SANDIFORD MONTESA

Jim Sandiford embraced this opportunity with Montesa, and with the full support of the manufacturer started to make massive inroads to the sales of the Spanish Montesa brand in the UK. John Hemingway and Brian Hutchinson had both been associated with the ‘Micro’ machines. Hemingway had been associated with Sprite and Suzuki and Hutchinson with Cotton and Sprite, and Sandiford had no hesitation in supporting them on the new Cota 123 as Hutchinson took a superb 7th in the Irish Hurst Cup Trial, which was a round of the European Championship. His faith was soon rewarded from both of them, as in the Scottish Six Days Trial Hemingway, who had moved into the top five positions on Tuesday and Wednesday, eventually came home 11th securing the ‘Best up to 150cc Cup’ supported by Hutchinson in 15th position. These two riders gained more success and over a September weekend Hutchinson won the rain-lashed Mitchell Trial at Merthyr Tydfil in Wales, losing 25 marks from Lawrence Telling (250cc Montesa) on 26 and Chris Milner (325 Bultaco) on 26. The day after, he finished second to Mick Wilkinson (250 Ossa) on 19 marks lost with Hutchinson on 23 at the National Dulais Valley Trial run by the Neath Club, once again in Wales.

The machines did not change apart from to a black frame as the earlier versions sported a silver colour. Despite complaints from customers of gear selection problems, which were usually associated with poor engineering, Hutchinson came home in 18th position at the Scott in October, once again proving the new model. The success with the machines continued in 1974 as the Montesa factory sent a team of riders, including Hemingway, to America to compete in the World round and help to promote the Cota range of machines including the 123 model.