Lot 406: 1978 Ossa 250cc TR77 Trials Motorcycle

Founded in 1951, Ossa first achieved worldwide recognition when works rider Santiago Herrero came close to winning the 250cc World Road Race Championship in 1969. However, the off-road market was by far the more important for Ossa, as it was for rivals Bultaco and Montesa. In a bid to emulate the latter’s competition successes, Ossa hired English trials star Mick Andrews in 1967. Then only 23 but already a proven winner, Andrews set about developing Ossa’s existing trail bike into a competitive trials mount, a process that culminated in the MAR - Mick Andrews Replica - that carried its creator to consecutive European Trials Championships in 1971 and ’72. The MAR put Ossa on the trials map with a vengeance and remained in production until superseded by the similar ‘TR’ series in the late 1970s. The vendor advises us that this TR77 received new rear suspension units, wheel bearings and rear mudguard immediately prior to its last competitive outing in 2006.