The opposition candidacy, led by Barcelona-native Jordi Pallarés and backed by 85 percent of the clubs in the province of Lleida, has emerged victorious in the Catalan Motorcycle Federation elections. The vote, held recently, resulted in a very close score: 46 votes for Pallarés's candidacy and 45 for that of the outgoing president, Salvador Prat.
The results from the Lleida region proved crucial for the change-driven victory. Of the 18 Lleida clubs that participated, 15 voted for Pallarés, while only 3 supported Prat. In Girona, the opposition list also garnered more support (12 votes to 7). Although Prat won in Barcelona (23-19) and Girona (6-5), these margins were insufficient to retain office, despite initial backing from rider representatives and official positions.
“"Now is when the real work begins, which is to revive this Catalan motorcycling that is in a difficult period. One of the major problems the previous board faced was not making the clubs feel like they owned the federation; on the contrary, they were sidelined. They, along with the riders, are the protagonists, and they must receive maximum support. That is our intention."
Pallarés, who will begin his term next Monday, emphasized the significance of the win in Lleida, stating they "swept" the region and it was "one of the keys" to the overall success. The new board of directors will include four representatives from Lleida: Lluís Capdevila (president of Moto Club Segre) as first vice-president, and Francesc Giralt (president of Moto Club Circuit d’Almenar), Lluís Massana, and Joan Ramon Ribelles as members.
