Notes:
Juan Sobrepera Desplá who often raced under the pseudonym of "Tigre (Tiger), was a succesful Spanish motorcycle rider since the late 1950s, before moving to four wheels.

Born in Sabadell, Catalunya, in 1936, he managed in his hometown an Official Service of Bultaco, the motorcycle company founded by Dom Francesc Xavier "Paco" Bultó Marqués in 1958. During his racing career Juan Sobrepera Desplá rode with a measure of success Montesa and Bultaco machines, wearing his specific striped helmet. He took a class win, eighth place overall, in the 24 Horas Motociclistas de Montjuïc in 1959, averaving 80,38 Km/h (50 mi/h) on his Bultaco 125 cm³ which he shared with Francisco Valera, mostly known as "Bambi". Their chief mechanic in that race was Britain's Frank Sheene, father of the soon-to-be-great Barry Sheene. As a result of this success, "Tigre"-"Bambi" were declared the 1959 Spanish Endurance Champions.

A close friend and mentor of the youngster Ramón Torras, one of the most promising riders of Spain, Juan Sobrepera Desplá instructed him since he was still a teenager, and entered him in his first motocross race at Sabadell. They raced together in several sidecar events, being Sobrepera the pilot and Torras his passenger. In 1961 Juan Sobrepera Desplá achieved an outright victory in the Subida a Santa Cruz de Olorde, riding a works Bultaco 175 cm³ ahead of Ramón Costa on a Bultaco 125 and his protégé Torras, who finished third, first in class, on a Ducson 75 cm³. Later in the season "Tigre" and Torras earned a prestigious class win together in an endurance race at Warsage, Belgium, sharing a Bultaco Tralla 125.

Holder of the Bultaco Official Service in Sabadell, Sobrepera convinced Dom Paco Bultó to sign on the promising Torras, who had his maiden race as a factory rider in the Troféu San Magin held at Tarragona on 28 September 1961, scoring a fine second place. The following year Torras won the Spanish Motorcycle Championship in both the "Esporte" and the "Competició" classes, making also his debut in the World Motorcycle Championship. His best year was 1965, when he finished in eighth place in the 250 cm³ class. He was killed in an accident that happened in the street circuit of Comarruga, on 30 May 1965.

In 1964 Juan Sobrepera Desplá decided to participate in several national rallies, hillclimbs and circuit races, racing under his usual pseudonym of "Tigre" at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo Giulia TI and a BMW 700 CS Coupé. Driving the latter he crashed hard at the Parque Montjuïc, during the "Trofeo Juan Jover" while dicing for the class lead.

Much shaken by the death of Ramón Torras, "Tigre" hung up his helmet after the accident. Sadly Juan Sobrepera Desplá would only survive one year to his six-year-younger friend, since he died of sudden illness in Sabadell on Thursday, 28 July 1966, when he was 30-year-old.

Before the start of the Subida a San Feliu de Codinas, a hillclimb held on the following 04 September 1966, Juan Sobrepera Desplá was honored with a minute of silence, as well as Pedro Bernaus, who died on the previous 10 July, during the XII 24 Horas Motociclistas Internacionales de Montjuïc. A year later, the Motor Club Sabadell organized the first edition of the Rally de la Llana, which was titled as "Trofeo Juan Sobrepera", in his memory.

Juan Sobrepera Desplá was survived by his wife Maria Isabel Millet Maristany and their three children, Juan, Maria Isabel and Miguel.

Career Summary:

• Book "40 Años de Historia del Automovilismo en el Circuito de Montjuïc", by Javier del Arco de Izco, Reial Automòbil Club de Catalunya, Spain, 2000, ISBN 84-931729-0-1, pages 156, 157, 159, 161, 167, 169 and 570.
• Newspaper La Vanguardia (Barcelona, Spain), issue of Wednesday, 10 August 1966, page 24, article "Necrología: Don Juan Sobrepera Desplá", retrieved by website http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/ .
• Newspaper La Vanguardia (Barcelona, Spain), issue of Tuesday, 06 September 1966, page 20, article "MOTOR; VIII SUBIDA A SAN FELIU DE COPINAS", retrieved by website http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/ .
• Website AUTOSPORT → Forums → The Nostalgia Forum, thread "Speed's Ultimate Price: The Toll", page 39, posting by Hugo Boecker, message http://forums.atlasf1.com/showthread.php?postid=1646425#post1646425 .
• Website Moto Classicas 70, page http://www.motosclassicas70.com.br/ramon_torras.htm .