GasGas Passion

[Mark Berg - CPD]

A little history from my side

In the early 2000's the company I was working in Minneapolis for was sold to a large Wisconsin corporation and I had the option to take a 3-month severance or move to Wisconsin. I took the severance and golfed the summer away trying to decide on a passion or career that I would love and remain with me. As a kid there was one thing that held my excitement more football, basketball or baseball and that was dirt bikes! I had missed riding and being around them in my 20's as I tried to figure out life and finances but was determined to figure out something related to motorcycles and fun as a career.

That fall I traveled with Steve Berkner (old racing buddy) to visit the current GasGas importer at the time in Cleveland, Mississippi. I knew who or what GasGas was from reading my motocross and dirt bike mags every year as a kid and seeing pictures of a few of them in the Euro racing articles but didn't really know what we were about to get ourselves involved as we drove down.

I have always been a person that cheers for the underdog, the team that doesn't win but should for pure effort and heart, for the guy or gal giving it their all against the large players, the large financial backed conglomerates. After all, who doesn't love a good story of victory against all the obstacles? It must be why I am a Minnesota Vikings fan.

As we approached Cleveland, we were told via phone that the importer had lost the rights to sell GasGas in the USA but we didn't turn around, we kept going and the owner met us with open arms and warm hospitality despite the news he received that day.

Steve and I talked all night over beers about the possibilities, called the bank back home the next morning to create credit line and proceeded to purchase from the importer all the Hebo clothing, boxes of plastics, and parts along with 4 new/demo GasGas motorcycles and loaded them all in a U-Haul truck for the long drive back to Minneapolis. I instantly sold my WR450 and we unloaded it all into my basement, garage, and anywhere we could find space. My wife thought I was nuts and probably rightfully so.

Skunkwrxnet.com was created and soon we needed to find a retail storefront in order to continue but there was a dealer already in place in Minneapolis and he was not interested in a partnership so we moved the entire thing to Ortonville, MN and started GoFasters Powersports & Marine (Lockheed was a little upset with us on the name "skunkwrx" even though we were referring to the ISDE helmets). We saw 5 different GasGas distributors come and go for enduro while the trials remained somewhat discombobulated as well with a bike importer and a separate parts importer. These guys knew the business and loved trials, but it didn?t lend itself to growth and branding of the overall product line for GasGas. It was difficult to gain any ground on the orange brand or the Japanese at the time with a company so diluted and distorted across America. Too many questions and a lack of clarity for the brand.

The opportunity to finally do things right in North America came with the bankruptcy of GasGas in 2014 and the purchase by Torrot and Black Toro Capital in the fall of 2015. The Torrot managers wanted their own subsidiary in the US and we put the budget together to show them what was possible. We put together an excellent team with knowledge and experience and some young energy thrown in as well. Things grew exceptionally well and sold almost 1000 units in 2018 for GasGas. It was by far the highest unit sales for GasGas ever in the USA and all roads looked promising for more growth, but the managers in Spain were focused on too many different projects and most of all, not in anything "gas" related anymore. The last 18 months have been beyond a struggle to be a part of and to watch as things and very good people go slip away while trying to hold the flag high.

KTM could do great things with the GasGas name, but it will not be GasGas Spain, not the GasGas Spanish friends, nor will it be the GasGas dealers and distributors that have stuck with the brand through so many trials and tribulations. It is no longer the underdog.

It is time to move on and create some new passion's, but I want to thank all involved with GasGas that gave me the opportunity and the memories that will be forever in my mind. It has been a pleasure to wake up every day and think about GasGas and I am very proud of what the entire group accomplished. I have had the privilege of working with some great people as dealers, vendors, racers, and pure GasGas fans over the years. Most of all the employee?s both here and in Spain and the relationships that were created. Too many to mention as I am sure I will forget those that have helped so much along the way to support everything GasGas.

Thank you GasGas and best of wishes.