MANUEL SOLER 1957–2021

The global trials community mourned the passing of Spanish icon Manuel Soler who died in late January. He was 63. The first Spaniard to win a round of the FIM Trial World Championship when he claimed victory in Finland in 1979 on a Bultaco, Soler was a fourtime Spanish champion who inspired an entire nation of trials riders. He also became the first Spanish rider to win a Spanish FIM World Trials Championship round on a Spanish machine, a Montesa, in February 1981.

A member of the famous Bulto family, Soler started riding at an early age on custom-built, small-scale Bultaco and earned the affectionate nickname ‘El Monstruito’ which translates as ‘The Little Monster’.

As well as his considerable sporting successes, he played a significant role in the development of the marque’s trials models.

When Bultaco ceased production, Soler switched to Montesa, where he claimed a further three world championship victories that all came in 1981, his most successful season in the FIM Trial World Championship, when he finished fifth overall and led the series after the opening round. In total, he scored 12 podium finishes at the sport’s highest level. Soler was also very active within the RFME for the last decade and a member of the CTE and FIM CCR.