Trial dei Campioni Montecrestese

Massimo "Max" Schiattareggia from the Moto Club Domo70 sent me an invitation for a reunion of SWM legends near Domodossola. My good friend Walter and I decided to take the road to Domodossola. Walter was competing in the 80ies on SWM Enduro and Trias motos and knew some of the works riders. Via San Gottardo - Locarno - Cento Valli we arrived on Saturday morning after 9h in Montecrestese. Weather was bad in Zurich and in the alps with a lot of snow, but mild and dry in the Domodossola valey. So our mood was already altered.

There were many former Chamipons all riding SWM's: Gilles Burgat (world champ on SWM 1981), Bernie Schreiber (Scottish 6 days Winner on SWM Jumbo 1983), Charles Coutard (works rider on the firrst red/white SWMs, Giovanni Tosco, Danilio Galeazzi (celebrating his 60ies anniversary), Donato Miglio (still working for Beta), Sergio Cannobio, Dario Seregni and team manager Piero Kuciukian.


The first SWM Trial 1978 riden by Charles Coutard	SWM chrono

Charles Coutard at Worldround Bilstain 1979(?) pic from Motosport Schweiz, was hanging for years at my teenager room	Gilles Burgat on the way to win the 1981 Scottish Sixdays

the great Gilles Burgat, best rider 1981	Danilo Galeazzi

1982 SWM Prospectus	1982 SWM prospectus (scan from my collection)


a special SWM Guanaco 320 from 1979, but with a plate under the engien, only used 1980 onwards maybe a works bike pre 80 or a 1980 yellow converted to red/white?	Memory of Ettore Baldini from Domodossola, a champion in the 80ies, saddly he passed away some years ago

SWM's	more SWMs

	a late Jumbo frame with 276cc engine, for some the best ever SWM

Walter e Giovanni Tosco are happy	Signora Tosco is kissed

Francesa, Walter, Luigi Facchinetti and Gilles Burgat	translucent SWM tank

Enzi Afri brings another SWM	a rare Pre65 BSA

Swiss SWM rider Ralph Kunz	proudly on his 240cc SWM

Ralph arrived from Valais via passo di Sempione with snow	Walter e Ralph

the trial was open also to other than SWM, like the beautifull Cota 349 from Ticino	zona 1 at start

Bernie Schreiber is studying the zero line in zona 1	Enzo and Max from MC Domo70 in the sun

Romegialli, a former works rider on SWM, competing again after more than 20 years absence	Walter at zona 2

gli Svizzeri Patrick e Walter

There were 2 levels in the zones. Most legends rode the difficult one and so did I. Most zones were posible with zero, but still some were tricky. I made 26 dabs in 2x7 zones. In zone 6 I lost 2x5, a tricky rock at the exit, already on top, but the slipped back. I saw Gilles Burgat on zero there. Incredibile!


queing at zona 3: Sergio Cannobio on the green/yellow, Bernie behind with the stars on the helmet	Gilles Burgat about to attack zone 3

Will and Gilles Burgat

Romegialli	in zone 3

a local SWM rider	Sergio Cannobio

	Bernie Schreiber

Weather was perfect, sun, but some wind, whereas ist snowed in the near mountains. I enjoyed watching the legends and was impressed about their riding skills, most of them in the age of 60+.


Donato Miglio on a 125 SWM, still a top level rider	Ralph e Walter

Bernie is inspecting zona 4	Romegialli at zone 4

Donato e Sergio	Mr. Grey Beard

Schreiber e Coutard at zone 5	Team SWM: Schreiber, Coutard, Kuciukian,Galeazzi, Burgat

Bernie at zone 5	SWM Works team reunified after 35 years

Flori Dreher (Germany) at zona 6 on Cota 242

After 1 round with 7 zonas, back to park, refill and eating a banana. Some nice Twinshockers at the start.


a rare first Montesa from 1967	SWM Guanaco

the last Bultaco 199B 6 speed 1983	with original speedo

	monoshock SVM

SWM 320	first Bultaco M10

Chappel at zona 3	Carlos on the Montesa 250

view	a proud Fantic rider

Honda on the rocks	Legends at end of zona 6

Enzo Afri's great Moto Guzzi	another SWM

Massimo's great SWM	Bernie e Gilles

a fan makes Bernie sign his poster from 1983 winning the Scottish	discussing the different SWM models

Facchinetti talking to Gilles	a happy organiser Max Schiattareggia

It was a great trial with many memorable rides from the legends to watch, great atmosphere!

Here some pics from SWM fan Ralph Kunz (merci !)


Burgat	Gilles e Donato Miglio

Walter on his BSA	Pat e Walt

inspecting zona 4	Chapel at zone 3

the Guanao conversion	zona 6

SWM on the rock	Montecrestese

Australia?	Sergio e Walter

After the trial, we took shower at our motel in Domodossola and came back for the evening diner gala. In the hall near the church were long tables ready for about 200 ? Als many SWM exhibited plus fotos on posters. There was also a rare monoshock SVM bulit by parts from the already bankrupt SWM. Unfortunately, the SVM did not live long.


SWM with see through tank	SWM 320 with alu swing

Damilo Galeazzis works SWM 1983, he prefered the 276cc in the Jumbo frame	a rare 1984 SVM monoshock with a Villa engine (owner: Roberto)

Danilio Galeazzi's 60ier Birthday	all SWM fotos

Team Facchnietti, a moto dealer in Domodossola	full house with about 200 people

cake	time of honour

Campioni and Legends SWM from left: Tosco, Romegialli, Miglio, Coutard, Burgat,?, Schreiber, Galeazzi, Cannobio, Theobaldi, Facchinetti, Seregni, Kuciukian	Memory for all the Champions