MANUFACTURERS – ‘VIVA’MONTESA
Once again new records have been set in the Trial World Championship, as Montesa celebrated its 20th manufacturers’ win. In a period stretching back to 1980 and the first world title through to 2017 the Spanish brand has remained a very strong force in the world of trials. Montesa has a celebration of wins dating back to the first year of the official trials championship in 1975, with Malcolm Rathmell at round two in Belgium. It was ‘Super Swede’ Ulf Karlson though who opened the door to the manufacturer’s world championship titles in 1980 as he celebrated his one and only world title and the first for Montesa. As the World Series has evolved, so have the changes for the awarding of the points for the manufacturers’ title. In 2017 nominated riders from TrialGP and Trial2 were paired to score the points, bringing the first changes to the manufacturers’ title since its inception in 1975.