Trial is a discipline of motorcycling where having talent is important, but it weighs less than in other specialties. Common values prevail such as perseverance, technique, concentration, but above all how is the progression in the evolution of the environment that surrounds the rider.
While a few years ago the offer of children’s motorcycles was scarce and not very specialized, today at only 3 years old the most daring little ones can start in the specialty with a motorcycle according to their needs. Considering the ideal evolution of a rider of such age, he will probably have to have 4 more different bikes until he reaches his first XL: a 125cc.
The best way to put ourselves in the situation and get to know the weapons available to a rider between the ages of 14 and 18 is to take the example of one of the world’s leading junior riders and his motorcycle: Arnau Farré.
This friendly rider from Lleida, who started riding a motorcycle when he was 6 years old, has participated in 2012 in the European Youth Championship, Spanish Junior Championship and Catalan Open Championship at the controls of this exquisite Beta EVO 125 prepared by Beta Trueba and equipped by Jitsie.
Arnau will also be an ambassador rider and the face of Trialworld, so here you can follow his sporting evolution. With this collaboration, Trialworld wants to materialize its support for grassroots sport and the love of Trial, two pillars that have been our workhorse since our foundation. Welcome, Arnau. Let’s get to know your bike!
THE BETA EVO
Beta, like the rest of the brands, offers a 125 model derived directly from its older sisters; that is, it has the same technical privileges at the level of chassis, suspensions, brakes, engine block and technical equipment. Obviously, its mechanics receive the specifications that a quarter of a liter demands for the practice of Trial at the highest level.
In 2009 with the arrival of the EVO saga as a successor to the Rev3, the 125 has benefited from a significant reduction in weight and improved overall performance , currently showing itself as one of the most competitive motorcycles on the market.
ENGINE PREPARATION
The sections that a Junior rider like Arnau has to face are really demanding. For this reason, the preparation that we find on his bike affects all sections, but the bulk of the work has been taken by his mechanics.
The preparation of the transalpine engine is left at home. Beta Trueba offers great support to Arnau and Andrés, the head of the Competition Department, together with Ton Mill, is in charge of the work. On this EVO 125, work has been done on the tuning of the cylinder and clutch. The latter receives special Manston discs and a special kit of parts offered by Beta Racing.
The preparation is complemented by other elements such as the carbon fiber intake sheets, as well as the NGK pipe and spark plugs.
SUSPENSION PREPARATION
While the front fork is strictly standard and only the set-up is worked on, in the rear Arnau has preferred to replace the standard Sachs shock absorber , more in line with the demands of an adult rider, with an Ollé.
The main objective is to gain speed in reactions and reduce hardness so that a rider of Arnau’s weight can make the whole work in a homogeneous way and take advantage of the maximum useful travel.
REST PREPARATION
The support that Arnau receives from Jitsie is decisive in the preparation of his motorcycle, where we can appreciate up to 30 special components that are within the reach of any user in the brand’s catalog:
-Plastic design Jitsie Beta evo 2012, customized.
-Carbon protector Jitsie front forks.
-Jitsie exhaust protector
-Jitsie chassis protector
-Jitsie clutch cover protector
– Jitsie Ignition Cap Protector
-Jitsie rocker protector
– Jitsie filter box protector
– Jitsie cdi protector
-Jitsie handlebars, Domino grips, Domino gas rod.
-Custom Jitsie levers
-Jitsie stop disconnect
– Jitsie handlebar protection foam
-Jitsie oil change cap
-Jitsie red anodized brake and shift levers
-Raptor Titanium footpegs.
-Jitsie red anodized crown, Iris chain, NG brake discs, Jitsie brake pads.
-Jitsie front and rear rim with red sticks.
-Brake master cylinder covers, clutch, and Jitsie red anodized rear brake.
– Idle adjustment and Jitsie red anonymized drain plug.
– Coolant tubes in red silicone, Jitsie
– Eccentric rear axle in black Jitsie anodized aluminum
AT THE CONTROLS
Beta is not the only brand with a 125cc engine that Arnau has ridden in competition, so his impressions are doubly interesting. His Driving style is very technical, clean and does not abuse the throttle grip more than necessary. In addition to his charismatic personality, he also he has inherited the quality that Jordi Tarrés feared most from his coach: technical precision. We’re talking about the great Marcel Justribó, one of the great institutions of our sport.
Arnau tells us what his Beta EVO 125 looks like: “One of the key points is the driving position; You quickly feel comfortable riding it and you feel that it makes it easy for you. I would also like to highlight its stability. It is very docile and when you make lines very close it always goes in place, it is difficult for it to abandon its trajectory and easy to find the point of balance. In general terms, the bike is a bit shorter than the others and the steering angle is fantastic, it turns a lot, something that depending on the situation is a point in favor for the rider.”
“The issue of suspensions is very particular to each rider, as for my bike, a rear shock has been prepared to facilitate changes, as it is one of the movements that you have to make the most throughout a race, but without forgetting that if we have to climb steps, this does not harm us, you are looking for a versatile set-up, which suits you well for everything, as for the fronts, you do not need to do anything to them, since they work perfectly as standard, The configuration of this set-up in the suspension is what allows us to get the most out of the riding style in the areas, whether they are turns, steps, wet, mud…”.
“The brakes of the Evo 125 work very well in the dry and in the wet they have very good behavior, which generates great confidence for the rider, taking into account that the difficulties they encounter in the areas are sometimes very demanding in brakes.”
“The Evo 125 engine It is very complete, as it allows you to ride very precisely at low revs and as soon as you have the need to ask for power, it is very quick to give you everything it has, which is a lot, it is an engine that performs a lot since it goes up to high revs very quickly.
It is very pleasant for the rider, it is an engine that in second and third gear stretches a lot, and this allows you to be very comfortable in the areas, in relation to the clutch, this is not on/off like the Evo 300, with Tom Mill you have achieved a more progressive clutch, but without detracting from its effectiveness in any way, since when you are at high revs it offers you the power to manage to your liking, the power you need from the engine, to overcome the obstacle you have in the area. To highlight the ease with which this engine starts , and how accessible it is, which helps a lot to do maintenance.”
“Another key point is the exchange rate. With second gear you can do pretty much everything: lines, steps and even long ramps thanks to its long stretch.”
“In general terms it is a very advisable bike for everyone, especially for riders who are going to change from the 80 to the 125, since with very few details they will have a very competitive bike and above all of the highest quality, when maintenance is done this is very noticeable. The Beta Evo 125 is a bike that makes you feel good, at ease, very fun to ride, the more you ride with it the more you like it, it is a very complete bike in every way: rider position, very stable, engine response, clutch behavior very good”.
“A pleasure to introduce you to my Beta EVO 125.”
THE BEST
The riding position and its quality.
THE WORST
You always want more lightness
Text: David Quer & Arnau Farre / Photos: David Quer
INTERVIEW WITH ARNAU FARRE. SACRIFICE FOR A DREAM.
TW: How do you assess the season that is about to end?
AF: The truth is that it is very good, because I have gone from less to more, taking into account that it is my first year in the Junior category I have managed to get on the podium in the last two races, and in the European I have made a seventh position in the Youth Cup category, which satisfies me a lot due to the very good level of the riders who participated.
TW: What are the points where you have progressed the most as a driver?
AF:
I’ve improved in aggressiveness, I have to give more gas to be able to climb a step that I couldn’t before and it resisted me.
TW: When you already have a good level, is it more complicated to improve day by day? What do you look for and what does your training plan look like?
AF:
It’s hard to get over yourself because you have to do it with what you don’t like and sometimes it’s very hard.
During the summer, when I have the high school holidays, I can train almost every day during the week, and a couple of times with Francesc Recio, who is also my coach, and the other days I train alone. On weekends, if there is no competition, we go out on Sundays with Francesc.
But when he arrives again, the institute is different, so as it soon gets dark, one or two days a week he picks me up at the Marcel Justribó high school, we eat and then we train for an hour and a half until nightfall. On weekends, if there is no competition, we go out to train with Francesc and his friends.
Throughout the course we take advantage of the sponsorship of the Royal Sport Center gym in Lleida, which gives us its facilities, and with Arnau Feixas, we go one day to do physical preparation.
TW: This year you raced the National and the European. Is it really necessary to leave Spain to grow as a pilot?
AF:
At our age it wouldn’t be necessary, but if it’s possible it’s better to do it, because you meet riders from other countries, you train with them, you learn a lot and I have a lot of fun.
TW: Asking your father. What can it cost a Junior rider to run a European season?
AF:
Well, this season we have obtained from the sponsors the means to travel to Europe, which without their help would not have been possible. This season it has cost us around 7,000 euros.
TW: You’re going to make the jump from 125 to 300. Is it what you need to keep evolving?
AF:
I don’t know if I’ll adapt quickly, but Marcel and Francesc agree that since we can compete in the Spanish Championship and the Catalan Championship with the 300, they think it’s better to change the displacement as soon as possible. And this will help in my progression.
TW: Tell us about your plans for the 2013 season.
AF:
The intention is to do the same as this year, that is, the Spanish Junior Championship and the Catalan Junior Championship, but with the 300, in addition to the races that we can of the Aragon Championship and the social ones, such as the provincial of Lleida, the Cota and the Bergadà.
TW: What support will you have?
AF:
For 2013 we will have the same support from Beta Trueba and also with Jitsie, and we will try to renew with all the other sponsors we already have, as well as having a new one, such as TrialWorld, and although it is very difficult, we will try to get some more.
TW: If you want to add anything else…
AF:
From this space that you give here this month, I take this opportunity to thank all of you who help me, for making it possible for me to compete at this level.
PILOT PROFILE
Name:
Arnau Farré
Date of Birth:
5 July 1998
Place:
Vilanova de Segrià
First bike:
Beta Minitrial 50cc
Most Admired Pilot: Adam Raga.
Hobbies: PlayStation, Football and Bike.
A dream: to be World Champion.
Sponsors: Beta, Jitsie, Trialworld, Ara Lleida, Diputació Lleida, Alpinestars, Ajuntament Vilanova de Segrià, Moto Club Segre, Rodi, Royal, Hermanos Fernández López, GRO, Lubrilleida, Odena, Metal Lube, FCM, Construcciones Subirà, BeniMoto, Bentoldra, Dverd, Farré Hortícoles.
