73 world titles in just over 75 years of history. This is certainly a spectacular record that very few brands can claim. That is why Montesa wanted to pay tribute yesterday to its Repsol Honda Team, whoose members are the great architects of this tremendous success.
Since Ulf Karlson won the World Trial Championship in 1980, Montesa hasn’t stopped adding titles to its spectacular list of titles: 22 world constructors’ titles and 51 Riders Championships! Of course, the great architect of this spectacular statistic is Toni Bou, who has 29 world crowns to his credit. In addition to these titles, there is Ulf Karlson’s, 3 by Marc Colomer, 6 by Dougie Lampkin, one by Takahisa Fujinami in 2004 (the last with 2-stroke technology), 8 by Laia Sanz, those of Matteo Grattarola and Gabriel Marcellli, and the Junior World Championship title of Alfredo Gómez.
An emotional Toni Bou commented yesterday: “Even I can’t believe this success. I’m proud to be able to win all these titles for Montesa and Honda. How many more titles will I be able to win? I prefer not to set a limit for myself. For now, my physique is holding up and I’m still very motivated to continue making history.”
On the other hand, Takahisa Fujinami, who announced his retirement at the end of the last World Championship after 26 seasons in the elite and one World Championship to his credit, joked: “I am retiring because it is impossible to beat Toni Bou, although this year I managed to beat him in a race… It has been an honour for me to wear Montesa and Honda’s colours for so many years”.
Montesa also wanted to mention a key person in all this work. We are talking about Miquel Cirera, Team manager of the team: “All this success wouldn’t have been possible without the great work of all those who are and have been part of the team and the company. Everyone’s motivation and professionalism has led us to this spectacular and unprecedented success. Viva Montesa!”
This emotional tribute took place during the closing of the celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of the brand, in which the documentary ‘VIVA Montesa’ was screened, which reviews the three quarters of a century of history of the brand through its main protagonists.
The event was also attended by Pere and Jordi Permanyer Puigjaner, sons of Montesa founder Pere Permanyer, as well as other representatives of the family, former riders, employees and ex-employees, institutions and press.
The documentary, produced by the Permanyer family (sons and grandchildren of Montesa’s founder) with the collaboration of Montesa Honda, gathers the testimony of family members, employees, former employees, riders, ex-riders and professionals of the motorcycle world who comment and analyse for more than 90 minutes, the life of a dream of Pere Permanyer, a business and sporting adventure that has forged an incomparable legend.
The film offers exclusive and unpublished images that had hadn’t been made public until now, through which viewers will enjoy this exciting personal and business story throughout its more than 75 years of history, making Montesa one of the most long-lived brands in the world of motoring.
On the other hand, the schedule of screenings open to the public in cinemas and other venues will be as follows:
-October 26th: Filmoteca de Catalunya, Barcelona
https://www.filmoteca.cat/web/ca
-October 28th: Palau de la Música en Barcelona
https://www.palaumusica.cat/es
-November 11th: Ocine Urban XMadrid
https://www.ocineurbanxmadrid.es/
-November 16th: Cine Bosque, Barcelona
https://www.grupbalana.com/es/cine/salas/bosque-multicines/
-November 18th: Ocine Urban X Madrid
https://www.ocineurbanxmadrid.es/
-November 30th: Cine Bosque, Barcelona
https://www.grupbalana.com/es/cine/salas/bosque-multicines/
Besides this closing ceremony of Montesa’s 75th Anniversary celebrations, the brand, despite the difficulties imposed by the pandemic, has carried out and organized various activities during 2020 and 2021:
–Two temporary exhibitions with the most emblematic models of the brand at the Palau Robert in Barcelona and the Museu de la Moto in Bassella, which will be open to the public until December 31.
–The publication of new bibliographies related to the brand: “Impala, más/mis héroes” (Santi Ruiz); “Con Impala llegará” (Edu Cots & Carles Humet).
-A new edition of the book “Montesa, The Art Gallery”.
-Montesada online: the traditional meeting of all Montesistas celebrated its 20th edition in digital format, in Montesistas around the world could participate by sharing their best Montesa moments.
¡Viva Montesa! ✌
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS VIVA MONTESA DOCUMENTARY
Duration: 90 minutes
Produced by INUIT FILMS
Directed by: Xavier Barangé
Script: Santi Ruiz
Production: Laura Galofré
More information at: www.hondanews.eu/es
https://twitter.com/HondaMotosES/status/1445063773425999873?s=20
