The FIM family pays tribute to Joan Moreta

The FIM and the Real Federación Motociclista Española (RFME) are deeply saddened by the passing away of Joan Moreta, FIM Vice-President since 2009.

Joan Moreta’s dedication to motorcycling over a period of some 40 years is reflected in the various positions he held within the sport. Before being elected to the FIM Board of Directors as Vice-President during the Durban Congress in 2008, he was member of the FIM Road Racing Commission from 1988 to 1991 and member of the FIM International Environment Commission from 2003 to 2008.

Joan Moreta began his involvement in the motorcycle world as president of the Peña Motorista Barcelona. After several years as RFME Vice-President, he was elected President in 2007, remaining in office until 2012. For many years he was also responsible for motorcycling within the sport commission of the Reial Automòbil Club de Catalunya (RACC), and particularly for programmes promoting young riders.

His commitment to the development of motorcycling at a grass roots level was a key factor in the current Spanish motorcycling boom; he was a great promoter of race series promoting young riders and supported the careers of many promising youngsters, including many of the current stars of the MotoGP World Championship.

Joan Moreta was also President of the FIM CEV Repsol Committee and was a central figure in the development of the championship since its inception in 1998. He devoted himself to this highly successful project with extraordinary enthusiasm.

Joan Moreta died aged 69. His funeral was held on Tuesday 14 April 2015, in Barcelona. After the ceremony, Vito Ippolito, FIM President, said: “We have lost someone who made an enormous contribution to motorcycling in Spain and also within the FIM. I really appreciated his ideas which helped our sport to move forward, and above all I am sad because I have lost a friend. On behalf of the FIM family, I extend my sincere condolences to his family and many friends.”

The FIM CEO, Ignacio Verneda added: “Joan was a special person for me, as I worked with him from 1986, first within the Catalan Federation, then at the RFME and finally at the FIM. He was a mentor for me. Always enthusiastic and active, he taught me a lot. He was a man of great integrity and his passing away is a great loss for the FIM and for the sport of motorcycling which he loved so much.”