A detailed interview with Oriol Puig Bulto + full access to his photo gallery and Trial records.
Andreu proposed that i work for them and develop to create the international network of Derbi, because Derby was very strong in Spain with the mopeds that you will know well, but the exports were just 5% ,so i started working for them and created an export department, and started to develop Derby and create an International network of importers and distributors .This is what i did until i retired and started to take my pension . In fact i retired 1 year before the normal age ,so i retired at 64 years because sometimes the life takes you in different directions and my wife had died already.
1st photo - Price giving at a Motocross in Santander. At top left (cut in half in this photo) the local rider and Bultaco dealer Manuel “Lolo” Sainz, at top right his brother “Titin” Sainz. Second from right is me.
2nd photo - prize giving at Motocross
3rd Photo - Next to Juan Soler Bultó is Luis Tribó, Vice-president of Peña Motorista Barcelona, then 2 more people that I cannot recognize, then Nestor Alonso, Juan Arnau, one more that I cannot recognize, then me, and at the top right Xavier Esteller, Vice-president of Real Moto Club de Catalunya
5th photo - Ignacio and myself at a prize dinner
6th photo - prize giving at Motocross
2nd photo - prize giving at Motocross
3rd Photo - Next to Juan Soler Bultó is Luis Tribó, Vice-president of Peña Motorista Barcelona, then 2 more people that I cannot recognize, then Nestor Alonso, Juan Arnau, one more that I cannot recognize, then me, and at the top right Xavier Esteller, Vice-president of Real Moto Club de Catalunya
5th photo - Ignacio and myself at a prize dinner
6th photo - prize giving at Motocross
I married Marta in September in 1979 and i found that Marta had to go to Geneva for 4 or 5 months and she said what are you going to do here in Barcelona for all of that time, so i decided then to travel with Marta to Geneva for the time that she worked there. It was making this decision that caused me to approach mister Rabassa and tell him. One year before Andreu and my commitment was that by the year 2000 my target was to export one-third of our production 33% and it was the fact that the year before in 1998 we had exported 41% . I said to Andreu , Andreu i have fulfilled my commitment and i would like to spend more time doing the things that i want to do and i ask to retire please.
Some misc photo's of Oriol from his Montesa and Bultaco days
He was very understanding and he even said look the pension payments in Spain is not the same as that of a working engineer so the company here will do a little thing and compensate you for the one year that you know work here taking you to the full pension age. So your pension will be paid to you as if you work due to the age of 65, so that year i got my payment are from the company and my payment from the government so i finished and had very good times from Derbi.
Had you ever thought about making your own motorcycle company ?.
No never.
Were you involved at all with Merlin motorcycles and Ignacio there ?.
No this was Ignacio when Jonny Rigas. Well i was in communication with Ignacio but i'm not testing or nothing to do with Merlin .
Had you ever thought about making your own motorcycle company ?.
No never.
Were you involved at all with Merlin motorcycles and Ignacio there ?.
No this was Ignacio when Jonny Rigas. Well i was in communication with Ignacio but i'm not testing or nothing to do with Merlin .
A selection of Oriol's early trial photos . Photo 6 - 1964 27/11/64 Trial de Villanova