At the end of 2004 and after a successful career, with four world titles under his belt, 18 victories and 87 podiums, Marc Colomer He decided to hang up his helmet and put an end to his time as a professional rider, a discipline with which the rider from Olot, a true trial enthusiast, has always maintained a close relationship and contact.
A full stop that, fourteen years later and “miraculously” in Lourdes, has become a full stop. On the 24th and 25th of June, the head of sports and trial development at Gas Gas will once again put on the helmet and red kit of the Salt firm to compete in the French GP, the first round of the TrialE Cup, the new category Electric Trial, at the controls of a Gas Gas EGD Electric.
Marc Colomer is back at the World Cup!
– It was a surprise that I wanted to keep it under some secrecy, but the previous publication of the entry list for the TrialE World Championship gave away your return to the World Championship in Lourdes.
“We have been working on this electric trial prototype for quite some time. The news that this year’s first round of the TrialE World Championship would be held came later. In fact, we had already presented this prototype at the Milan motor show in November last year.”
– You became part of Gas Gas’ new trial sports project since the rebirth of Gas Gas as a brand in 2016, after its acquisition by Torrot… How did the idea of participating in the first round of the TrialE World Cup come about?
“As responsible for the evolution of this bike and also as a tester, we thought there was no one better to do it than myself, as I have been the only one who has been testing and developing the bike so far. One race will provide us with more data than a hundred training sessions. We had to dismiss the possibility of any of our official riders doing it, because the race days coincide in all the categories. And I say this, because it’s been 14 years since I retired and I think that the current riders of our team have a higher level than mine, however we take this first test of the TrialE World Championship as an unbeatable test to continue collecting data and developing this Gas Gas electric trial bike, which is a big challenge.”
– Can you reveal which bike you will be racing and its main strengths?
– “Well, it’s a bike very similar to the one we presented at EICMA in Milan, with electric propulsion, gear shifting and clutch… An electric and authentic trial bike, that is to say that it has the same components as a combustion trial bike such as the gearbox and the clutch”.
– It was expected that the synergies between Torrot’s e-mobility know-how and Gas Gas’ motorcycle manufacturing would lead to a new electric trial, right?
– “It’s obvious, after the union of Gas Gas and Torrot the work process of this new trial bike was accelerated, the whole project has gone much faster. Torrot manufactures 100% electric products, and although I will compete with a Gas Gas, it is clear that Torrot has poured all its experience into the electrical section to make this project go ahead, betting very strongly on this sector”.
In the previous list of TrialE there are only two brands, what is the current status of the new Gas Gas electric compared to its rivals?
“The truth is that we won’t be able to draw any conclusions until we’re there, maybe the day before, when we see where each of us is during training and qualifying. Some already made their debut last year in Trial125, when there was still no electric category. Although I don’t know how it went, I think that any assessment before arriving in Lourdes would not be of much use to us. Maybe they’ll come up with something new, I don’t know. The competition has always been good because that leads to the championship being more solid and that, in the future, instead of one race, maybe there will be more. In this way, the championship gains strength and encourages other brands to get involved in it as well. For us, being the first is already a challenge and a great motivation.”
– What does the future hold for TrialE as a specialty? The FIM has made a firm commitment to introduce electric racing in the world championships of all specialties
– “It’s true, the FIM has shown great interest in including electrics in all its disciplines, not just trial. I believe that our speciality is the most suitable to give them entry into competition, because as the trial is currently proposed, it does not need an exaggerated, explosive power… Rather, quality is needed in delivery. And the weight also plays in its favor. Electric cars can quickly bring improvements that combustion engines may not have. Something that probably doesn’t happen in other disciplines. To trial, by its concept, electrical systems will surely provide things that it does not currently have.”
-What can we expect from the first round of the TrialE World Cup?
– “In the World Championship there are three main categories according to their difficulty and displacement: TrialGP, Trial2 and Trial125, from highest to lowest. The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme has initially decided that we will participate in the 125 category. From there, and as soon as they draw their first conclusions, I am sure that everything will evolve and that in the future electric motorcycles will compete at the level of Trial2 and even TrialGP. Although at the moment, for the FIM, the most prudent thing is for us to start competing in this category. A level that is already very high in itself, because we must not forget that this is a world championship. And from here, the conclusions will come…”
– There’s still a long way to go…
– Yes, and that’s what motivates us the most. Everything electric still has a long way to go, not just to match some points of combustion. I’m sure that, in a short period of time, there will be many ways in which an electric bike will be much better than a petrol bike, and that’s a great challenge for a bike that will be much less aggressive with the environment and more respectful. Another challenge is that electronics open the doors to much more detailed information that we did not have until now, about behavior, the driver and a lot of data that we did not have. Unlike combustion engines, they will offer us parameters that we can change. This is a world that is starting almost from scratch and has everything to conquer.”
– You finished your career in 2004 competing with Gas Gas, had you ever imagined returning to the World Championship when you turned 40?
– “No, absolutely not. And even less so after fourteen years. However, this is an exceptional situation. I would never have competed again just for the sake of competing. I’m coming back because this is the best way to continue with the testing and development of this bike. A race provides much more information than any training, and much more valid conclusions can be drawn from this race. My return is conditioned as part of the evolution of this electric company. It’s clear that there will be a competition and that there will be a result, but my return wouldn’t have made any sense if it wasn’t to continue developing this bike. Although there is no denying that the fact of being pioneers in a discipline in which there is still much to do, and that we can also lead it, is an extra motivation for all of us. And, personally, it even takes a few years off my shoulders… (laughs)”
In addition to the development of the Gas Gas trial range, you are currently also the head of the official team in the World Championship… have your ‘students’ played many jokes on you about your return?
– “Yes, when they found out, there were some, the typical comments… Although since no one has seen or tested the bike yet, I think everyone really wants to see it. Sometimes, news like this is the one that sparks the most news. They create expectations. Everyone wants to know what it’s like and how it’s going. When race day arrives or maybe a few days before, surely our drivers will joke more about my lap… But I’m sure there will be a very good atmosphere and a lot of expectation.”
MARC COLOMER’S HONOURS
- World Indoor Champion (1994, 1995 and 1996)
- World Outdoor Champion (1996)
- Runner-up in the outdoor world championship (1993, 1995, 1997 and 1998, with a total of 18 wins and 87 podiums)
- Spanish Outdoor Champion (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000)
- Spanish Indoor Champion (2001)
- Winner with the Trial of Nations selection (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001)
