The 1992 Factory Aprilia of Tommi Ahvala
In September 2013 Retrotrials was lucky enough to spend a weekend with Tommi Ahvala in Finland . We had some good fun watching a Finnish National Trial , meeting his buddies and going to the family home and visiting his mum.
Back at his family home Tommi's factory Fantic's Trials bikes were almost lost and forgotten under rolls of carpets and the usual garage bits and pieces. They were in so deep , that it took ten minutes to clear the way to get them out.
During the visit Retrotrials asked him many many questions about his career in the trial and is was all posted online here . Ill post the link up to this interview , at the end of this report.
Back at his family home Tommi's factory Fantic's Trials bikes were almost lost and forgotten under rolls of carpets and the usual garage bits and pieces. They were in so deep , that it took ten minutes to clear the way to get them out.
During the visit Retrotrials asked him many many questions about his career in the trial and is was all posted online here . Ill post the link up to this interview , at the end of this report.
In 1992 , the simple fact was that Tommi had the 4 time World Champion Jordi Tarres in his sights. Read about the bike that helped Tommi take the title.
Ive not mentioned this before but during my visit i whispered in passing to Tommi that i knew where his 1992 bike was ......and that it was up for sale !.
Tommi's head swung around like he was Virgil Tracey from the Thunderbirds and his eyes locked on to mine like a heat seeking missile. He lept on me and grabbed me in a headlock with his strong throttle arm, squeezing around my neck. As he bent me backwards i felt my knees buckle and i lowered to the floor where i lay cheek down with the sharp granite ballast pushing into my skin. He then menacingly whispered in my ear " Tell me more.......and make it quick" . Figuring that his best year was in 1992 i held , fighting for time and didn't say a word .....but the worst was to come. He then waved his left forefinger in front of me as i lay there pinned to the floor by 13 stone of Finnish beef pressing down on my back. |
"Do you know what i can do with this?" he remarked .
I actually did know. I knew that with that finger he could engage and release colossal clutch for several minutes at a time of the infamous and manly Aprilia Climber. I knew i was beat ......and blubbed like a baby, coughing my guts up with the sellers name and contact details. It was all to much , i hope you understand ;). Ok.......so it didnt pan out like that entirely ............. but the bike bits true :). |
Following Tommi's departure from Aprilia at the end of 1993 tommi still had his factory bikes at home in Finland. Aprilia reminded Tommi that his contract stipulated that the bikes would remain in the ownership of Aprilia and that they were entitled to them back. After some discussions that lasted a good while Tommi relinquished and crated and couriered the bikes back to Aprilia in Italy.
This is where they remained for .........well quite a short time actually. |
Giulio Mauri the famous Italian Trials photographer and huge Trials fan was very close to the Italian teams . Guilio would meet Tommi and the Aprilia team at events and can be seen here congratulating Tommi on winning the championship. Wanting to add to his beautiful collection of trials machines of the World Champions he approached Aprilia about buying Tommi's 1992 bike .After negotiations in 1994 a number of Aprilia's were sold to him . The years that followed saw the Aprilia's of Ahvala, Bosis along with the Fantics of Michaud living in Giulios's display room alongside a Ferrari within his house.In mid 2012 sadly Giulio died whilst riding. After the understandable grief of the loss to the family , attention was eventually drawn to the collection of machines and what to do with them .
|
A decision was made to sell them and discretely and without fuss that's just what happened. This immaculate and incredible collection was split up and sent to the four corners of the earth.
At this time of this article being written all machines are now sold.
Now in 2013 ......I was sworn to secrecy as Tommi approached the seller in Italy , where the bike now resided. weeks of negotiations followed .....but thankfully the deal was done and Tommi rightfully secured his baby back where it belongs.
The Aprilia was then wrapped and couriered the 2388 Kilometres to Tommi's front door
At this time of this article being written all machines are now sold.
Now in 2013 ......I was sworn to secrecy as Tommi approached the seller in Italy , where the bike now resided. weeks of negotiations followed .....but thankfully the deal was done and Tommi rightfully secured his baby back where it belongs.
The Aprilia was then wrapped and couriered the 2388 Kilometres to Tommi's front door
You will hear from Tommi in a moment about this bike and read exerts of the interview
without further delay . here is Tommi ahvala and his
1992 Factory Aprilia
Thank you to the former Finnish Beta importer Reijo Niemela for taking the photos for Retrotrials.com
Tommi out for the very first time on the Aprilia after being reunited.
Big smile