STEPHAN CARAPIET LIVE SPEECH (January 16, 2010)

President Vito Ipollito, Vice President Jorge Viegas, colleagues in the FIM UAM family, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

If you’ve been regularly opening your email, you’ve probably read my presidential candidature speech which I’ve decided to send you in advance so that we can proceed full speed to the more pressing concerns of this meeting.

Nonetheless, allow me to share a little more of myself  and my plans in the event that I am elected to the UAM presidency.

I can proudly claim that I have been present and have actively participated in all FIM and UAM affairs the past fifteen years.

With my good rapport with the Asian FMNs and the UAM management council, I played an active role in the resolution of  sensitive issues such as the entry of  Guam into the UAM and the problem between the Korean federation and the FIM.

My working experience with various clubs and organizers of major enduro, motocross and road race events has also helped the way for the significant increase in number of nations and teams and as such if elected to the presidency, I will be in the best position to further improve and promote the development of the aforesaid disciplines in the region.

As a member of the Implementation Committee and the FIM Strategic planning group, I have learned to be sensitive and analytical in addressing issues and problems but always open to suggestions and working plans in the interest of not only of the UAM but other CONUs and FMNs as well.

As President of the UAM Enduro and Motocross Commission. my relationships with FIM promoters and FIM global contractual partners have benefitted  Asian riders in recent years. For the first time in history, we have been able to enter Asian FMN riders to the World MX GPs. I intend to continue this trend with hopes of someday seeing an Asian rider up on the podium in world class motorcycle events.

Finally if elected UAM president who concurrently holds the position of Vice President in the FIM Management Council, we shall be in a good position to propose and nominate an additional Asian representative in the Council in the next FIM General Assembly in Macao. Rest assured however that I will continue to work hard to further improve my good relationship with other CONUs guided by the precept of seeking a win-win solution for all issues and concerns.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATURE SPEECH (sent in advance by email to FIM and UAM Congress delegates)

President Vito Ipollito ,  Vice President Jorge Viegas, colleagues in the FIM UAM family, ladies and gentlemen, good morning,

First and foremost, allow me to welcome and thank everyone present here for gracing this important occasion.  Having worked and interacted with many of you  in countless FIM and UAM functions in the years past  I can claim that most of you may already know me very well.  Nevertheless allow me to share more about myself  to you if only to convince you of my capability to handle the duties and responsibilities of  the position that I am aspiring for today, the UAM presidency.

My involvement with the UAM stems from a passion for motorsports that I manifested   early in life. Our family then operated 220 units of buses plying provincial routes and as such I was exposed to buses and engines and motoring. Being the baby in the family, I would tag along with my father wherever he went. 

On one fateful weekend, we went to watch a local motocross race. It was love at first sight between me and the motorcycle. Seeing me wide-eyed and fascinated by the two-wheeled machines, my father got me a bike and had me racing motocross in no time.

Overnight I went from being a mere spectator to a competitor. I earned my wings fast and started winning the novice races. Pretty soon  the  sponsors took notice and I became a factory rider.

I balanced studies and motocross all the way to high school. After graduation, I sustained injuries during a local race and was sent to the UK for surgery.   While recuperating from the operation, I decided to stay and pursue my bachelors degree in international business relations in UK where I graduated with summa cum laude honors. I am fluent in English and Tagalog our local language and can understand and speak Spanish with ease. While in school in the UK, I ventured into road racing and joined local races in my free time.

After graduation I headed back home and was appointed to oversee the maintenance department of the family’s bus company business. The experience provided me with extensive technical knowledge on 2-wheeled, 4-wheeled d and 10-wheeled vehicles. At that point, I also tried out karting and rally racing.

My passion for two-wheel motorsports however beckoned and in 1994, I and a handful of motorcycle enthusiasts formed the FMN NAMSSA. As managing director of NAMSSA, I initiated NAMSSA’s affiliation with the Philippine Olympic Committee and eventually with the FIM in 1996.\

As managing director and head of international relations of NAMSSA, I was appointed to attend and represent our FMN in UAM meetings. Two years ago I was elected  President and Director of our FMN in electoral proceedings observed by the POC, NAMSSA being an affiliate member and the duly recognized national sporting authority for motorcycle sports in the Philippines.

As the national sporting authority NAMSSA is tasked to develop Filipino athletes from the grassroots level through national races and eventually hone them for competition in continental events and eventually in world championship meets.

As president of the UAM’s  Motocross and Enduro Commission, I was exposed to various off-road races held across Asia the past decade.  My management experience in road racing came by way of my involvement as team manager of various Asian Nations Cup and Asia Road Race Championship Series country teams. As such, I garnered extensive experience and exposure in both on and off-road racing disciplines in the Asian continent.

Recently, I was given the chance to work closely with our FIM colleagues in spreading the benefits of the system to the FMNs in line with objectives of the  UAM. I also had the privilege to work with other CONUs in designing a new framework to develop the present FIM system of governance in the strategic planning process that is currently underway.

Under the new generation FIM, I am confident that we will all be able to venture full speed ahead and come up with new systems and policies to achieve our desired goals and objectives of financial stability and promote our common interests. 

Having worked harmoniously with different UAM presidents in the past, I am now ready to raise the bar and bring the UAM to ne w heights under my leadership and implement new marketing policies as well as technical innovations such as track homologation, UAM officials licensing seminars, reserving titles of property makes of the UAM, and searching for other potential income from operations in order to make the UAM family financially stable.

I am also in close coordination and constantly taking in the inputs of other CONUs on the ways to improve and develop systems based on our experiences with our respective FMNs. I vow that if elected we shall provide an immediate reply to all queries and concerns by email  within 24 to 48 hours upon receiving queries to show the efficiency of the new secretariat.

On this note ladies and gentlemen, I seek your support to be elected to the presidency of the UAM so that we can all work together in scaling greater heights and achievements for our beloved CONU.