Jordi Tarrés (motorcycle trials rider)


Jordi Tarrés is a Spanish former international motorcycle trials rider. He competed in the FIM Trial World Championships from 1985 to 1997. Tarrés is notable for being a seven-time motorcycle trials world champion. He is the third most successful trials rider in history, after Dougie Lampkin with 12 titles and Toni Bou with 16. In 2010, Tarrés was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

Biography

Tarrés was born in a middle-class family and left school to work as a bricklayer. He was interested in motorcycle trials via his elder brother Francesc. Jordi started competing with bicycles, and was European Champion of Trialsin. After this, his brother obtained sponsors and Jordi was able to compete with motorbikes. In 1983, he participated in two junior events, and in 1984 he participated in the Spanish Trials Championship, winning one event.
In 1985, Tarrés started competing in the World Motorcycle Trials Championship, winning one event and finishing 4th at the end of the season.
In 1987, Tarrés won his first World Motorcycle Trials Championship. He was the first Spaniard to achieve it. After that he dominated the sport for many years, achieving a total of seven World Championships outdoors. Only Dougie Lampkin and Toni Bou has reached this number of outdoor titles.
Tarrés retired in 1997, and then started as sports director of the motorcycling manufacturer Gas Gas until 2006. After that he created his own team, Spea Trial Tarrés, where young riders such as Francesc Moret, Pere Borrellas and his nephew Pol Tarrés compete and learn.

Honors