Writing opinion pieces about trial is not an easy task, luckily for me, Lately the world of trial doesn’t stop giving news; sporty and extra-sporty, good and not so good and even some curious news which the writer of these lines does not know how to interpret, if they are good, they are bad or if they seem good and hide a reality that is not so satisfactory.
Recently it was revealed to us that Dougie Lampkin was already working intensively on the creation of a new trial bike. With the help of the industrialist Manel Jané, the firm Vertigo prepares a trial bike with the main objective of winning the World Trials Championship and the Scottish Six Days Trial, with the objective of marketing the new model being something secondary.
The business trajectory of those who support this project, the team of trialists behind it and the objectives of Vertigo, purely passionate, They predict certain successes and the launch of a very exciting project that will undoubtedly return some enthusiasm to the world of trial over-commercialized in recent times.
Excessive commercialization and professionalization that many do not seem to realize works against them.
For his part, the seven-time world champion Jordi Tarrés He recently announced that he was disassociating himself from Jotagas, a brand that he himself has created and announced, a short time later, the launch of another new trial bike. TRS Motorcycles, with the three-year turnover target of €6,000,000; An ambitious goal that hopefully they can meet thanks to sales.
The Ossa firm made a move and joined the Gas Gas brand to make viable a project that was sailing aimlessly, little by little clearly towards its ruin. The Government of Catalonia announced a participative loan to help these two brands. Now we are all partners of Gas Gas and Ossa through our taxes.
But what is this participative loan really or what is it hiding?
it hides a need for financing from two brands that need money immediately to move forward. The enormous competitiveness of the world of two wheels, and especially the lack of benefits that can be reinvested in R+D+I They lead these two brands to not have the necessary resources for their research and development, taking one step forward and two steps back every time they reinvest money or expand social capital.
Second, this conceals the The harsh reality of an economy excessively intervened by the political world, an economy such as Spain’s that is not allowed to make a profit due to the high levels of taxation, high industrial land prices and very high prices for energy and other services that a state should guarantee for the proper development of a healthy industry.
Thirdly, it conceals the nonsense that it is the politicians using the resources of our taxes who decide which industrial companies should be subsidized and which should not, when in reality it is they themselves who undermine and trip up so many projects that must then be subsidized. subsidize with our money so that the economic disaster caused by them is not so blatant and obvious leaving politicians with their asses in the air.
Fourth, it hides the stark reality of what politicians and their opinions have destroyed and are now trying to whitewash to make it appear that they have nothing to do with the disaster. Spain in general, and Catalonia in particular, have long been a powerhouse in motorcycle manufacturing at the forefront not only of the trial world with brands such as Bultaco, Montesa, Ossa, Merlin or Gas Gas, but also in the world of speed, the road, scooters, Enduro or Moto Cross with Derby, Rieju, Sanglas, Torrot, Gimson, Vespa, Lube, Ducson and so many other projects interrupted by political or economic crises.
Every day it becomes more evident that Spain’s project is aimless, every day it becomes more evident that our politicians do not know what they want, they agree with those who give them the necessary votes to continue in their positions either in power or in the opposition and support to the death those companies that keep their pockets well filled; banks and electricians.
With 450,000 political positions in Spain, the highest of all the countries around us, twice as many as more prosperous countries such as Germany, privileged and well-paid political positions, they do not care too much if they rule or oppose.
Thus, environmentalists without representation in the Spanish parliament and in any of the 17 regional parliaments, mark the how, when and where of the 100% of the environmental policies that we suffer and that our once successful motorcycle industry also suffers.
You don’t have to go back to the 70s to see the evolution of what I’m saying, taking as an example a very current brand like Gas Gas and its recent subsidy (which we paid) we can get an idea.
Just 12 years ago, in 2002, Gas Gas’ production was 14,000 motorcycles per year, 10,000 of them went to the different international markets, especially the United Kingdom, and 4,000 motorcycles stayed in Spain to feed the demand for trial and enduro motorcycles in our country.
Last year in 2013, Gas Gas’ production was 9,000 motorcycles, almost 36% lower. A drop in sales that can certainly be attributed to the crisis. But when we compare the figures of motorcycles exported and sold within Spain, this reasoning falls apart.
While 8,550 Gas Gas motorcycles went to power international markets in 2013, only 450 units remained in Spain last year.
A 14.5% drop in international sales, which can be attributed to a combination of the crisis and a loss of competitiveness due to the lack of necessary investments in R+D+I.
Faced with the harsh reality of 4,000 motorcycles sold in Spain in 2002 compared to 450 in 2013; In other words, 11 years ago, Gas Gas’ trial and off-road market in Spain sold a revealing 890% more motorcycles in Spain than it does now.
Has anyone ever thought what would happen if a competent, well-funded and well-planned enduro and trial bike factory were established in some EU country where there is freedom to undertake, where making money is not a sin and where production costs are reasonable?
I have thought about it, and this fact would either lead to the definitive ruin of our industry, or it would make the national industry much more heavily subsidized through taxes. I’ll go for the second one as things stand…
Worst of all, and what affects us the most, is that these 450 motorcycles sold in Spain by Gas Gas in 2013 compared to 4,000 in 2002, remind us without a doubt that we practice sports that are prohibited, persecuted and frowned upon, the result of mistaken policies that have demonized us and that do more harm than good to our people and our industry.
Being poorly thought out, I could even consider the idea of why the Spanish motorcycle brands do not give the battle to the politicians so that trial or enduro are regulated and legal sports, of why they keep quiet and give to the politicians. Being ill-thought-out, I could even convince myself that they don’t do it because they don’t want to confront politicians because of the aid and subsidies that Spanish industry must live on. Being poorly thought, you might even think that, as in other sectors of our economy, you either eat hand in hand with politicians or you are broke.
Good luck to Gas Gas, Ossa, Jotagas, Vertigo, TRS, Montesa, Sherco, Mecatecno and Oset. I wish you the best, I hope that your projects are very successful and that you sell many motorcycles to foreigners, since we cannot use them and unfortunately we will buy them less and less.
Text: Javier Cruz
