Mike Trimby, the founder and CEO of IRTA, sadly passed away on Friday evening. Mike was one of the most important figures in the history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing and played a pivotal role in shaping the sport MotoGP™ has become.

Mike began his career as a rider and mechanic in the 1960s. From there, his focus moved off track and by the late 1970s he had already become a key figure in the World Championship. In 1982, the riders requested Mike formally represent them and four years later, in 1986, the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) was founded with Mike at the helm.

IRTA has since played a pivotal role in shaping the sport, advocating for riders and teams. The huge increase in rider safety the sport has seen since that era is thanks in large part to IRTA, and to the work undertaken by Mike and his wife Irene.

1992 marked a milestone for motorcycle Grand Prix racing: the beginning of a new era of collaboration and consensus between IRTA, the FIM, the MSMA and Dorna Sports. This too owes much to the foundations laid by Mike and IRTA over the decade before, ensuring riders and teams have an equal voice at the table.

On Saturday, a special press conference was held in honour of Mike at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, where it was also announced that he will be named a MotoGP™ Legend and officially inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The MotoGP™ family send their deepest condolences to Mike’s wife Irene, his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. We thank him for a truly outstanding contribution to our sport.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “This is a great loss for our sport, our paddock, and the entire MotoGP family. We all send our condolences to Irene, Mike’s family, his colleagues, friends and loved ones. The paddock will not be the same.

“Mike’s contribution to motorcycle Grand Prix racing is second to none. So much of the sport we have today was built by Mike and we thank him for everything he has contributed. The foundations he helped to lay are ones that we will continue to build on, in his memory, as we continue our close collaboration working with IRTA and their dedicated staff.

“It was an honour for me to know Mike and work alongside him. He was a great friend, and I will truly miss him.”

Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “Mike was one of the key people for MotoGP’s success, an icon. We had a Grand Prix Commission meeting yesterday, he was in a very good mood and I finally convinced him to come to the FIM Awards, to receive an award. It was a surprise for him. I was really happy, and I hope his wife, Irene, will come to receive the medal in his honour because he truly deserves it. I met him more than 30 years ago when he was responsible for the Macau races and since then we've been friends.

“He was a very committed worker. Even yesterday we received the minutes after the meeting, it was his last paper that he sent to us. No one can believe what happened. He died doing what he loved to do. We will all miss him. But I think we will see him on the grid tomorrow as always. Thank you, Mike.”

Herve Poncharal, IRTA President: “When I was young Mike was a legend. He was the one fighting the authorities, he was the one fighting the local promoters, for the good things – for safety first, because that was point number one in terms of the most important things, but also, to have a better paddock. That was how IRTA was created basically.

“I have always had a lot of admiration for Mike because he was strong, he was a fighter, but he was clever. As IRTA president, that gave me the possibility to work closer to him. The more you work with him, the more you know him, the more you learn. I learned a lot from him. I was really glad for that exchange, because although he was a rock, he was sure about a lot of things and it was very difficult to get him to change his mind. We were quite different, but together we made a good team.

“Now, when it is so soon after, you don’t realise he isn’t here. But when I go to IRTA, and see his office empty, it’s going to be difficult. Mike always hated mourning; he didn’t like this. I think Mike would like us to continue on what he has done, and carry on. We know what his values and targets were, and we’ll continue to do it. With IRTA, with his team.”