is, undoubtedly, a living history of Biketrial. There have been many years, specifically 15, that the Cantabrian rider has been in the world’s elite of a sport as selective as trial.
In addition to this exclusive interview, we have a video that allows us to know how an elite rider trains, both technically and physically.
Texts: Álvaro López
TRIALWORLD: How do you define yourself as a rider?
GUTI:
I’m a technical rider who lacks something, a bit of pull, which is what I struggle with the most, but I think I’m a very technical rider and where I stand out the most is in very technical tests.
TW:
What technical virtue would you highlight?
GU:
The technical trials are the ones I’m always up for and what I fail the most is in the indoor ones that I don’t like at all, because I don’t shoot much and the difference with the others is big.
TW: And your weak point or your point to improve?
GU:
The pulls, the indoor trials are the ones that cost me the most.
TW:
Tell us about the worst moment you’ve experienced in trial
GU:
Injuries and losing two World Cups in a row by 1 point and drawing in the last one and not beating them by a point. If I remember correctly, Marco Hoesel.
TW: Why trial? How did you meet him and why did you get into it?
GU: Well, normally, because at home it is known, practiced, in my case my father and all motor sports, I think it is the same, someone in the family, someone you see up close because it is very difficult to see him on television and I think that in all the cases of all the drivers it is more or less the same.
TW: In an interview we heard that you started cycling because you thought you were better. However, did you switch to the bike because you liked it the most? Why did you think it was easier to make a living from it?
GU:
Well, because of my uncle who has always ridden a motorcycle and what I liked and what I would have liked was to race in trials, on motorcycles, but well, I wasn’t lucky enough to be able to have a motorcycle. I started with the bike, and then I continued with the bike… It was just me… They are lucky enough to live in Catalonia, which more or less in quotation marks makes it easier for them to do the whole thing, and there we are.
TW: What are your goals as a pilot?
GU:
Well, for me to win a world championship race in the elite, it’s what I’ve been trying to do for many years, it’s difficult because there are people who go very hard but well, they have to get there no matter what, that’s the goal.
TW: What is the best thing that Trial has brought to your life?
GU: The best thing is to enjoy day by day, day by day to enjoy in the mountains, enjoy the landscapes, enjoy riding a motorcycle… And it’s good that for me it’s everything, it’s my favorite sport, I enjoy practicing it a lot, also with the trial bike so as I said to be able to make a living from this is to be able to do what you like every day.
TW: Do you think the year of Dani’s injury in China was the key with the top seed missing?
GU: Yes, well, in the first lap he escaped a lot and he had a good gap between us, he crashed just in the last area of the first lap and then Kazuki, Alonso and I were fighting and well I was attacking, I had them there perfect but I did a 5 in an area that I did perfect in the first lap mostly because of physicality… And well, that was the end of it.
TW: What do you take away from this sport over the years?
GU:
Being able to enjoy what I do, to meet all the people I’ve met, all the countries I’ve been able to get to know by bike that otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to visit and be with nature.
TW: 20, 24 or 26 inches? It seems that the 26 have more and more fans, lighter, more pull…
GU:
I’ve tried everything and what I like is the 20-man trial. I don’t have a why per se. I just really enjoy the 20 and I don’t go any better because with the 26 it does pull more but I enjoy more with the 20. Going with something you don’t enjoy would end up burning you out.
TW: When the years pass before your retirement, do you plan to race with a big wheel before hanging up your helmet as many have done?
GU:
No, when I’m done I’m sure I’ll end up racing in the elite and not going down a category to win a world championship like people who respect me do, but I’ll end up in the elite and I’m sure I’ll end up in the 20th. You never know because maybe someone comes along and offers you something interesting to run with more diameter, but I think when it’s over it will be in 20 and then a few things will come. I’m looking forward to racing trials on motorcycles and I’ll do some rallies as well.
TW: Which bike have you been most fond of?
GU:
I’m going to tell you the one I remember the worst. Megamo 2002 that made me run with it with the aluminum discs that came out. They were a bit foolish and you had to run with that and on a trestle at the end of the zone the brake failed and I gnawed all my teeth, my jaw and a good memory (laughs).
TW: You don’t keep that one, do you?
GU:
No, no, I burned it (laughs).
TW: Any pet peeves? What idols do you have?
GU:
I’ve tried not to have them and whenever I’ve seen things that people did I’ve tried not to copy anything. As for idols, many friends, for example, Toni Bou; the evolution he has had, from being a dwarf boy in the world championship with the bike to now being Toni Bou, a friend since he was a little boy who sees the development and now see what he does with the bike, for me that is very big. Dani Sordo who is a friend of mine, Fran Ventoso, people who, being all friends since they were children, have excelled a lot in things like this and for me it is a pride to be able to have friends like this.
: You’ve been in the elite for 15 years, how do you value the technical change that has taken place since you started until now?
GU:
Well, big. It used to be everything… If you look closely, she always jumped with both of them on the ground, now the front almost doesn’t touch the ground, everything on wheels, chops… The same thing happens in the motorcycle trial, you see a trial from before and you see Toni now… Everything is different, I don’t know where it will get or where the limit will be, but that’s the nice thing that it doesn’t stay stagnant and improves.
TW: Do you think that when you leave, Dani will go, Benito… Old school, is trial going to change a lot? Because you probably won’t see the same fellowship or spirit anymore.
GU: I’m lucky that Dani is my best friend and both Javi and many… and now I see that there is no such thing, that I can spend 20 days at Dani’s house or Dani a month at my house… I don’t see this happening now… It’s very strange, but it happens here and with all the kids on the street. I don’t know how far the change will go but it’s nice that new people come because it’s to stop and think that we’ve been here for 15 years and continue the same, it doesn’t seem logical to me personally.
TW: You have been part of the best team in history (Monty), why did you decide to leave the best team in bike trials?
GU: well, because the offer of the other brand was very good and although they treated me very well it is logical that they only listen to Dani and Cesar, their opinions are the ones that counted and mine were worth nothing, so in the new team I am very happy, everything I say is listened to and they try to do things for me and well I like that although I understand perfectly what Monty is because Cesar is Cesar and Dani is Dani.
TW: Do you like the pressure of being No. 1 everywhere?
GU: Well, I always think about the day to day and that time doesn’t come back and that what you don’t do now you’re not going to be able to do anymore and even more so in a sport like this that you have to live what you’re living, you’re one of the five best in the sport you do and you have to live it now because that’s not going to come back and it’s a stage that you have to enjoy and enjoy. This is what has to motivate you, to be able to do what you like.
GUTI 15 YEARS OF ELITE
Raúl, in commemoration of his 15 years in the elite, wanted to make a video where the preparation he carries out throughout the year in order to be in the best possible conditions to compete is captured.
At first it was a personal project that he decided to do as a souvenir but luckily he has decided to share.
Raúl has decided that this video will be presented exclusively by Trials-Riders.es and Trialworld, a detail for which we are very grateful.
During 30 minutes of HD video and whose recording has been in charge of Malingno Films, we can see the Spanish elite in all kinds of circumstances from natural to street trials, through gym, physio and even trial with motorcycle, karting or enduro.
The production company made up of Antonio Ojugas and Sergio García, has spent more than 10 hours recording in various places to get the perfect takes, which they have mixed with music from the groups Bambax, The Pulse Beats and Metropol.
TW: What motivated you to make this video?
GU:
The reasons are purely personal, I think that in 15 years to be able to see this video will be really nice for me.
TW: What is your favorite part of the video or the one you enjoyed recording the most?
GU:
I really like everything because the places that come out are places where I train every day and where I have trained since I was little. If I have to choose something it would probably be the 180 on the train track with the splice of movements, I think it turned out really well.
TW: How many hours of recording did it take for this result?
GU:
The truth is that about 10 days where we have recorded a multitude of takes. We have kept the best ones, we may have discarded some spectacular ones, but the finals are the ones that are best left with light and those photographers’ themes.
TW: In addition to being a video for you, do you want to show what the essence of this sport is?
GU:
Well, in part yes, above all what I want is for it to be seen that behind what you see, for example, in a competition, there is a lot of work and many hours of sacrifice throughout the year, not only on a trial bike.
TW: Is there anything you’d like to highlight or mention?
GU:
Yes, life is meant to be enjoyed and spent doing what you love! As a song that I love by the group La Fuga says: “my dreams are worth more than money”. That’s why I decided to put my motto to the video, “Face your fears, live your dreams”. I want to dedicate it to my parents, to Alejandro and to all of you who have made this dream come true. Thank you all!
