Amós Bilbao, one of the most charismatic riders in the history of trial, welcomed us to his home and we enjoyed a relaxed chat where we could also see some of the bikes with which he competed, along with his trophies and helmets.
Born in Cantabria on January 30, 1970, Amós Bilbao belonged to that great generation that promoted trial during the years of greatest media coverage and technical development. He competed in his first race in the world championship at the age of 16 in the Spanish town of Peramola, where he achieved the 41st position, and where he remembers that “There were even the number 120, which gives an idea of the large number of participants”. At that time, with the support of Beta Trueba and with a long way to go.
FIRST SUCCESSES IN THE WORLD CUP
His first points in the world championship would come in 1988 at the Luxembourg Grand Prix, where he achieved eleventh position at just 18 years old. From there, Amós Bilbao’s progression was very fast, reaching his first podium at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1990. That season and the following one, in 1991, he would manage to finish sixth in the Trial World Championship.
In 1992 he achieved his long-awaited first victory of the three he would achieve in his sporting career. It was at the German GP in Kiefersfelden. In both 1992 and 1993 he would be fourth in the overall calculation of the World Championship, his best results as a professional rider in this series. He would continue to be active until 2001, accumulating a total of 204 participations, 1358 points, 11 podiums and three victories.
AMÓS BILBAO AND ITS RIVALS
Perhaps his greatest rival was Jordi Tarrés, “We had very different styles and he won pretty much everything in our time. We still remember it to this day and laugh about those battles.” Although perhaps what Amos boasts the most about is “to have raced with practically all the World Champions that the history of trial has produced”.
One of the most important successes of his career was the Spanish Championship won in 1996 at the controls of a Gas Gas JTR 250. Amós remembers that at that time “trial was a more accessible sport, there were fewer channels on television and it was easy to consume content about this sport, so people recognized you more”.
In the indoor field, he remembers that back then he went more for the show than for the championship itself. “Now there is more regulation and the drivers go more to the result than to the show. Everything has become so professionalized that the show is not what it was at that time, where the areas were also more accessible and fun.”
AMÓS BILBAO TODAY
Amós remembers his participation in the Scottish Six Days as very special. This year, 2020, marks the 18th anniversary of his victory in Scotland. “If I’m still riding a bike at the age of 50 it’s because I like trials, and there are a number of races that are there for a reason. The atmosphere is amazing. It’s like what happened before trial was that anyone could try it, with very dynamic sections that you could even do a classic. It was like an adventure, as there were interesting restrictions on the bike.”
This year we have seen Amós participating in the Spanish Trial Championship in Pobladura de las Regueras in the TR3 category, where he achieved two extraordinary second positions. For the time being, he does not rule out participating in more tests.
He rode for Beta, Fantic, Gas Gas and Montesa, with whom he has maintained professional ties since the end of his sporting stage as a test driver, as well as supporting riders such as Lampkin and Toni Bou. Currently his work is more focused on the production bike.
We finish the interview by talking to Amós Bilbao about his motorcycle collection and asking him what his favorite bike was. You can find the answer below. Enjoy the full interview.
