David Oliver has won the first trial championship with electric motorcycles in the history of Spain with a bike created by himself.
David Oliver won the National E-Trial Trophy in Pobladura de las Regueras a few days ago. His story is very particular as he has been the inventor and creator of the
electric trial motorcycle
that has taken him to the top step of the podium. We spoke to him after writing his name in golden letters in the history of national motorcycling. He is the first champion in electric motorcycle in the 50-year history of the Spanish Trial Championship.
– David, congratulations on the title you won last weekend in Pobladura de las Regueras. Out of three races in this new category, three victories, satisfied?
Yes, when you go to a competition like this you don’t expect to win, and even less so with a prototype that I have made. You don’t know how things are going to go because of the reliability that the bike can give you, but in the end all the problems have been solved and I’m happy.
– You’ve made history… In 50 years of championship you have been the first to win in the new E-Trial category. Did you think about this at the beginning of the season?
I took on the project of making the electric bike at the end of last year with the aim of competing in the World Championship. At the end of February was when it was decided to carry out the national and well, although the idea at first was to do it with the electric but in the TR4 or TR3 categories I took the opportunity to do it in E-Trial.
– Last year you participated in the Spanish Championship in the TR3 category and, in addition, finishing third at the end of the season, why did you decide to change and embark on the world of electric trial bikes?
Two years ago I finished my degree in electrical engineering and in the last year of my degree I participated with the University of Castellón in the MotoStudent, which consists of creating an electric speed bike. As I liked electricity and Trial, I had always had the itch to make an electric motorcycle of this discipline. When I got the opportunity to join the MotoStudent project I got fully involved and in October 2016, coming third with the bike we had made, I already had a base to make and create the Trial bike.
– Your case is particular and at the same time beautiful because you are the inventor and creator of the motorcycle that has taken you to the top step of the podium, tell us how the process has been since it was in your head until it has been a reality.
After my participation in MotoStudent we went in 2017 to Lourdes to watch the Trial World Championship. We got ideas, we saw the bikes… That’s when I started getting more serious about the whole process. I focused on trying to simplify things as much as possible. I start with a 300cc combustion bike taking advantage of the chassis, swingarm, wheels, suspensions, gearbox and clutch. Let’s say that the most mechanical part of the bike was recycled from an old one I had at home and focused on the rest. A lot of research, looking for information on the internet about electric motors, batteries, etc. until you mentally get an idea of what is best for the practice of Trial because there is a lot of information for Speed bikes, street bikes, Motocross bikes… but the features that the Trial, which is so demanding, needed, could not find anything. So I did a lot of research and was guided by my feelings being a pilot in this specialty.
– What’s so special about it compared to other bikes in the category?
Mine is unique in that it has 6 gears and a mechanical clutch and the engine is more compact and has more power than power. This is what I saw that in Trial is what gives the best result, having more strength than power.
– As you say, your motorcycle has a gearbox and clutch. Your category rivals don’t… is it an advantage over the automatics?
From what I’ve been able to see, the fact of having a mechanical clutch seems that if it is an advantage, it seems that it gives better performance.
– Could this prototype be put into production? Do you have any idea of marketing this bike?
A lot of things go through your head, but there’s a big barrier between making a prototype and seeing that it works well and then taking it to production. There is a big barrier, both economic and production, because there are certain things that can be done in a prototype, but in production they have to be carried out in a different way, but it is not that it is impossible. It’s true that we’re focused on the World Championship, which is next week, and we want the prototype to work well, then when the World Championship is over we’ll see if we plan to build it or not.
– Creating a bike from scratch shouldn’t be easy. Where does that passion come from?
Since I was a child I have always liked to fix things, disassemble electronic devices… And electrical engineering already gives you a very broad base to be able to face this type of challenge that cannot be achieved without a minimum of knowledge.
– What is the main problem with electric companies? The weight, the battery?
It could basically be the weight. The is a prototype and by adjusting the costs it could surely be lowered. From what has been seen in brands with this theme, with more money and more time they can weigh the same as combustion engines. The other drawback could be the autonomy but to do long routes, the amateur Trial of doing routes because in the race it is not a problem. With a single battery, without having to change it, I can do it all.
– In addition to your participation, in 2018 there have been three more athletes who have been part of the category. In total there have been four, how would you encourage or what would you say so that in 2019 there were more riders in E-Trial?
The main problem is that there are no electric bikes for sale, there’s only the Electric Motion and then some crazy people like me who have set out to do this. GasGas and Mecatecno are supposed to put their motorcycles on sale this year and I think they will be seen more and more. They are starting to compete in the regional elections and little by little I hope that there will be more people who will be encouraged.
– Do you think it is positive for the Spanish Championship that this category is consolidated and that there is a good number of registered in the races?
I think it’s very interesting, it generates a lot of expectation the whole issue of new technologies. I notice that a lot of people come to look, they are curious and I think that this category could give a fresh air to the Championship and help the brands to continue to evolve their electric prototypes.
– Now that the National E-Trial Trophy is over, are you going to compete in any other category of the national or are you focusing on the World Championship?
At the moment I’m going to focus on the World Championship and when I’m done I imagine that I’ll do some testing of the Spanish Championship but the truth is that I don’t know yet because it has been a very intense year of work, combining my own with then getting home and doing another job which was this with the bike… now we focus on the World Cup, in the summer to rest and disconnect and then we’ll see, but I’m sure the break isn’t very long (laughs).
