Monthly Archives: February 2022

FMN News South Africa

RED BULL KTM UNLEASHES 2022 LINE-UP

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National Motocross Championship – Zone 7

As the start of the 2022 National Motocross season approaches, Red Bull KTM is more ready than ever to unleash its star-studded line-up of riders. The Western Cape is set to host the season opener at Zone 7 on Saturday, 19 February.

After an unforgettable year of racing, Tristan Purdon steps into the new season with two red plates to defend. Purdon stormed to double national glory with a title in both the MX1 and MX2 Class respectively last season. The rider lines up armed a KTM 450 SX-F and 250 SX-F as his weapons of choice. He commented: “I’ve been riding for a very long time and nothing compares to my KTM racing bikes. The suspension couldn’t be dialled in better, which makes life so much easier for me when I’m racing.”


Having spent the off season at his parent’s farm, the rider feels as ready to get back behind the gates as ever. He added, “Coming from the high of winning the MX1 and MX2 Championship, I’m feeling very excited to get out there again. The goal is obviously to defend the titles, but I know the competition just keeps getting stronger and that I have to work harder than ever to stay on top. I have spent most of the off season back at the farm – a place that allows me to spend more time on the bike, focus on my weak points and keep my fitness up.”


Joining him in the fight for both national titles is Red Bull KTM teammate Cameron Durow. The youngster was recruited by the orange team at the start of last season and entered a bar-to-bar battle for the MX2 Championship with Purdon. Having only narrowly missed the top step and gained invaluable experience, Durow will certainly come back swinging this season.


“We’re fighting for the MX1 and MX2 Championship this year – I’m so excited to have the opportunity to compete in both classes. The off season has been good, I have really enjoyed spending time on the 2022 KTM 450 SX-F and 250 SX-F – they feel incredibly fast! I’ve also been conditioning myself for longer motos to not only prepare for racing in both classes, but also for my plans to race overseas this year. I think this kind of training will give me an extra edge when it comes to fitness,” said Durow.


Fresh off his High School Class victory, the talent-stacked Jonathan Mlimi will make the leap to the MX2 Class this season. Having shown immense talent, the rider is ready to step up to a new challenge. He will now join his teammates on a KTM 250 SX-F, something he describes feeling very excited about.


“The level of competition is going to be really high because I’m racing against guys with a lot more experience than me, but that’s how I’m going to learn and grow as an athlete. The power of my new machine is the thing I’ve enjoyed the most! I’ve stuck to my training programme, but managed to add in some running this time – something I’ve struggled to do after my leg injury in 2019. I’m very excited to see how that will give me an extra edge with my fitness this year,” said Mlimi.


Joining the fray on the motocross scene is Luke Grundy. The young gun will represent the Red Bull KTM team in the High School class in 2022 aboard a KTM 125 SX with his sights firmly set on being crowned the National Champion.


Grundy lives in Amanzimtoti, Durban, and has done the large majority of his off season training at Cato Ridge, Thundervalley and Hammersdale. The prodigious young talent has represented South Africa at the FIM Junior World Championships in Italy in 2019 and attributes his already lengthy list of successes to a relentless work rate.


Grundy expressed his immense admiration for the Red Bull KTM team and admitted that he is honoured to race for what he considers the best racing team in the country. Grundy will bring a massive dose of youthful energy and pace to the team and he will be frothing to fight for his first holeshot for his new team.


Rounding out the team is young gun Trey Cox. The rider came painstakingly close to snatching up the Pro Mini Championship last season after a nail-biting three way battle. Having taken his place as a frontrunner in the class, Cox will line-up with more confidence than ever as he chases down the seemingly elusive Pro Mini title.

Published by: Louwrens Mahoney

FIM News

FIM, DORNA AND ITDC AGREE TRACK IMPROVEMENTS OR PERTAMINA MANDALIKA INTERNATIONAL STREET CIRCUIT

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FIM, Dorna and ITDC agree track improvements or Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit

The pre-season Official MotoGP™ Test at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit saw the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship return to Indonesia for the first time in 25 years. The three days of track time were invaluable for the riders, teams and organisation, allowing all parties to gain experience at the new circuit before the inaugural Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia.  

The three-day test has also given the organisation and governing body the opportunity to ensure the venue complies with MotoGP™ standards and assess any improvements necessary ahead of the track’s debut on the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship calendar.


The feedback from riders and teams regarding the layout of the track and its safety standards, including the extensive runoff areas of both tarmac and gravel, has been overwhelmingly positive.  

During the test, two areas of improvement were identified, which are the cleanliness of the track surface and the excess of aggregate affecting parts of the circuit.  

The FIM, which oversees track homologation, has been in communication with the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) regarding these necessary improvements, which are to be implemented a minimum of seven days before the inaugural Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia.


Circuit owner ITDC has agreed with the FIM’s assessment and requests, demonstrating their high level of support and commitment to the sport. All parties have reacted quickly and work towards these improvements is already underway, including the resurfacing of part of the track.

The circuit will be resurfaced from the section before Turn 17 until after Turn 5. The venue will also prepare for the Grand Prix by employing world leading technology to ensure the entirety of the surface meets MotoGP™ standards.

The FIM and Dorna would like to thank the ITDC for their incredible support and prompt reaction. All parties would also like to assure our Indonesian fans, and all those around the world, that the 2022 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia will take place on the planned date, and MotoGP™ is very much looking forward to returning to Lombok.

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FIM News

INFORMATION – FIM TRIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – CALENDAR UPDATE 15 FEBRUARY – 2022 JAPANESE TRIALGP CANCELLED

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Please find enclosed the Press Release / FIM Trial World Championships & Prizes 2022 Calendars, UPDATE 15 February.

2022 Japanese TrialGP cancelled

Given the current health situation and restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the FIM, the Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ) and local organiser Mobilityland have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Japanese TrialGP originally scheduled for 20-22 May at Motegi, Japan.

The FIM would like to thank the Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ) and Mobilityland for their support and will be delighted to see this major event in the Trial calendar since 2000 return to the series in 2023.

A new 2022 calendar is being studied and will be communicated as soon as the situation allows.

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FIM News

2022 FIM COMMISSIONS CONFERENCE

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The 2022 FIM Commissions Conference took place at the Grand Hôtel de Divonne in Divonne les Bains (France) and via videoconference from 11 to 13 February. This Conference was a unique opportunity for more than 300 FIM Family Members from all around the world, such as Board of Directors Members, Commissions Directors and Members as well as FIM World Championships promoters and Race Directors to meet and share ideas and expertise, all driven by a common passion for motorcycling.

For the first time ever, a SuperLicence Seminars plenary session was organised in the framework of of the Commissions meetings on Friday 11 February.
On this occasion, many topics were addressed, in particular, the energy transition, the FIM’s sound level reduction strategy, the new rules in circuit racing related to safety, the safeguarding policy, the athletes’ safety and wellbeing as well as the antidoping programme.
In addition, Niels Wittich, FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 Race Director, set the scene with a keynote speech on “motor-sport competitions’ decision-making process – perspectives and implications at national and international level”.
This first plenary session was concluded with a roundtable, animated by Gavin Emmett, to which Niels Wittich was joined by Jorge Viegas, FIM President; Phil Morris, FIM Speedway World Championship Race Director; Stuart Higgs, British Superbike Championship Race Director and Mike Webb, MotoGP Race Director, to address the roles and duties of Race Directors in various motorcycling disciplines. In the afternoon, a training workshop on the topic “Leading through change” addressed to the Secretaries General of the National Federations and Continental Unions was organised. Additionally, various SuperLicence Seminars on several disciplines took place in parallel on Friday afternoon.

Following on from the 2020 initiative, the FIM President invited the new 2022 FIM Championship Promoters, Adam Bailey, SX Global; François Ribeiro, Discovery Sports Events; Charles Cuypers, A.S.O.; Bernard Estripeau, S2; Events to join the second plenary session of the weekend, that took place on Saturday morning. On the theme of “On the road to the future”, each Promoter explained the main changes, projects and challenges for the year to come and the near future. During this meeting, the FIM Legacy project was addressed. A first architectural model of the new administrative building with a space dedicated to the technical laboratory (FIM Tech Lab) was presented. It was reminded that the current FIM Headquarters would be transformed into a motorcycle sport museum/Hall of Fame to be managed by the International Foundation for Motorcycling (IFM).

Long and loyal service awards were presented to the following members:

10 years’ service in 2020: PADMANABHAN Roop Kumar Gajala (FMSCI) – CTI; KING Paul (ACU) – CCR; ADAMO Leonzio (FMI) – CID; STEELE Anthony (ACU) – CCP; WULVERYCK Jean-François (FRMM) – CTT
15 years’ service in 2020: CASTAGNA Armando (FMI) – CCP; CASTANEDA Luis Fernando (FNMG) – CTL; DI FILIIPPO Giancarlo (FMI) – CMI; FERRETTI Gianfranco (FSM) – CTI; FREAK Keith (ACU) – CTL; KNYSZEWSKSA Aleksandra (PZM) – CFM; KORHONEN Nita (FIM) – CFM; LARAICHI Abdallah (FRMM) – CTL; MARIANO Pedro (FMP) – CEN; NEUHÄUSER Susanne (AMF) – CFM-CCP (referee); OELSCHLEGEL Iris (DMSB) – CFM-CTR (consultant)
15 years’ service in 2021: CHRISTENSEN Jesper (SVEMO) – CPM; COLLINS John (ACU) – CEN; JOHANSSON Roger (SVEMO) – CTI; LAZZAROTTI Monica (FMI) – CMI; OURIMI Nejib Mohamed (FTM) – CPM; PINTARICH Franz (AMF) – CTL; VERMEULEN Pieter-Paul (KNMV) – CMI
20 years’ service in 2020: KRONBORG Finn (DMU) – CPM
20 years’ service in 2021: ENEROTH Patricia (SVEMO) – CEN; LAZAR Peter (SMF) – CEN; RIBEIRO Pedro (FMP) – CCR; RITA José (FMP) – CTT
25 years’ service in 2021: VUORENSOLA Sakari (SML) – LJI
30 years’ service in 2021: SYRUCEKK Martin (ACCR) – CMI; WONGSAWAN Kraitos (FMCT) – CEB
35 years’ service in 2021: BOURGUIGNON Jacques (FMB) – LJI and 100th birthday in 2022
Honorary Members 2020: BIRJUKOVA Nina (LaMSF) – CMS; BRODIE Graham (ACU) – CCP; CEYSSENS Christiaan (FMB) – CTL; CHATTERTON-ROSS John (ACU) – CAP
Honorary Members 2021 – Posthumously: GRODZKI Wojciech (PZM) – CCP; RIBBINK Johan-Pieter (KNMV) – CMS
Member of Honour 2021: DEMATHIEU Charly (FMB)

Over the weekend all thirteen sporting and non-sporting Commissions as well as the List of International Judges conducted their own meetings to work on projects and priorities for 2022. The efforts and hard work of all participants and stakeholders over the three days were recognised and rewarded as the entire FIM Family got together for a cocktail reception held at the FIM Headquarters on Saturday evening.

Expressing his satisfaction, FIM President Jorge Viegas said: “I am pleased with the success of this 2022 Commissions Conference which gathered more than 300 FIM Family Members from all around the world. This event is a key opportunity to meet and prepare the upcoming season. I would like to extend my gratitude to our Commissions Directors and Members who, thanks to their expertise and commitment, strongly contribute to the high quality of the FIM events and programmes. This event is also about thanking and rewarding the volunteers for their dedication and service to the FIM. The presence of the new FIM World Championships promoters starting as of 2022 was also greatly appreciated. We can be proud of the tremendous achievements during 2021 and I am looking forward to another exciting 2022 season.”

Picture Caption: FIM Family picture at the Grand Hôtel de Divonne in Divonne les Bains (France) © Patrice Moullet

FMN News Uganda

UGANDA GEARS PREPS FOR CAC AND FIM MXOAN

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The Ugandan motocross team is planning to utilise the Kenya National Motocross rounds as build-up ahead of the two big international events later this year.


Uganda will host the first round of the Central African Motocross challenge (CAC) in April and FIM Africa Motocross for All Nations (Mxoan) in August.


Ugandan riders will compete in the Kenyan MX round 2 scheduled for 20 February 2022.


George Ssemakula, who manages the Katende Team is optimistic the outing will be productive.


“We have two major events in the country that need more work to be done by the riders. We don’t want to be beaten at home.


“So we use every competition around us to gain some mileage,” Ssemakula who also doubles as Motocross trainer emphasised.

“We intend to do one round in Zambia as well;” said Ssemakula.


Besides the Katende team, there is a pack of other riders set to guest ride in the Kenyan event.


These include Filbert Muwonge, Jerome Mubiru, Haiden Kalisa, Jean-Manzi Winfield, and the Kugonza family that have so far been confirmed.


Filbert son to two-time National rally champion Susan Muwonge will compete in the Mx50cc, Jerome Mubiru and Telly Kugonza in Mx85, Trevor Kugonza in Mx125 while the Katende Brothers Miguel and Jonathan together with Haiden Kalisa and Jean-Manzi Winfield will compete in Mx65.


On return from the Kenyan round, the focus will be on the National Motocross Championship event at Garuga on 6 March.


The round two event was launched this week at the Attitude Lounge, Nalya.


The launch was graced by two stunt riders Ashim Sserwada and Robert Jingo aka ‘digital’ who demonstrated their skills, and later called on their fans to turn up in big numbers.

Published by: Frank Kaheesi

Photography by: FMU Media