SPANISH DOMINATION

In 1982 it was the talent of Belgian Eddy Lejeune that would give Honda the start of three wins as no Spanish machine finished on the podium. Lluis Gallach restored some Spanish pride with a 3rd in 1983 riding a Montesa and a 2nd on the Merlin in 1984. By 1985 Codina was making his way in the world of motorcycle trials, having transferred his cycle skills. Rumour still has it that the roar from the crowd when he won riding the Montesa could be heard all over Spain!

The great Jordi Tarres is the rider who carries the acclaim as the person who gave us the modern rider of today with the high level of professionalism he brought to the sport. Riding the Italian Beta, he would start his roll of wins from 1986 through to 1993 with just one interruption. This was an Italian rider, Diego Bosis, on an Italian Aprilia in 1987 as times were changing in trials, with the end of the glory days for Bultaco, Montesa and Ossa overshadowed by other European manufacturers.

In 1992 the competition moved to its present location at the Palau Sant Jordi stadium. The old stadium was very intimate for the riders, who could clearly hear the spectators’ comments, but the new venue offered the opportunity for more spectators and a bigger floor area on which to construct the hazards. This was the last win for Tarres on the Beta. In 1993 he regained Spanish pride with a win for home-country manufacturer Gas Gas from the rising talent of Marc Colomer. Marc would take his first win on the Beta in 1994 before a move to Montesa. Home pride was restored for three years before a certain Dougie Lampkin put a Beta at the top of the podium in 1998 in front of a crowd of 14,500. Colomer took his last win in 1999 to start a domination that would continue for Montesa with Lampkin for a further two years.