Juan Manuel López Mella

Juan Manuel López Mella (12 April 1965 – 10 May 1995) was a Spanish professional motorcycle racer at Grand Prix and Superbike levels. After coming second in the national championships in 1985, he entered international competitions for the first time in 1987. He was the first person from Galicia to enter the competition. He came third in the 1991 Spanish Superbike race at Jarama, the first person from Spain to gain a podium position in the competition, and was named Spanish Superbike champion in both 1991 and 1992, becoming the highest placed private rider overall in 1993. In 1995, he started riding in the Thunderbike tournament but was killed in a road accident early in the season. Lugo, his city of birth, has named a park that teaches road safety in his honour and hosts a museum in his memory.

Motorcycling career Born on 12 April 1965 in Lugo, Galicia, Spain, López Mella started his racing career with motocross but by the age of 18 had moved to racing on asphalt. After debuting nationally in the Criterium Solo Moto in 1985, and coming second overall in the junior category of the 250 cc class that year, he then progressed to racing in the World Motorcycle Championships in 1987. He became the first Galacian to compete in a world championship. After a season riding a Yamaha TZ250, during which he scored no points, he moved to a Honda RS250R in 1988; once again he finished outside the championship rankings. At that stage, he decided to move to larger bikes. Between 1990 and 1992, he competed in the Superbike World Championship, finishing with 33 starts and 99 points over the three seasons. During the 1991 season, he achieved his sole podium placing when he came third in the Spanish round at Jarama with a time of 40:05.859. López Mella was the first Spaniard to achieve a podium place in the championship. He was also the first to cross the finish line on a four-stroke bike at the Superprestigio Super Moto at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya later the that year. He subsequently competed twice in the 1992 Superbike World Championship, coming thirteenth both times. He was named Spanish Superbike champion in both 1991 and 1992.

In 1992, López Mella re-entered in the Grand Prix 500 cc class with a Yamaha YZR500. In 1994, he replaced Kevin Schwantz in the Suzuki team for the European motorcycle Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. He came thirteenth riding a Suzuki RGV500.

Death and legacy In 1995, López Mella started the season racing in the Thunderbike Trophy, completing the first race at Jerez de la Frontera in fourth place. He expected to complete the year with a good overall score, possibly with a podium position. However, on the evening of 10 May, while riding near Albacete on his way to train at the Circuit de Calafat, his motorbike hit a puddle of water, left the road and crashed. An ambulance was called to take him to the hospital but he died before arriving. His riding companion and girlfriend, Cristina Blanco Trinidad, was also injured but survived. In his honour, Lugo named a park in his name, which opened on 26 May 1995. The park teaches road safety to children. The city also hosts a museum that was created in his memory.

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Races by year (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pos Pts Ref 1989 500cc Honda NS500 JPN AUS USA ESP14 NATRet GER19 AUTRet YUG NEDRet BEL FRA18 GBRRet SWE15 CZE16 BRA15 40th 4 1992 500cc Yamaha YZR500 JPN AUS MAL SPA 19 ITA 18 EUR 15 GER 12 NED DNS HUN FRA GBR BRA 13 RSA DNS – 0 1993 500cc Yamaha YZR500 AUS Ret MAL 13 JPN Ret SPA 8 AUT 13 GER 14 NED Ret EUR 7 RSM Ret GBR 7 CZE 14 ITA 12 USA 10 FIM Ret 12th 46 1994 500cc Yamaha YZR500(exc 14 Suzuki RGV500) AUS 13 MAL Ret JPN 15 SPA 13 AUTRet GER12 NEDRet ITA10 FRA10 GBR CZERet USADNS ARGDNS EUR13 16th 26

Superbike World Championship

Races by year (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)