(Motorsport-Total.com) – Great posthumous honor for Mike Trimby. The founder of the team association IRTA was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Silverstone and named an official MotoGP legend. For the first time, a person who was not a rider in the motorcycle world championship has received this special status.
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Mike Trimby’s widow Irene with the legends medal in his name
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Trimby passed away at the age of 74 on September 9, 2023, after a heart attack. This occurred at the beginning of the race weekend in Misano. There was great mourning in the paddock. At that time, a minute of silence was held on the starting grid for the Briton.
Trimby was one of the most influential people in the paddock and played a major role in shaping the motorcycle world championship and, above all, making it safer. He began his career in the 1960s as a rider and mechanic.
Among other things, Trimby also competed on the Isle of Man, where he lived in recent years. Eventually, he moved into management and was responsible for the entry lists for the Macau Grand Prix starting in 1978.
By the late 1970s, Trimby had established himself in the Grand Prix paddock and was a respected personality. In 1982, during the French Grand Prix, which took place in Nogaro at the time, a riders’ strike occurred.
The major factory teams from Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki boycotted the race due to safety concerns. Discussions about safety, as well as the financial situation of the riders, became louder, especially for the private riders.
Eventually, the riders asked at a meeting in Donington if Trimby could represent their interests. Four years later, in 1986, the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) was founded with Trimby at the helm.
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At that time, the FIM, the motorcycle world federation, still had greater control over the motorcycle world championship. However, the IRTA and the ROPA, the then association of circuit operators, were granted the right to market the TV rights.
They brought in the then Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. But then the FIM decided to terminate the contract and transfer the TV rights to Dorna Sports starting in 1992. Threats of a pirate series without the FIM were made during announcements.
Instead, Ecclestone managed to secure the commercial rights, which he then sold to Dorna for 50 million pounds at the time. In principle, the FIM received money for the TV rights for the first time, and Dorna got the desired TV rights – and Ecclestone made a good profit.
There was also more money for the IRTA and thus for the teams, putting an end to the “war”. Eventually, an alliance was forged between the FIM, the IRTA, and the manufacturers’ association (MSMA), which still exists today.
It was the starting shot to modernize the motorcycle world championship. The foundation for this was laid by the IRTA. The significant progress made in areas such as safety and the organization of a race is also thanks to Trimby, his wife Irene, and the IRTA.
Essentially, the IRTA holds the rights in the areas of sports and safety, Dorna has the commercial rights, and the MSMA holds the technical rights. Decisions are made in the Grand Prix Commission, where representatives from all parties are present.
Trimby once summarized it like this: “We represent all teams and riders and sell this package to Dorna, which holds the commercial rights. They select the events, they pay the money, and we guarantee the show.”
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Moment of silence for Mike Trimby at the Misano weekend 2023 Zoom
With Trimby’s death, a significant personality has left the paddock. But his legacy lives on, as the structure of the IRTA remains intact. The first president was Sito Pons, who stepped down after ten years. Since 2006, Herve Poncharal has been the IRTA president.
“Mike’s contribution to the development of Grand Prix racing is monumental,” says Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta. “We are very proud to name him a MotoGP legend. Since the concept of legends was created, it has always been about more than just numbers.”
“There are no criteria that rely solely on the number of race wins or world titles. It is about the contribution to the sport, whether on or off the track. Therefore, it is fitting that Mike is the first individual to be honored solely for his work off the track.”
Irene Trimby believes that “Mike would have felt very honored to receive this prestigious award. Anyone who knew him knows that he would not have expected this. It is wonderful that his work and legacy are being recognized in this way. It is also something very special for me and for everyone who worked closely with him.”