ALL HANDS ON DECK
It is all hands on deck on the TRRS UK ship with your captain, Steve Saunders, very much at the helm – sorry, handlebars! In a short but very successful space of time, and with some hard work to match, the TRRS trials machines are now a fixed part of the trials scene. Not just here in the UK but very much on a global scale. We managed to interrupt a very busy Steve Saunders to catch up on the rapid explosion of TRRS in the UK.
From its production base in Spain, success has come along way with lead man, Adam Raga on the international scene and our very own Iwan Roberts, Toby Martyn and Ross Danby on home shores who have undoubtedly helped promote the brand. With Toby winning at both world and international level, Iwan Roberts and Ross Danby collected the ACU Trial GB and Trial 2 British Championship titles. 2020 has undoubtedly been a year to give some cause for celebration during challenging COVID-19 times.
Steve and his team are now wanting to expand the business premises to cope with the increase in demand and support the many machines currently out there. The spares inventory will be increased, and the clothing and accessories range expanded.
You must be pleased with the way the TRRS is growing in the UK?
I am very happy with the growth of TRRS as a brand, not just here in the UK but also on a global scale. It is helped by the fact that the machines arrive from the factory built to a high standard of quality. We always try to address any issues. With the early production machines, we had a few minor ‘niggles’. We reported them back to the team in Spain, who then worked closely with the parts manufacturers and production-line workers to address the issues. It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since we imported the first yellow machines.
The summer of 2015 seems like a lifetime away.
Wow, where does time fly? Obviously very quickly when you are so busy! I was approached earlier in that year about the new project and, until the news broke, it was all very hush-hush. With the multi-time FIM World Trials Champion, Jordi Tarres, involved, as well as Marc Aranyo, they were very exciting times.
Jordi needs no introduction. He is very well known for his winning years at Beta and Gas Gas. Marc Aranyo started his working life as a business student at Manchester University before choosing a career in the motorcycle industry. He initially worked with Gas Gas before moving to the aftermarket parts and clothing manufacturer, Hebo. His sales management duties at these two companies allowed him the opportunity to deal with the various importers and international business associated with it around the world. Marc is also a motorcycle trials enthusiast at heart and shares the same passion for the sport just as everyone else at TRRS. The finances for the plan behind the new project came from the Barcelona businessman Ricardo Novel, a well-known figure in the automotive industry.
Then came the news that Adam Raga was on board.
Adam was the final piece of the jigsaw. He and Jordi have been good friends from his Gas Gas days. Marc had also worked with him at Gas Gas and Hebo. When they launched the TRSS machine, it was a key factor in its promotion to have a very high-level rider onboard.
It’s quite a compliment when Toni Bou, the most successful motorcycle trials rider in the sport, openly says that it’s the constant pressure from Adam that has kept him at his very best for so long. It was a natural progression for Adam to move back under the same team as Jordi. Then, at the beginning of September 2015, the contract with TRRS was signed.
He looked good on the machine from day one.
Adam immediately looked at home on the new 300cc single-cylinder two-stroke machine. After a quick test session, he told Jordi he could win on it; it was a relief. Adam and Jordi both agreed that it needed some further development before production started — it was just what you would expect with a new machine. Do remember there is a strong bond between Jordi and Adam. They have lived together and trained together; they have a high degree of mutual respect for one another. For Jordi, it was his dream team to have Adam back under his wing. In the eyes of Tarres, Adam is family.
You then invited Trial Magazine to sample the early machines in Spain.
It was essential to get media exposure with the new machine, and Trial Magazine was my first port of call. I took Phil Disney to test the machine and Heath Brindley to take the pictures. Based in Yorkshire, Phil has been around the trials scene almost as long as myself. He spent quite some time with Adam Raga and, such was his confidence in the new TRRS, he was soon encouraging Phil to attempt more difficult hazards.
I was very happy when Phil had very little to complain about on the new machine. Remember that this was the pre-production machine. His compliments meant so much at the time, and now I wanted some to sell!
Dateline January 2016: Sheffield Indoor
I had almost forgotten that night. It was the long-standing international Sheffield Indoor Trial. This event always attracted the top riders, and it would be Adam’s international debut on the machine.
Adam was confident that he could win on the machine, whilst I was thinking ‘let’s wait and see’. As true as his word, he topped the qualifying process. That meant riding last in the final and being able to watch every move of Toni Bou. When Adam won at Sheffield, the roof nearly went to the moon; the cheer was that loud! I wanted to scream with emotion; we had a proven winner with the new TRRS.
Since that night, it has proved itself as a winner at all levels.
When the first UK machines arrived, my long-standing supported rider, Ross Danby, took to it straight away. He could not believe how good it was for their first production run. We had a few minor problems which we soon sorted out, and the initial reports back from the dealers were very encouraging as they just kept ordering them.
Adam continued with his brilliant form, always challenging Bou with the odd win thrown in. Our first adult ACU title came in the Sidecar Class in 2017 when Jon Tuck and Matt Sparkes won. Since then we have won with Ross Danby in the Trial2 ACU British Championship, and it was a very proud moment when Iwan Roberts joined him and won the 2020 ACU Trial GB British Championship. Toby Martyn’s win at the last round of the shortened four-round championship was the icing on the cake for an excellent year for TRRS in the difficult COVID-19 conditions.
How has the Covid-19 situation affected you?
As we know, it has affected the whole world. The impact on our sport has seen the mass cancellation of events. Fortunately, however, it has still allowed the manufacturing in Spain of the TRRS despite some disruption. Here in the UK, we have seen very few events run, but I must applaud the ACU for putting on the shortened four-round championship. The website has kept us very busy. We have also had a supply of machines arrive ready for the dealer network. Following the government guidelines, we have been able to operate at around 60% of our usual working week.
You have been busy at the HQ?
Correct. With the COVID-19 virus slowing down many areas of our business, it has given us time to step back and look at how we can improve what we do. The main change has been the fitting of a mezzanine floor at the headquarters of TRRS UK. It will allow us to expand our spares inventory for both parts and merchandise with an additional 144 square metres, which we desperately needed. As you will have seen, we have also been able to make the website more fluid, with the endconsumer and ease of use in mind.
How do you see 2021?
We will have to learn to live with the COVID-19. I am sure we will have easier access to the vaccine then it will be all hands on deck. I am expecting events to be back up and running, which will be good for everyone. At the moment, I will take all the machines that the factory can supply and introduce both the electric start two-stroke machines and the electric youth models looking for further opportunities and see what doors open.
I would like to thank everyone who has purchased a TRRS and for supporting us along the way. The dealer network continues to expand, and I am sure the younger riders will love the new models. It is an area where we can invest in the future of the sport by introducing new riders. The icing on the cake in 2021 would be to see both Adam Raga and Toby Martyn as FIM Trial World Champions!