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WHAT’S NEW
250cc OSSA MAR
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As Mick Andrews continued with the ongoing development of the new Ossa replica model, the MAR, it was announced in February 1971 in the UK that there would be a new importer taking over from Derbyshire-based Eric Housley. Alan Kimber and Peter Fletcher would form Ossa UK, with rider support going to Dave Thorpe and Bill Wilkinson; Andrews’ contract was direct with Ossa in Spain. Thorpe was desperate for a new machine and was riding a twoyear-old Pennine model, whilst, at one point, Wilkinson had resorted to riding Peter Fletcher’s Bultaco with Ossa stickers on it before a Pennine model was located for him to ride! In the hands of ‘Magical’ Mick Andrews, the Ossa prototype was proving to be a winner in both the Scottish Six Days Trial and the European Championship. However, with the new MAR ready for production in October 1971, heavy rain storms had caused a river near the factory in Barcelona to breach its banks and flood the factory, causing £400,000 worth of damage; production was stopped.
After a considerable push by everyone at Ossa, the new 250 Ossa MAR models rolled off the production line in time for the end-of-year motorcycle show in London, priced at £325. It looked very good and was endorsed by Mick Andrews; the dealer orders came thick and fast.
Northern off-road specialist Jim Sandiford ordered 25 straight away; he would sponsor rising North-West trials rider Clive Smith on one, while Southern-based dealer, Bob Gollner, followed suit ordering 20. 1972 promised to be an exciting year, and Ossa UK had expanded its new team to include Mick Bowers and Arthur Lampkin to ride alongside Dave Thorpe and Bill Wilkinson.
WINNER
As Mick Andrews continued to win, so did other Ossa riders. Armed with his new Ossa at a Winsford trial and fitted as standard with his own Renthal handlebars as part of a deal with the factory in Spain, Henry Rosenthal won on his first outing.
Derek Adsett soon moved to an Ossa, followed by Mick Wilkinson; the winning came almost immediately. Resplendent with a silver frame and a white-and-green fuel tank and side panels, Ossa had made serious inroads to the domination of Bultaco and Montesa in the trials market.
At the Scottish Six Days Trial, out of an entry of 250 machines, 37 were the new Ossa MAR. They had a star rider in Mick Andrews and a star machine with the MAR, but behind the scenes, it was not all plain sailing. Andrews had many ideas about which way machine development should go, but Ossa would not listen to him; they had their winning machine, which was selling well, so why change it?
ALL CHANGE
In the latter part of 1972, Mick Andrews called into the Yankee headquarters while on a promotional tour of the USA with the new Ossa. Yankee had an association with Ossa and built its own 500cc desert–enduro type off-road machine. Unfortunately, whilst out testing, he crashed it and badly damaged his shoulder. Around this time, news broke in the motorcycling press that Rod Gould had approached him from Yamaha to join them. So in 1973, Mick Andrews moved to the company to develop the new TY model range, and, as they say, the rest is history; the glory years of Ossa would never be the same again.
PICTURES – OTLEY NEW YEAR TRIAL JANUARY 1972
John Hulme: “It was a surprise find when scanning a box of negatives from Malcolm Carling that these rare pictures came to light for the first time of the new 250cc Ossa MAR in action. I called him. He remembered the day at the New Year Trial, a cold and damp affair, but as usual, he had enjoyed the banter with his friends Peter Fletcher, Arthur Lampkin and Bill Wilkinson.”
Bill Wilkinson Peter Fletcher
PARTS LOCATOR
TRAIL AND TRIALS UK
Tel: 01334 840414 Email: john@tytrials.com Web: www.tytrials.com Location: New Gilston, KY8 5TF
2T-OFFROAD
Tel: 01592 772867 Email: trials2t-offroad@hotmail.com Web: www.2t-offroad.com Location: Kirkcaldy, KY1 4DE
ANDY METCALFE MOTORCYCLES
Tel: 01287 638030 Email: andymetcalfemotorcycles@gmail.com Web: www.andymetcalfemotorcycles.com Location: Guisborough, TS14 7DH
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