In the framework of the FIM Family Week regrouping the 2020 FIM and CONUs Board meetings and General Assemblies, as well as the 2021 Commissions Conference organised remotely via online platforms, the FIM Board of Directors met face-to-face at the FIM Headquarters in Mies, Switzerland and via videoconference on 26 and 27 January 2021.

On this occasion, the Board addressed many topics, in particular the following:
COVID-19 pandemic: The FIM expressed its thoughts to all FIM Family Members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 sporting and non-sporting calendars are being drafted knowing that the current on-going pandemic will once again certainly require adjustments, flexibility and adaptability among all FIM Family members and stakeholders.

Sport: The contract with WESS Promotion GmbH is signed and FIM and WESS will join forces to launch the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship in 2021. The e-sport Working Group, coordinated by FIM Sports Director Mr Jean-Paul Gombeaud presented its first report to the Board. Strategy and business plan are to be submitted to the Board at its next meeting. In addition, the Board agreed to create, subject to approval by the General Assembly, the FIM MiniGP World Series, FIM Motocross Vintage World Cup, FIM Trial Vintage World Cup, FIM Veteran Bajas World Cup, FIM Sand Race World Cup, FIM Enduro Vintage World Cup, FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and Cup, and to make the FIM Enduro Women World Cup a World Championship.

Disciplinary and anti-coping cases: There is no disciplinary and/or anti-doping case pending as of January 2021.

Finance: Thanks to significant efforts and substantial savings, the provisional results for 2020 will allow for additional allocation to the fund for projects subsidies for FMNs and CONUs. The Board also decided to submit the 2021 budget for approval to the General Assembly. The budget was divided into two versions: one was drafted assuming that a return to a normal situation would be possible and the second one took into consideration the possibility that less sporting and non-sporting events would be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic impact.

Subsidies and donations: The 2021 projects subsidies to FMNs and CONUs were presented to the Board. The Board approved the allocations of FIM charity and donation fund for 2021. The Board decided that donations and charity projects would be managed by the Foundation (IFM) in the future.

Marketing and Communication: The FIM Social Media Plan including a strategy, content, planning, etc. was introduced to the Board.

Affiliations: The next General Assembly will be recommended to approve the affiliations of Mozambique and Iraq as new FMNs and several discussions took place related mainly to Azerbaijan, Canada and Israel.

Commissions: Commission Directors had the opportunity to address their main projects and concerns to the Board. All Commissions will meet by videoconference over the weekend in the framework of the FIM Family Week. In addition, the appointments of two new Members were approved by the Board:

•    CFM – Member, Mrs Anastassia Kovalenko (EMF)
•    CTL – Member, Mr Zoran Mihajlovic (AMSS)

Amendments to Codes: Revisions to Statutes and By-Laws, Medical Code as well as Environmental Code were voted on. Ages for new FIM World Cups and Prizes were inserted in the Medical Code and some medical services at events and medical requirements were revised. The Board approved the inclusion of two articles in the FIM Environmental Code related to the appropriate management of hazardous waste generated by the use of sanitary protective devices. The organisation of the FIM Sustainability Week, to be held the first week of June each year, was also approved. Additionally, the CID presented the first draft of the document that contains the FIM Net Zero Fossil Carbon Strategy. The document will be revised and presented to the Board for approval in the near future. The amendments related to the Statutes and By-Laws will be submitted to the General Assembly for approval.   

In addition, the CONU Presidents, the Board Committees and the departments of the Administration presented progress reports on their respective projects.

Picture Captions:  Zoom meeting from top left: Peter DOYLE (FIM Oceania President); Tony SKILLINGTON (FIM CEO); Stephan CARAPIET (FIM Asia President); Robert DINGMAN (FIM North America President); Giovanni COPIOLI (Board Member); Jorgen BITSCH (Board Member); Marco COMANA (FIM Africa President); Jan STOVICEK (Board Member).

From left at FIM HQ: Jos DRIESSEN (Board Member); Pedro VENTURO Jr (FIM Latin America President); Ignacio VERNEDA (Deputy President); Jorge Viegas (FIM President); Jacques BOLLE (Vice-President); Martin DE GRAAFF (FIM Europe President) © FIM

The FIM and Dorna Sports are delighted to announce a new platform on the Road to MotoGP™: the FIM MiniGP World Series. Unifying and standardising MiniGP competitions from around the world under the same umbrella, the series aims to create an equal platform for young riders worldwide – and increase their skill and opportunity on the Road to MotoGP™.

The FIM MiniGP World Series will comprise MiniGP competitions organised by one or more FMNs, or CONUs across the globe that sign up to be part of the new initiative, with each competition in the Series adhering to the same set of sporting and technical regulations in order to standardise competition. MiniGP Cups or competitions wishing to be included as part of the new Series – and thereby gain Road to MotoGP™ status – can be either national in nature or representing a larger geographical area at a regional or continental level.

Races must take place on karting circuits that meet minimum standards set by the FIM or national federation in question, who will also decide on the minimum circuit length. Riders must be between 10 and 14 years old, competing on equal Ohvale GP-0 160 machinery. The official single tyre supplier for all the FIM MiniGP World Series will be Pirelli, with a standard tyre allocation given per event.

A minimum of four events comprising a minimum of eight races must be included on the calendar, with a minimum number of 15 permanent riders in each competition. The first event must take place by July 2021, and the final event of the season should be held no later than the 17th of October. At the end of the season, the top competitors will be offered some incredible opportunities.

The champion of every national, regional, or continental MiniGP cup will be given the opportunity to participate in a World Final, which will take place during the week leading up to the final MotoGP™ event of the season. The winner of the World Final will, subject to age and location/nationality, will secure a spot in one of the Road To MotoGP™ programs on the next rung of their career ladder.

The top riders from each national or continental MiniGP cup will also have – depending on their age and location – either direct access to the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup selection or the availability of entry into the Honda British Talent Cup, Northern Talent Cup or European Talent Cup.

<< DOWNLOAD THE FIM MiniGP WORLD SERIES CONDITIONS HERE >>

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “The Road to MotoGP is very important to us and I’m very proud to see another initiative added to our talent promotion portfolio, in partnership with the FIM. The FIM MiniGP World Series will play an important role in standardising competition for young riders around the world, helping their talent to shine on a level playing field and creating more opportunities than ever before. We are delighted to collaborate on this new project and see it become reality, and we can’t wait to see the talent that emerges from the Series in the future. The FIM MiniGP World Series is the perfect stepping-stone for young riders who are just beginning their Road to MotoGP and will not only help us discover MotoGP talent of the future, but also increase the breadth of the MotoGP fanbase and the number of young athletes who take up motorcycle racing.”

Valerio da Lio, CEO of OHVALE: “It is a dream coming true! We are very proud to be part of the FIM MiniGP World Series project. This is an important step in the growth of motorcycling at international level. For many years Ohvale has been creating a solid basis for the growth of new talented riders at an international level and, thanks to the involvement of its sales network and national federations. Ohvale has spread a new philosophy for young motorcyclists: equal bikes for all and sealed engines, because it is the rider who makes the difference. We thank FIM and Dorna for choosing OHVALE for the new FIM MiniGP World Series.”

Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “The FIM MiniGP World Series is the first step for all the young kids on their path to achieve their dream and reach the FIM MotoGP World Championship! This is the starting point that was missing in the ‘Road to MotoGP’ that will allow every talented rider to step on the ‘podium’, with an extremely low budget. Also, this FIM/Dorna initiative puts the National Federations at the forefront of the system, because it is up to them to fully organise the national series and to hand-pick the best from each country, that will be present in the World Final in Valencia. Dorna and the FIM have been working on this project for a few years now; it is now becoming a reality and I would like to thank our Promoter and give an additional incentive to all our affiliated federations.”