5/03/1983                 GREAT BRITAIN BAINBRIDGE                       30 th MERLIN
18 13/03/1983               IRELAND NEWTOWNARDS                             31 st MERLIN
19 2/10/1983                 GERMANY GEFREES                                     44 th MERLIN
20 11/03/1984               BELGIUM BILSTAIN                                        26 th MERLIN
21 18/03/1984               GREAT BRITAIN MERTHYR TYDFIL              18 th MERLIN
22 1/07/1984                 AUSTRIA HEINRICH AM WEITRA                    26 th MERLIN
23 6/07/1984                 ITALY COURMAYEUR                                     23 rd MERLIN
24 2/09/1984                 FINLAND ESPOO                                             18 th MERLIN
25 9/09/1984                 SWEDEN LERÜM                                             15 th MERLIN
26 24/02/1985               SPAIN PERAMOLA                                           12 th MERLIN
10/03/1985                    BELGIUM BILSTAIN                                          34 th MERLIN
28 17/03/1985               GREAT BRITAIN MERTHYR TYDFIL                18 th MERLIN
29 23/03/1985               IRELAND NEWTOWNARDS                               23 rd MERLIN
30 14/05/1985               FRANCE GOUDARGUES                                   32 nd MERLIN
31 16/06/1985               AUSTRIA SPITAL AM SEMMERING                  24 th MERLIN
32 22/06/1985               POLAND MYSLENICE                                       32 nd MERLIN
33 25/08/1985               FINLAND ESPOO                                               28 th MERLIN
34 31/08/1985               SWEDEN LINKÖPING                                        22 nd MERLIN
35 8/09/1985                 SWITZERLAND GRIMMIALP                             29 th MERLIN
36 15/09/1985               GERMANY GROSSHEUBACH                          20 th MERLIN
37 9/03/1986                 BELGIUM BILSTAIN                                          26 th MERLIN
38 16/03/1986               GREAT BRITAIN PATELEY BRIDGE                 26 th MERLIN
39 22/03/1986               IRELAND NEWTOWNARDS                               34 th MERLIN
40 13/04/1986               SPAIN PERAMOLA                                            12 th MERLIN
41 1/06/1986                 UNITED STATES MOUNT VERNON                   24 th MERLIN
42 8/06/1986                 CANADA IOCO                                                   19 th MERLIN
43 29/06/1986               GERMANY SULZ AM WILBERG                        22 nd MERLIN
44 6/07/1986                 AUSTRIA HEINRICH AM WEITRA                      30 th MERLIN
45 5/03/1987                 SPAIN SANT LLORENC DE MORUNYS             6 th MERLIN
46 12/03/1987               BELGIUM BILSTAIN                                           42 nd MERLIN
47 25/03/1987               IRELAND NEWTOWNARDS                                29 th MERLIN
48 31/05/1987               FRANCE LES ROUSSES                                    26 th MERLIN
49 6/03/1988                 SPAIN SANT LLORENC DE MORUNYS             36 th MERLIN
50 29/05/1988               AUSTRIA HEINRICH AM WEITRA                       31 st MERLIN

Joan Freixas Feature

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