It is with deep regret that we have to report the passing of another trials friend, Italian Ettore Baldini, who has died as a result of a heart attack.

Ettore was a competitive rider who started his trials career on a Montesa Cota 247, taking second place in the Italian Trials Championship at the tender age of 19. In 1977 he won his first national title for Bultaco, repeating this again in 1979 again on the Spanish machine. Baldini left Bultaco in 1979 to join American, Bernie Schreiber at Italjet.

Ettore signed for Montesa, which he rode until the end of his career in 1985. He was many times in the top 15 in the world trials championship.

Realising his development skills, Ettore was employed by Aprilia to develop their model ‘TX 311’ and then the ‘Climber’ model which would become the world championship winning machine in 1992 in the hands of Tommy Ahvala.

Latterly Ettore worked for Ducati.

Trials Guru extends our sincere condolonces to the Baldini family.

Photo courtesy and copyright of Claudio Pictures/Jean-Claude Commeat