#ThrowbackThursday: Trial - Mick Andrews (GBR)

In the world of observed trials, several riders have been developing the sport not only with their skills and riding technique but also working on the motorcycle itself. One of the main workers is famous British rider Mick Andrews.

Born on 5 July 1944, he started to ride in 1959 aged 15, making his debuts on a James, then a Matchless and AJS. In 1967, year of the Trial European Championship kick-off, he was riding for the Spanish factory Ossa, and would quickly become a top-level rider, clinching three consecutive wins in the Scottish Six Days Trial (70, 71, 72) and two European Championship titles (71, 72), riding a motorcycle designed and developed by himself.

He was then hired by Yamaha to develop a Trial motorcycle for them, the famous TY 250 (then 80cc and 125cc versions). He added two more wins at the Scottish Six Days in 1974 and 75, finishing respectively 2nd in 1973, 3rd in 1974 and 4th in 1975 in the Championship. Then he rode the last two years of his career with Ossa, in 1979 (picture) and 1980. He has remained in touch with the Trial world since then.

Marc Pétrier