Official Programme

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Contents Vito Ippolito 5 FIM President

Lisa Leyland & Gavin Emmett 7 Masters of Ceremony

FIM Legends 9-17 FIM Team World Championships 19-31 FIM Track Racing Champions 33-37 FIM Road Safety Award 39-41 FIM Cross-Country Rallies Champion 43-45 FIM Enduro Champions 47-53 FIM Environmental Award 55-57 FIM X-Trial & Trial Champions 59-61 FIM Motocross Champions 63-77 FIM Road Racing Champions 79-89

Chief Editor : Isabelle Larivière Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme 11, route Suisse - 1295 Mies - Suisse Tel : +41-22 950 95 00 - Fax : +41-22 950 95 01 Email : fim@fim.ch Website : www.fim-live.com Layout & Printing : IMPRIMERIE SRO-KUNDIG SA 243, route des Fayards 1290 Versoix (Switzerland) The content of this publication is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time the FIM Gala Ceremony programme was printed.

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Vito Ippolito FIM President “I would like to personally welcome you to what is now the fifth edition of the FIM Gala Ceremony and to the beautiful Spanish city of Jerez de la Frontera, which has such a long history of two-wheel racing.

Once again we arrive at this magical moment in the year, when we come together as one big family to celebrate our FIM Champions both individual and team – some new and some returning, to recognise and reward our legends and initiatives plus share with the wider World our great sport of Motorcycling via our global TV audiences.

During 2014 the FIM has inscribed more than 200 races covering 49 championships to mark in some style its 110-year anniversary since the International Federation was first formed back in 1904. Although more than a century has passed and much has changed within our disciplines, the same passion that was present in the beginning remains today.

2015 will also be a special year for the FIM, and even more so for Jerez de la Frontera as it becomes our first ever World Capital of Motorcyclisme. During the next year the city will host many events to celebrate this appointment, so we wish them well and hope that many people will visit this beautiful region to enjoy a wide variety of two-wheel activities.

Alongside our motorcycling heroes, I am pleased to say we are also here to recognise and applaud the many road safety and environmental projects and initiatives that have taken place in 2014. As always I cannot close without thanking our champions, riders, teams, federations, clubs, organisers, sponsors, supporters and many volunteers for their continued work and commitment to our sport.

Thank you for being here in Jerez de la Frontera, and for sharing this special occasion with the FIM and our incredible motorcycling family.”

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Lisa Leyland & Gavin Emmett Masters of Ceremony Lisa Leyland has become the face of FIM-TV over the last few seasons through her work on various FIM World Championships. Born in London, Great Britain Lisa is a Film and TV graduate who was always destined to be a star of the small screen. Over the last seven years Lisa has worked as a professional TV broadcaster in a number of different and varied roles. Her face will already be familiar to viewers around the globe with her having been the presenter for the FIM Endurance World Championship, the FIM International Six Days Enduro, the FIM X-Trial World Championship and the FIM Motocross World Championship as well as on other genres of sport within TV. This is Lisa’s 2nd year hosting the FIM Gala. An event she says she looks forward to all season !

Gavin Emmett is an experienced sports broadcaster, well known to motorcycle racing fans across the globe thanks to his long association with MotoGP. As the world feed commentator Gavin was the voice of the sport for many years in Australia, Asia, Africa and America, also enjoying spells as an on-screen reporter with BBC Sport in the UK and Speed TV in the USA, as well as hosting the popular online magazine show “After The Flag” for motogp.com. Gavin has hosted the MotoGP Awards on several occasions in the past but this is his first year hosting the FIM Gala, an event he says he is “honoured and excited to be a part of”.

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FIM Legends Sue Fish

FIM Woman Legend

Gerd Riss

FIM Track Racing Legend

Thierry Magnaldi

FIM Cross-Country Rallies Legend

Kvetoslav Masita

FIM Enduro Legend

Sammy Miller

FIM Trial Legend

Heikki Mikkola

FIM Motocross Legend

John Surtees

FIM Road Racing Legend

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Sue Fish

Born on 9 November 1958 in Alhambra, USA

FIM Woman Legend American female rider Sue “Flying” Fish is considered to be a pioneer of Women’s motocross, with the now retired high flyer having won the Women’s National Motocross Championship in 1976 and 1977 long before the introduction of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship in 2005. Recognised for her achievements in her home nation, including racing in the AMA series as a pro rider against her male counterparts, Sue was inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2012 alongside the likes of fellow compatriots Roger DeCoster, Steve McQueen and Eddie Lawson.

Fish got her first taste of motorcycling aged just three when her father gave her a ride on his own bike. However it was during her early teen years that Sue started to ride

properly herself before turning professional at the age of just eighteen, a move that was not too warmly welcomed by her mother. Perhaps rightly so as Fish underwent over twenty operations for injuries during her racing career, including ten to repair her knees and one to replace her damaged shoulder.

Away from the sporting arena Fish was Linda Hamilton’s stunt double in the block busting action movie The Terminator, which was the highlight of the almost ten years she spent working in Hollywood.

Semi-retired since 2009 Sue now works as a personal trainer when she is not riding her beloved mountain bike.

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Gerd Riss

Born on 17 March 1965 in Leutkirch, Germany

FIM Track Racing Legend Gerd Riss is rightly recognised as a true legend of Track racing having won the FIM Long Track World Championship an amazing eight times – 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008 and finally 2009.

Riss is also a four times winner of the German Speedway Championship, his victories coming in 1986, 1992, 1994 and 1996. Ironically Gerd never actually managed to successfully defend his national title of each occasion as he finished runner-up in the same series on alternate years during the mid-nineties, those being 1993 and 1995.

In addition to his domination at national level Riss made four appearances at the Speedway World Finals starting

in the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1987 where he placed tenth. Two years later, this time in the Olympic facility in Munich in his home country Gerd ended the evening in ninth spot. Gerd then also rode in Sweden and again in his home nation in 1991 and 1993 respectively. During the same period the multi FIM Long Track World Champion competed in the German Speedway Grand Prix on three separate occasions, but with little impact, his real speed being on the longer oval circuits.

During his career Riss rode for three leading British Speedway teams, those being Pool Pirates, Wolverhampton Wolves and Ipswich Witches.

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Thierry Magnaldi Born on 13 October 1962 in Toulon, France

FIM Cross-Country Rallies Legend French cross country rallies specialist Thierry Magnaldi competed in the Dakar Rally an incredible eighteen times, with his highest placing being second to fellow countryman Richard Sainct in 1999 in the motorcycle class. In the same year he was also the winner of the Rally Raids World Cup. Magnaldi made his debut in the Dakar Rally in 1989, when he failed to finish, but the following year he placed fourth having learned much from his initial experience.

1991 and 1992 saw Thierry post two more strong results in the Dakar Rally, third and fifth respectively before he was forced to endure a series of failures to finish before he returned to the podium in 1999 aboard his KTM.

Magnaldi’s other achievements on two wheels before he switched to four in 2000, include winning the French Enduro Championship in 1983 and 1988 and collecting six gold medals at the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) events he contested in Spain, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic and the USA. On four wheels Thierry was equally successful, taking two stage wins in the Dakar Rally in 2006 on route to tenth position overall. This came twelve months after Magnaldi secured his highest place of eighth overall in the car class.

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Kvetoslav Masita Born on 2 October 1947 in Vsenory, Czech Republic

FIM Enduro Legend Winner of ten consecutive European Enduro Championships Kvetoslav Masita deserves his place in Czech Republic history. The charismatic factory Jawa rider won all his ten titles in the 350cc class from 1968 to 1977 inclusive. These successes came during a period when the then Czechoslovakian motorcycle manufacturer Jawa was dominant in off-road disciplines, and helped give rise to Masita being known as “Mr Invincible” during his decade long reign.

Complimenting his individual achievements Kvetoslav was also a six times winning member of the Czech Trophy Team at the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974 1977 and 1978. Masita competed in the ISDE on thirteen different occasions,

thus proving this not to be an unlucky number for him with a nearly fifty percent win rate.

As a young rider Kvetoslav Masita had wanted to race motocross and follow in the wheel tracks of his idol, fellow countryman and European champion Jaromir Cizek. When Cizek first saw Masita in action he predicted that he too would become a great champion, and he was certainly right in his assessment as the coming years would confirm.

At the FIM congress in Benalmadena in 2002 Kvetoslav was awarded a silver medal in recognition of his sporting success.

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Sammy Miller Born on 11 November 1933 in Belfast, Northern Ireland

FIM Trial Legend Sammy Miller was twice a winner of the European Trials Championship in 1968 and 1970 prior to the series gaining full World status in 1975. In addition to his two international titles Miller also won the British Trial Championship on no less than eleven occasions, the Scottish Six Days Trial five times and was victorious seven times at the Scott Trial. During Sammy’s long and illustrious riding career he won nearly one thousand five hundred competitions in addition to the nine gold medals he achieved through competing in the International Six Days Trial as it was then known.

Whilst an undisputed King of the slow speed sport of Trials, Miller was also a master on tarmac too, competing in the Isle of Man TT races, winning three times on his native roads at the North West 200 as well as finishing third overall in the 1957 FIM 250cc Grand Prix World Championship.

Sammy is best known for his performances aboard both Ariel and Bultaco machines, with his 500cc Ariel HT5 being a celebrity in its own right. This iconic motorcycle with its famous GOV 132 registration plate can now be found in the Sammy Miller Museum alongside many of Sammy’s other winning mounts.

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Heikki Mikkola Born on 6 July 1945 in Mikkeli, Finland

FIM Motocross Legend Heikki Mikkola or the “Flying Finn” as he was affectionately known won the FIM 500cc Motocross World Championship three times – 1974, 1977 and 1978, he also took the FIM 250cc Motocross World Championship in 1976 to tally his gold medals to four in total. Recognised for his fierce and determined riding style, Mikkola was the first ever Finnish rider to win an FIM Motocross World Championship.

Two years later in 1976, again riding for Husqvarna Heikki followed up his 500cc success by also winning the FIM 250cc Motocross World Championship to become the first ever rider to achieve this feat. Yamaha were to sign the services of Mikkola the following season and he was to reward the Japanese manufacturer with two further FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships over the next two years – 1977 and 1978.

His first World title in 1974 will perhaps be remembered as his finest when aboard his factory Husqvarna he defeated defending champion Roger DeCoster in what remains one of the closest battles in the history of the championship.

Heikki sadly and suddenly retired from the sport aged thirty-four after he finished fifth in the 1979 500cc series. Mikkola will always be remembered as one of the most feared riders ever to grace World motocross.

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Jorge Martínez Born on 29 August 1962 in Valencia, Spain

FIM Road Racing Legend Spain’s Jorge Martínez ranks amongst the most successful Grand Prix racers with twenty two wins in the 80cc class and a further fifteen victories on board 125cc machinery. Martínez made his debut on the GP scene in 1982, and just a few years later he was claiming World titles.

Between 1986 and 1988 Jorge won a total of four World Championships in the two different capacity classes in which he competed, this comprised of three 80cc titles and one gold medal in the 125cc category.

1998 was his defining season, when he achieved victory in both divisions in the same year. During his career, Jorge was also known as “Aspar” a nickname given to him due to his father being a cobbler.

Post his racing career Martínez, which concluded in 1997, went on to form and manage the Mapfre Aspar Racing Team, which has enjoyed its own successes.

2010 was perhaps the best season for the Spanish squad when Aspar riders Nicolas Terol and Bradley Smith finished second and fourth respectively in the 125cc World Championship on board Aprilia machinery, whilst Julian Simon was runner-up in the Moto2 class on the Honda powered Suter chassis combination and Hector Barbera took twelfth spot in the MotoGP division on a Ducati.

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Team World Championships Russia

FIM Team Ice Speedway Gladiators World Champion

Germany

FIM Team Long Track World Champion

Poland

FIM Team Speedway Under 21 World Champion

Denmark

FIM Speedway World Cup

Great Britain

FIM Women’s Trial des Nations

Spain

FIM Trial des Nations

France

FIM International Six Days’ Enduro World Trophy

United States of America

FIM International Six Days’ Enduro Junior World Trophy

Australia

FIM International Six Days’ Enduro Women’s Team

Spain

FIM FreeStyle of Nations

France

FIM SuperMoto of Nations

France

FIM Motocross of Nations 19

Russia

Motorcycle Federation of Russia Team manager : Rais Mustafin Riders : Daniil Ivanov, Dmitry Koltakov, Sergey Makarov FIM Team Ice Speedway Gladiators World Champion RUSSIANS SUPREME IN TOGLIATTI The Russian team retained its World title after 42 thrilling heats over two days in Togliatti. Going ahead with a maximum win in the very first heat they were never headed after that, dropping only 2 points and finally winning with a total of 58 thanks to a maximum score on the second day.

Local hero Daniil Ivanov led the way for the home team and was unbeaten in the eight races he contested. He was well supported by Dmitry Koltakov and Reserve Sergey Makarov who was given seven rides.

Sweden finished a creditable second with a vintage performance from Stefan Svensson who at 55 years of age showed the way to many of the younger competitors. The veteran scored 28 points helping to

secure Sweden’s first medal since 2010. His son Niclas was making his debut in this competition and in Heat 27 the two made history by becoming the first father and son to ride together in the same heat in this competition.

A spectacular performance from Mats Järf was the individual highlight. He scored a remarkable 32 points out of Finland’s total of 36 and provided some spectacular overtakes thanks to his slowness from the starts.

Last year’s runners up Austria were expected to provide close competition for the Russians, but their ambitions were restricted by injury and the withdrawal of Franz Zorn. Without Zorn the two man team could manage only fourth place despite a good performance from Harald Simon.

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Germany Deutscher Motor Sport Bund e. V. Team manager : Josef Hukelmann Riders : Enrico Janoschka, Jörg Tebbe, Erik Riss, Stephan Katt FIM Team Long Track World Champion GERMANS REGAIN TROPHY Germany took the Team Long Track World title in a thrilling meeting in Forssa, Finland. Trailing in fourth place after the first round of heats they recovered to win by a 4 point margin to regain the trophy they had lost to the Dutch team in 2013.

After taking first and second places in the first race Finland raised the hopes of the local supporters for a maiden success in this event. Undaunted, the Germans plotted their recovery with soon to be individual

champion Erik Riss in superb form and a 9 – 6 victory over the Netherlands team in the final heat confirmed their trophy win.

Racing was at a high level on an excellent track with a tremendous battle throughout the meeting for the other podium places and after Heat 15 there were three teams tied on 41 points necessitating a run off between the Dutch, French and Finnish teams to establish second and third places.

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Poland Polski Zwiazek Motorowy Team manager : Marek Cieslak Riders : Piotr Pawlicki, Pawel Przedpelski, Bartosz Zmarzlik, Kacper Gomolski FIM Team Speedway Under 21 World Champion YOUNG POLES TAKE REVENGE IN DENMARK After the senior team’s heart-breaking defeat in the FIM Speedway World Cup the young Polish riders exacted sweet revenge in Slangerup, Denmark with a resounding 16 point win over the Danish and Swedish teams to secure the FIM Team Speedway Under 21 World Championship for the seventh time since the competition was inaugurated in 2005.

scoring 14 points. The team dropped only nine points during the meeting, failing to score only once and fully justified their status as pre-meeting favourites.

Defending champions Denmark were disappointing on their home soil but managed to salvage second place ahead of Sweden.

Poland were never headed and were superbly led by captain Piotr Pawlicki and Pawel Przedpelski, both

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Denmark Danmarks Motor Union

Team manager : Anders Secher Riders : Nicki Pedersen, Niels-Kristian Iversen, Peter Kildemand, Mads Korneliussen FIM Speedway World Cup HIGH DRAMA IN BYDGOSZCZ FIM The Speedway World Cup has seen many close finishes but few can compare with the drama which unfolded in Bydgoszcz in July where the destiny of the title was not decided until the last bend of the last lap in the final race.

Poland had dominated the early heats winning the first four races and suggesting a possible runaway victory for the home team and although they were able to win only three more of the remaining 20 heats the Poles consistency kept them comfortably ahead through the first half of the meeting. By heat 10 however the Danes were able to use the double-point Tactical Joker and Nicki Pedersen duly obliged with a tapes to flag win and a valuable six point haul.

Team Manager Anders Secher’s choice of riders for the last four heats proved crucial and with Pedersen again winning the eighteenth race from the outside gate and the Poles failing to score in the next race it was

“all square” at 36 points each between the two teams at the start of the final race.

Janusz Kolodziej knew that all he had to do was to keep Niels-Kristian Iversen behind him to secure the Ove Fundin Trophy once again for Poland and he seemed to have achieved this after shutting out the Dane in a tough first bend. Iversen however is not a man to give up easily and he chased Kolodziej probing the inside and outside for an opportunity to pass. Not until the final bend was he able to mount a desperate charge around the outside, passing the Pole on the run in to the flag to win by the narrowest of margins.

Jubilation in the Danish pits was matched equally by the despondency of the Polish camp. Both have had their share of success in the past and both, along with the gallant Australians, had contributed to one of the most enthralling SWC Finals of recent years.

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Great Britain Auto-Cycle Union Ltd

Team Manager : Dan Thorpe Riders : Emma Bristow, Rebekah Cook, Joanne Coles FIM Women’s Trial des Nations GREAT BRITAIN DEFEAT SPAIN, BUT ONLY JUST The 2014 FIM Women’s Trial des Nations saw the closest ever finish in its history, with the female class having been first introduced back in 2004. The tight and tense competition was eventually won by virtue of a tiebreak

by Great Britain. After two laps of fifteen sections Emma Bristow – Sherco, Rebekah Cook – Beta and Joanne Coles – Gas Gas beat the Spanish team by a single clean as both nations tied on fifteen marks apiece.

This marked the second defeat in a row for Spain’s Sandra Gomez – Ossa, Mireia Conde – Beta and Elisabet Solera – Gas Gas, again at the hands of their British rivals. Prior

to 2013 the Spanish female squad had won the muchcelebrated trophy three times on the bounce, with Great Britain’s last win having previously been in 2009.

Germany’s young and fast emerging female trio put up a valiant effort and were only two marks off the lead at the halfway stage of the competition. Whilst unable to stay in touch with the top two teams during the later part of the Trial, German riders Ina Wilde – Gas Gas, Theresa Bauml – Ossa and Sarah Bauer – Sherco still managed to secure the last remaining rostrum place as they had done in 2013.

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Spain

Real Federacion Motociclista Española Team Manager : Salvador Garcia Riders : Toni Bou, Albert Cabestany, Jeroni Fajardo, Adam Raga FIM Trial des Nations SPAIN WINS AGAIN The all conquering Spanish team comprising of Toni Bou – Repsol Honda, Adam Raga – Gas Gas, Jeroni Fajardo – Beta and Albert Cabestany – Sherco secured the FIM Trial des Nations title for an eleventh straight year in a row. Their victory was never in doubt as they finished eighty-two marks clear of Great Britain who were represented by James Dabill- Beta, Alexz Wigg – Gas Gas, Michael Brown – Gas Gas and Jack Sheppard – Beta.

France’s squad of Loris Gubian – Gas Gas, Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco, Steven Coquelin – Gas Gas and Quentin Carles de Caudemberg - Beta completed the podium for a second year in a row. Italy’s Matteo Poli – Ossa, Francesco Iolitta – Montesa, Matteo Grattarola – Gas Gas and Luca Cotone – Sherco finished forty-six marks behind their French rivals in fourth position and truthfully were never in the hunt for a podium place as they have been in previous years.

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France

Fédération Française de Motocyclisme Team Manager : Fred Weill Riders : Marc Bourgeois ,Christophe Nambotin, Pierre-Alexandre Renet, Jeremy Tarroux, Anthony Boissiere, Fabien Planet FIM International Six Days’ Enduro World Trophy FRANCE WIN AGAIN Successfully claiming their third consecutive victory in the ISDE, France recorded a start-to-finish win in the FIM World Trophy category. Fielding both FIM E1 Enduro World Champion Christophe Nambotin – KTM and FIM E2 Enduro World Champion Pierre-Alexandre Renet – Husqvarna, France started the eighty-ninth edition of the event as the nation to beat.

Ending day one in Argentina with Renet and Nambotin placing first and second in the overall individual

classification, France quickly asserted themselves at the head of the standings. Despite repeated attacks from both Australia and the United States throughout the week they continued to extend their advantage as the race progressed. Ending day three with a sixteen minute lead over nearest rivals the United States, France eased their pace knowing the victory was almost theirs. Playing it safe during the final three days of competition, France comfortably crossed the finish line of the sixth day’s final motocross to deservedly win the 2014 ISDE.

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United States of America

American Motorcyclist Association Team Manager : Antti Kallonen

Riders : Steward Baylor, Grant Baylor, Trevor Bollinger, Justin Jones FIM International Six Days’ Enduro Junior World Trophy USA JUNIORS DELIVER IN ARGENTINA Eight years on from their last victory in the ISDE, the United States returned to the top of the podium by winning the FIM Junior World Trophy classification. With defending champions France starting as firm favourites to record their fourth consecutive win, the USA began the weeklong race in the shadows of their six day rivals.

Settling into the hard, dry and dusty terrain, they placed fourth at the end of day one.

Upping their pace on day two, USA improved their position by climbing two places up the leader board to

second. Now growing in confidence, the quartet of Grant Baylor – KTM, Steward Baylor – KTM, Trevor Bollinger – Honda and Justin Jones – KTM fought hard to better their result. With their closest rivals running into trouble on what proved to be an incredibly difficult day of racing, the USA ended day three as the overall leader. Going on to control their advantage during the final three days of competition, the USA ended the eighty-ninth edition as the worthy winners of the FIM Junior World Trophy competition.

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Australia Motorcycling Australia Team Manager : Don Atkins Riders : Jessica Gardiner, Tayla Jones, Jemma Wilson FIM International Six Days’ Enduro Women’s Team AUSTRALIAN WOMEN CONTINUE DOMINATION Entering the eighty-ninth edition of the ISDE as defending champions, Australia were favourites for success. Hitting the ground running on day one, they immediately made their winning intentions known by comfortably topping the classification at the end of day one. Taking another clear victory on day two, they firmly established themselves at the head of the field.

Jones – KTM and Jemma Wilson – Yamaha stretched their advantage to over one-hour and twenty minutes.

With a virtual grasp on their second consecutive ISDE title, they continued to pile on the pressure. Going on to win the remaining days – and therefore dominate the race from start to finish – Australia secured the FIM Women’s World Trophy title.

With day three proving one of the most decisive days of the event, the trio of Jessica Gardiner – Sherco, Tayla

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Spain

Real Federacion Motociclista Española Team Manager : Martin Alzugaray Riders : Dany Torres, Maikel Melero, José Miralles FIM FreeStyle of Nations VICTORY FOR TEAM SPAIN IN FIRST EVER FIM FREESTYLE OF NATIONS The world’s best freestyle motocross riders were representing their home countries in the first ever FIM Freestyle of Nations contest. Eight national teams from four continents competed for points in the six disciplines of Freestyle, Maxxis Highest Air, Best Whip, Best Trick, Synchro and Race & Style that would determine the winner of the Rockwell FIM Freestyle of Nations. The trophy ultimately went to the team from Spain who prevailed by a comfortable margin over the secondplaced Czech Republic.

The Synchro event was won for the Spanish team by Dany Torres and Maikel Melero ahead of the American

team led by Todd Potter and Mike Mason. In the Best Trick contest, Dany Torres was adjudged the winner on the basis of his Double Hart Attack flip ahead of Jeremy Rouanet whose hopes had rested on a 540 Flair. The two Freestyle runs were again dominated by the Spanish contingent, the first contest being won by Maikel Melero while Dany Torres triumphed in the second.

This was enough to secure the Rockwell FIM Freestyle of Nations trophy for the Spanish team, with a five-point margin over the Czechs. The French team claimed the remaining podium spot.

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France

Fédération Française de Motocyclisme Team Manager : Sébastien Bonnal Riders : Adrien Chareyre, Thomas Chareyre, Sylvain Bidart FIM SuperMoto of Nations FRANCE SWEEP ONTO ITALIAN TURF AND DEPART WITH NATIONS GLORY France continued their assault on two wheeled motorsports team events in 2014 by adding the FIM SuperMoto of Nations title to their second ever grasp of the Chamberalin trophy at the Motocross of Nations.

The trio of Thomas Chareyre, Adrien Chareyre and Sylvain Bidart went to Cremona in Italy to tackle the defending champions on home soil and very much in the “lion’s den” as the partisan support was certainly leaning towards the local heroes of Ivan Lazzarini, Christian Ravaglia and Edgardo Borella.

A decent crowd surrounded the venue that hosted just the ninth edition of this international celebration of SuperMoto and it was decorated athletes and siblings the Chareyre brothers that shone. In the first race 2014 FIM S1 World Champion Thomas kept Lazzarini at bay for victory and Adrien made a great start from seventeenth

place on the grid to hit the front in the second. In his second outing, the Aprilia rider narrowly held onto the lead as Finland’s Mauno Hermunen chased through the pack and applied tense pressure in the closing laps.

The Frenchman eventually triumphed by less than two tenths of a second at the flag.

The final sprint saw the French keeping a close eye on the Italians for the Francesco Zerbi silverware and Lazzarini tried to break free on the Honda but hadn’t counted with 2014 FIM World Championship runner-up Hermunen’s forceful presence again. The Fin crossed the finish line first. Bidart’s runner-up effort was the key result that ensured the Tricolore was draped over the top step of a Nations podium for the second time in a fortnight. Italy and Germany filled the rest of the rostrum.

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France

Fédération Française de Motocyclisme Team Manager : Olivier Robert Riders : Dylan Ferrandis, Steven Frossard, Gautier Paulin FIM Motocross of Nations FRANCE TRIUMPHS IN LATVIA The French team for the 2014 Motocross of Nations, the 68th edition of this cosmopolitan, atmospheric and annually anticipated celebration of the sport, faced more scrutiny than perhaps any other trio of selected riders chosen to head to the Kegums circuit in Latvia to represent their country.

The talents of Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Gautier Paulin, Steven Frossard and Dylan Ferrandis ultimately were the best combination for the French to go on to convincingly win the Chamberlain trophy for just the second time in the history of the competition.

63,000 fans from across the continents came to the sandy venue located close to Riga and to support to over thirty nations entered for the contest. Paulin was incisive and utterly unbeatable to ace two of the three races and own the MXGP class, posting his third and fourth career Nations race victories in the process. Frossard owned the MX Open class while Ferrandis grabbed the points necessary in MX2 for the Gallic threesome to scale the top of the podium by a hefty ten points ahead of Belgium and the United States. It was the largest winning margin since the 2011 incarnation and the manner of the triumph was nothing short of emphatic.

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Track Racing Daniil Ivanov

FIM Ice Speedway Gladiators World Champion

Erik Riss

FIM Long Track World Champion

Piotr Pawlicki

FIM Speedway Under 21 World Champion

Greg Hancock

FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Champion

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Daniil Ivanov

Born on 23 September 1986 in Kamensk-Uralskiy, Russia

FIM Ice Speedway Gladiators World Champion IVANOV’S SECOND CROWN Daniil Ivanov successfully defended the Individual Ice title he first won in 2013 with an impressive series of performances in a competition which was dominated once again by the Russian riders who took the top five places.

Ivanov, so long in the shadow of multiple champion Nikolai Krasnikov, is now showing a similar degree of superiority over his opponents and he failed to stand on the rostrum only twice during the eight-event series dropping a mere 17 points during the season. He appears to be as comfortable on the artificial tracks of Western

Europe as he is on the natural ice of his native Russia and even in the sub-Arctic temperatures and rock hard ice of Blagoveshchensk near the Chinese border he was the highest scorer over the two day meeting. His immaculate maximum in Inzell was secured only after a titanic battle with fellow countryman Dimitri Khomitsevich in the second day final and was a fitting end to an epic season.

From a track racing family – his father and a brother are racers – he will be hoping to tighten his grip on the title and repel all challengers in the coming years.

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Erik Riss

Born on 13 September 1995 in Memmingen, Germany

FIM Long Track World Champion THE YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION In his first year as a permanent rider in the FIM Long Track World Championship, 19 year old Erik was the sensation of the season and won his title with a calmly raced final round in Muhldorf.

Son of multi FIM Long Track World Champion Gerd Riss, Erik was expected to create a good impression in his debut series but many felt that his inexperience would be a limiting factor in his title chase. However, from the first round in Herxheim it was clear that his natural talent would place him in line with his more fancied opponents. His consistency throughout the competition was to prove decisive, despite the contrast between the German sandbahn tracks and the grass circuits of Holland and France.

Reigning champion Joonas Kylmäkorpi had arrived in Herxheim with new equipment and specially tuned engines to start the defence of his title and ended the

day with 25 points and a comfortable lead. So was Erik’s 19 point total a matter of “beginner’s luck” or home advantage ?

Kylmakorpi was to have a disastrous afternoon in Marmande where Erik again took third place and with the Eenrum round abandoned due to rain, the Bavarian’s 13 point haul in Morizes was to prove crucial despite his elimination at the semi-final stage.

So the stage was set for a showdown in Mühldorf but if Erik felt any pressure racing in front of his home fans he showed none of it. Reeling off five wins and one second place on his way to the Final he survived a false start but his second place was enough to confirm his status as the youngest ever FIM Long Track World Champion.

It could be the first of many titles and his father’s record of eight gold medals might be at risk.

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Piotr Pawlicki Born on 30 November 1994 in Leszno, Poland

FIM Speedway Under 21 World Champion PAWLICKI REIGNS SUPREME Once again the FIM Speedway Under 21 World Championship was held over three rounds, a formula which has proved popular with riders and organisers alike and once again it was a young Polish rider who finished at the top of the leader board.

Piotr Pawlicki, runner up in 2013, took his first Under-21 title by finishing second in the final round in Pardubice.

The younger of two speedway brothers and son of a former rider, Pawlicki had entered the last stage of the competition with an unbeaten record having won the opening two events in Lonigo and Ostrow and held a seven point lead over his nearest rival.

Although he dropped the first points of the series in his first race at Pardubice he gave the impression of being in complete control of his situation, reeling off three consecutive wins and had clinched the gold medal by Heat 11. He received the traditional ‘bumps’ from his fellow competitors and his pit crew to the delight of his many Polish fans who had travelled to the Czech Republic to support him and witness his success.

Finishing only three points short of the maximum he was always the man to beat in this competition. Piotr did not disappoint and looks to have a very bright speedway future ahead of him.

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Greg Hancock

Born on 3 June 1970 in Whittier, California, USA

FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Champion ANOTHER WIN FOR “GRIN” Speedway demands courage, fitness, stamina and mental strength – seemingly a young person’s sport – and when Greg Hancock won his first World Championship in Denmark in 1997 few of us who were there would have imagined that he would still be winning world titles 17 years later. In 2011 he won again but 3 years later at the age of 44 years and 130 days he beat his own record as the oldest rider to win the sport’s top individual title when he secured his victory in Torun, Poland in October at the end of a twelve round series which had started in New Zealand in April.

Generally known as “Herbie” or more often “The Grin” after his permanent smile and friendly disposition, his win was universally welcomed. However his outward appearance hides a steely determination and professionalism which has enabled him to compete at top level throughout his long and continuing career. Until this year Greg had an unbroken run of 177 consecutive

Grand Prix events ended only when he was the innocent victim of a track crash in Gorzow which left him with hand injuries and tyre burns forcing him to pull out of the Nordic Grand Prix in September.

Victory was not to be denied him and his brave return to the track in Stockholm was rewarded with a second place and a 12 point lead over his nearest rival going into the final round in Torun where with almost clinical efficiency he had confirmed his right to the title by Heat 10.

It had been a season marked by injury with three of the top four riders succeeded despite missing at least one meeting. With a few months to recuperate before the start of the next season all the riders will be looking forward to the 2015 series but none more than Greg Hancock !

© Nuno Laranjeira 37

FIM Road Safety Award 2014

Koninklijke Nederlandse Motorrijders Vereniging (KMNV)

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Koninklijke Nederlandse

2014 marks the fifth edition of the FIM Road Safety award. The award recognises associations, individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to motorcycling safety on the roads.

This year the award goes to the KNMV, the Royal Dutch Motorcyclists Association which is a national federation of the FIM. The KNMV is recognised for its work in advanced motorcycle rider training, in particular its course on, “risk perception.”

KNMV has been working on rider training for many years. Recently they agreed to an invitation by the Dutch Ministry of the Environment and Infrastructure to submit their work to independent analysis to see if it is effective.

The Ministry engaged the research institute SWOV to conduct this inquiry and their paper Boele et al, has now been published.

The research was conducted using techniques similar to medical trials involving a fully blind study and a control group. Additional “hazard perception” tests were conducted that are not part of the KNMV training in order to inquire more fully into the benefits of this rider training.

The report is positive and further research is likely. Riders who have undertaken this course show significantly improved behaviours, and the research found that these could still be measured over a year after the course had been completed, suggesting the effects are genuinely long term.

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Rider training in risk perception is well illustrated in this photograph of a “collision that never took place” where a time lapse camera has been used. Position on the road is one example of the many things riders can learn by attending a course with KNMV. The award is made by an independent panel of judges and FIM is grateful for their help. They are : Mr Antonio Avenoso Executive Director European Transport Safety Council Mr Tim Buche President and CEO Motorcycle Safety Foundation of the USA Dr Luciano Iorio Chair, Road Safety Working Party (WP1) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Dr Rohit Baluja President Indian Institute of Road Traffic Education

This year the FIM was pleased to welcome to the judges panel : Dr – Ing. Achim Kuschefski Director Institute for Motorcycle Safety Germany

Motorrijders Vereniging

Š Photograph courtesy Hannes Bagar, Austria 41

YOUR SPORTS & EVENTS SOLUTION. OUR WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF EXPERTS WITH LONG-TERM EXPERIENCE IN SPORT LOGISTICS OFFERS YOU A GLOBAL SERVICE. DHL around the globe – a single source, wherever you are.

Get in contact with our specialists: sportsandevents@dhl.com www.dhl.ch

Cross-Country Rallies Marc Coma

FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion

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En la mejor situación

Hipotels Sherry Park**** Avda. Álvaro Domecq, 11 11405 Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) Andalucía - España Tel.: +34 956 317 614 Fax: +34 956 311 300 reservas.sherry@hipotels.com

Marc Coma

Born on 7 October 1976 in Avia, Spain

FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion MARC COMA, EL MAESTRO !

The man needs no introduction and the rider still less, as Marc Coma is now among the sport’s living legends !

Crossing the dunes, riding on fast tracks at 160 km/h, winding his way between the rocks and finding his way in the brush, he makes it all look so easy… He is so skillful and so at ease on his KTM that you would think that almost anyone could win a Cross-Country Rally. And yet behind his calm exterior there is a real hard worker who trains physically and mentally day in day out and works to maintain his inborn sense of navigation.

To be crowned World Champion six times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2014) calls for a great deal of self-sacrifice and the determination never to give up; you have to dig deep within oneself for the motivation needed to stay at the top.

This year, Marc Coma found his motivation in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. From the start of the season, race after race, he doggedly pursued his sixth world title. After two wins (Brazil and Morocco) and three second places (Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Sardinia), he again earned the supreme recompense for a year of hard work by one man but also by an entire team !

At the last Rally of the season in Morocco, Marc Coma had a triple dose of excitement. Not only did he celebrate his 38th birthday with a stage win, but two days later he won the race and was crowned FIM Cross Country Rallies World Champion for the sixth time ! Bravo !

© RallyZone Bauer / Barni 45

“My bike helps me save lives every day.”

But every day in Africa children still die...

...because they don’t get the health care they need.

To find out how to help get more health workers on the road and save lives visit www.riders.org

Enduro Tadeusz Błażusiak

FIM SuperEnduro World Champion

Daniel McCanney

FIM Junior Enduro World Champion

Christophe Nambotin

FIM E1 Enduro World Champion

Pierre Alexandre Renet FIM E2 Enduro World Champion

Matthew Phillips

FIM E3 Enduro World Champion

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2014 FIM ENDURO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Tadeusz Błażusiak Born on 26 April 1983 in Nowy Targ, Poland

FIM SuperEnduro World Champion FIVE STRAIGHT FOR BŁAŻUSIAK Firmly cementing himself as the most successful indoor enduro rider of all time, Tadeusz Błażusiak – KTM recorded his fifth consecutive world title by winning the 2014 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. Starting off the series with a perfect score at round one in Great Britain Błażusiak positioned himself at the head of the championship standings.

A disappointing outing by Błażusiak’s incredibly high standards saw him miss out on taking the overall win at his home GP in Poland. Placing as runner-up to David Knight – Sherco, the Pole fought back in style

to secure victory at round three in Brazil. Second to Knight at the GP of Mexico, the KTM rider returned to his winning ways for the penultimate round of the series in Barcelona, Spain.

Claiming three race wins from three starts, Błażusiak ensured he held a comfortable advantage heading into the sixth and final round of the championship in France.

Needing only to place inside the top ten to guarantee the title, Błażusiak went on to win the opening race of the night and secure a record-breaking fifth consecutive world crown.

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Daniel McCanney Born on 12 November 1991 in Douglas, Isle of Man, Great Britain

FIM Junior Enduro World Champion THIRD YEAR A CHARM FOR MCCANNEY Just one year on from winning the FIM SuperEnduro Junior World Championship, Beta’s Daniel McCanney added the FIM Junior Enduro World Championship to his growing collection of titles. Entering the 2014 season as one of the main favourites for success, the young Manxman didn’t fail to disappoint. Right from the very beginning of the series, McCanney made his title winning aspirations known.

Fast out of the traps, the Beta rider recorded victory in the first four days of competition. Positioning himself at the head of the point’s classification, he remained

fixed there until the very end of the season. Winning races when he needed to – but more importantly never once falling outside of the top three – McCanney proved himself to be a model of consistency.

Comfortably extending his advantage as the series progressed, McCanney arrived to the final round of the season in France as the champion elect. Claiming two second place results, he secured the title with ease and became the first junior rider to win both indoor and outdoor enduro championships back-to-back.

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Christophe Nambotin Born on 1 August 1984 in Ambérieu-en-Bugey, France

FIM E1 Enduro World Champion NAMBOTIN BREAKS NEW GROUND Despite having won two consecutive world championships, many predicted that Christophe Nambotin – KTM would face his biggest challenge to date in 2014. Long regarded as a “big bike” specialist, the Frenchman felt he needed a new challenge and set his sights on winning the FIM E1 Enduro World Championship. Never having raced a four-stoke machine in professional competition prior to this year, Nambotin was determined to prove his critics wrong and show that he was anything but a one trick pony.

Immediately the Frenchman silenced those that doubted him by recording a double win at round one of the series in Spain. Backing that up with another pair of victories the following weekend in Portugal and it

was clear that Nambotin was more than capable for the challenge set out.

Another race win on day one in Greece ensured he further extended his point’s lead. Coming under fire from a determined Eero Remes – TM on several occasions, Nambotin only failed win on three occasions.

Regrouping during the summer break, Nambotin returned to the championship with refreshed motivated ahead of the final two rounds of the season. Picking up a convincing double victory in Italy to clinch the FIM E1 Enduro World Championship, he then wrapped up proceedings by signing off in style with another pair of race wins in France.

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Pierre Alexandre Renet Born on 2 October 1984 in Cherbourg, France

FIM E2 Enduro World Champion RENET TAKES GOLD IN E2 Losing the defence of his FIM E2 Enduro World Championship in 2013 made Pierre Alexandre Renet – Husqvarna more determined that ever to win in 2014.

Facing a competitive battle from early challenger Antoine Meo – KTM the duo fought it out for victory during the first three rounds of the series. Trading wins there was little to separate the two riders.

At the GP of Finland the battle for championship honours was turned on its head when Meo crashed heavily and was ruled out for the rest of the year. Renet was in a class of his own in both Finland and Sweden and secured four

very important victories to open up a healthy advantage over his nearest rival Alex Salvini – Honda.

In prime position to clinch the title at the penultimate round of the series in Italy, Renet knew exactly what he had to do to get the job done. With Salvini fired up to win on home turf, Renet settled for two podium results to win the FIM E2 Enduro World Champion. With the pressure lifted, Renet then capped off an incredible season of racing by claiming a confident double victory at the GP of France, to the delight of his home supporters.

© Dario Agrati 52

Matthew Phillips Born on 21 June 1993 in Tasmania, Australia

FIM E3 Enduro World Champion NO STOPPING PHILLIPS With reigning FIM E3 Enduro World Champion Christophe Nambotin – KTM moving to pastures new and the Enduro 1 category in 2014 the door was left open for a new champion to emerge. Ready to take up the challenge, both KTM teammates of Ivan Cervantes and Matthew Phillips set their sights on becoming the new king.

During the first three rounds of the series it was Cervantes that appeared to have the upper hand on his younger teammate. With five wins from five starts, he built up a slender point’s cushion as Phillips – the 2013 FIM Enduro Junior World Champion – settled into life in the senior ranks.

But on day two in Greece thoughts of another Cervantes victory were squashed when Phillips captured his first

win of the season. That moment marked a shift in momentum in the championship chase. Phillips found a new sense of confidence and went on to win another three races while Cervantes suffered to keep pace due to a broken ankle.

At the GP of Italy another win on day one from Phillips put him further into the lead. But less than twenty-four hours later, his luck ran out when he badly broke his foot and was forced to retire from day two.

With the scores now all but levelled the final round in France resulted in a championship showdown between Phillips and Cervantes. Riding on painkillers and determination, it was Phillips who dug deep to win the title and become the first rider to win both junior and senior titles in succession.

© Dario Agrati 53

@FIM_live 1h follow us on twitter and get in touch with the FIM environmental actions

FIM Environmental Award 2014 candidates

Finnish Motorcycling Federation (Finland)

Circuit of the Americas

(United States)

Federació Motociclista d’Andorra (Andorra)

The Moto Club Angerien

(France)

Yamaha Motor Racing

(Italy / Japan)

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2014 FIM

2014 The FIM Environmental Award has been presented annually since 1997 to recognize individuals, National Motorcycle Federations, Continental Unions, clubs, organisers, manufacturers or other organisations that have made a significant contribution to enhance environmental awareness in the field of motorcycling. So it is a way to raise awareness, generate interest and recognize the work of those who contribute to the development of motorcycle sport and tourism in a respectful way for the environment.

The FIM recognises that one of the fundamental pillar on which rests the future of our sport is the respect of the environment and therefore an environment policy was established more than 20 years ago, and on this basis the motorcycle event organisers are required to organize the event. With the creation of the FIM environmental code the Federations, riders and organisers of this exiting sport are called to practice a sustainable sport.

This year an independent Jury composed of : Ms. Irene Samper, environmental economist consultant, Mr. Dennis Bochatay, Project manager at Quantis, Mr. Vincent Gaillard Sport and environment consultant, Mr Josep Punti, member of the Award and recognition committee of the FIM and Mrs. Katia Hernández CIE Director, will have the duty of evaluating all the candidatures received and submit the recommendation for the FIM Environmental Award.

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“I would like to take advantage that all FIM family are together in this gathering to encourage you to take notice of this fantastic examples of good practices and inspire you to not only introduce this good practice in your own events but also to consider being a candidate for the Environment award next year.

My congratulations go to all the participants and everyone who has made Ride Green a reality. In the world of sustainability, everyone is a winner, as at the end of the day we are all living in the same house and riding on the same track !”

Katia Hernández FIM Director International Environment Commission

Environmental Award

FIM Environmental Ambassadors

The FIM Environmental Ambassadors’ programme has created a significant impact since its launch in 2012 by sending environmental messages to a great number of fans and followers. The Ambassadors symbolise the future, commitment, awareness and respect. They are high profile individuals, leaders in their disciplines.

Representing both genders and different countries and cultures, they each play an important role in motorcycle sport. All of them have lent their voices to tell the world that motorcycling is contributing to

sustainable development and that we respect the planet and the future generations. The FIM Environmental Ambassadors team is composed of : Randy de Puniet, Takahisa Fujinami, Marc Márquez, Valentino Rossi, Laia Sanz and Alex Salvini.

The FIM Environmental Ambassadors will be presenting the FIM Environmental Award during the FIM Gala Ceremony on 23 November in Jerez.

© Good-Shoot 57

1h Follow us on twitter and get in touch with the latest news of FIM TRIAL World Championship

X-Trial Toni Bou

FIM X-Trial World Champion

Trial Toni Bou

FIM Trial World Champion

Emma Bristow

FIM Women’s Trial World Champion

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Toni Bou

Born on 17 October 1986 in Piera, Spain

FIM X-Trial & Trial World Champion BOU REMAINS UNTOUCHABLE AND TAKE HISTORIC EIGHTH TITLE Toni Bou – Repsol Honda made it eight consecutive FIM Indoor / X-Trial World Championship as he remained undefeated throughout the five rounds of the 2014 series. The packed arenas and artificial sections is where Bou performs best with him not having been beaten in these conditions since January 2010. Ironically it was Albert Cabestany – Sherco who last knocked Toni off the top spot in Marseille over four years ago, and despite him now being classed as a veteran campaigner it was the Sherco rider who finished runner-up to Bou in this year’s title race.

Bou had to fight off the close attentions of Cabestany and then Adam Raga – Gas Gas during the opening pair of encounters in Sheffield and Marseille, on both

occasions the winner was not decided until the final section and each time it was Toni who was triumphant.

Once ahead of the pack there was no turning back for Bou as he then went on to destroy his opponents at the closing three rounds that were held at Barcelona, Milan and Oviede.

In the FIM Trial World Championship, Toni Bou rewrote the history books as he claimed a record breaking eighth to surpass the seven he held alongside Jordi Tarres and Dougie Lampkin. Once again Bou fought a season long and fierce battle against his perennial rival Adam Raga – Gas Gas to seal the title on the last day of the series at his home Grand Prix.

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Emma Bristow Born on 29 October 1990 in Boston, Great Britain

FIM Women’s Trial World Champion BRISTOW IS THE NEW QUEEN OF TRIAL After three years as the princess Emma Bristow – Sherco finally became the new Queen of Trial as she clinched the 2014 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship to become only the third winner of this prize alongside Laia Sanz and Iris Kramer. With defending champion Sanz absent from this year’s series, the stage was clear for Bristow to bring an end to Laia’s six year reign having had to follow her Spanish rival home during the previous three seasons.

Bristow seemed to have really grasped the opportunity as she dominated the opening round in Belgium. In wet, muddy and almost British conditions Emma’s winning margin was twenty-four marks over her compatriot

Rebekah Cook – Beta, as both showed their liking of the slippery going. After an almost two month break the battle for female supremacy resumed with two days of competition in Spain, and with Bristow able to claim the title if she won both days.

Victory on day one of the Spanish GP allowed Emma to put one hand on the trophy, however twenty-four hours later her nerves got the better of her as she lost out to Cook and then had to wait to the final round in Andorra to determine her fate. Thankfully despite this slight wobble, Bristow rounded out the 2014 campaign with a third win to take the crown that she had patiently worked towards and richly deserved.

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CONGRATULATIONS JORDI TIXIER

ANTONIO CAIROLI

2014 FIM MX2 WORLD CHAMPION

2014 FIM MXGP WORLD CHAMPION

Motocross Maikel Melero / Libor Podmol

FIM FreeStyle Motocross World Champion

Adam Renheim

FIM Snowcross World Champion

Thomas Chareyre

FIM SuperMoto S1 World Champion

Jett Lawrence

FIM 65cc Junior Motocross World Champion

Kim Savaste

FIM 85cc Junior Motocross World Champion

Brian Hsu

FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion

Ben Adriaenssen & Ben van den Bogaart

FIM Sidecar Motocross World Champions

Chiara Fontanesi

FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion

Ryan Villopoto

AMA Supercross FIM World Champion

Jordi Tixier

FIM MX2 Motocross World Champion

Antonio Cairoli

FIM MXGP Motocross World Champion 63

Maikel Melero Born on 25 January 1981 in Albacete, Spain

Who will be the 2014 FIM FreeStyle EL TORRO MELERO ON TOP OF THE WORLD Maikel Melero had a perfect start into the season and won both contests of the NIGHT of the JUMPs / FIM World Championship opener in Berlin. Having won the first two rounds of the 2014 World Championship, Melero executed a Surfer to Tsunami, Tsunami Flip and various other tricks before finishing his run with a Doublegrab Flip at the 3rd round in Gdansk.

Current leader Maikel Melero was penalised in the Basel 1st day final for a planned Double Seatgrab Backflip in the double-up which fizzled out into a “mere” Seatgrab Flip, leaving him back in fifth place. On 2nd day in Switzerland his triple combos plus Doublegrab Flip has been rewarded by the judges with third place, so Melero took the World Championship lead into the summer break.

With a strong return into the 2nd have of the season Melero’s Flair and Doublegrab Flip persuaded the judges that he deserved the top step on the podium.

Then it came to the China Grand Prix in Shenzhen, where Maikel showed a strong run initially with his Double Grab Flip, but there was no quarter pipe on which to perform his 540. So he could not catch Podmol without this trick and ended on 4th place. On 2nd day in China it came even worser when Melero landed in the dirt on his seventh jump. But he was still on top of the World Championship ranking, when it came to the final rounds in Frankfurt.

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Libor Podmol Born on 25 June 1984 in Ostrava, Czech Republic

Motocross World Champion ?

SECOND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FOR LIBOR PODMOL Libor Podmol did not start well into the season. At the FIM World Championship opener in Berlin the winner’s trophy was Podmol’s for the taking but then he crashed his new Surfer Take-off to Tsunami Backflip over the kicker ramp! So he was out for the 2nd round.

But the FIM Freestyle MX World Champion from 2010 had a strong comeback in Gdansk and Basel by winning the rounds in a row. At the 3rd round Podmol resurrecting his Surfer to Tsunami Flip over the Kicker Ramp – this was the trick on which he had a crash in Berlin. But in the Polish Grand Prix, he was able to complete the combo cleanly and was rewarded with the top position.

After taking the NIGHT of the JUMPs winner’s trophy in Gdansk, the Czech rider repeated the feat in Basel and went home with both winner’s trophies from the Swiss weekend.

At the opener of the 2nd half of the season in Cologne Podmol again crashed his Surfer Takeoff Tsunami Flip, which put him left behind. But once again he had a strong comeback with a victory at NIGHT of the JUMPs in Shenzhen on 1st day followed by a 2nd place on 8th World Championship round. So the Czech rider was only 6 points behind leader Melero when it came to the final rounds in Frankfurt.

© Oliver Franke 65

Adam Renheim

Born on 7 September 1989 in Lima, Sweden

FIM Snowcross World Champion RENHEIM REIGNS AGAIN ON HOME TURF After a closely fought 2013 FIM SnowCross World Championship in which he prevailed across the jumps of Tuuri in Finland, Adam Renheim locked up a second title on the bounce by memorably celebrating triumph at Skellefteå in Sweden and in front of appreciative home support.

The 25 year old was under pressure in the one-raceone-shot deal to re-secure his gold medal for 2014 and despite a tricky course that had been battered by changeable weather conditions he succeeded. Renheim tracked countryman Emil Öhman in the opening stages of the main event but his pace and rhythm with some

shrewd line choices soon began to carry an advantage.

The Ski-Doo rider pulled into the lead and set about building an advantage that would stand at almost six seconds by the chequered flag.

Sweden dominated the top ten of the FIM event with nine runners filling slots in the classification. Renheim took home the plaudits and the honour of going backto-back with the ‘number one plate’. He can aim for a hatrick in a matter of months when this annual highlight on the calendar of the emerging SnowCross scene heads back to the climes of Finland and to Tuuri.

© YouthStream Events 67

FIM

BEPPE DIENA DESIGN

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

SUPERMOTOS1.COM

Thomas Chareyre

Born on 18 March 1988 in Alès, France

FIM S1 SuperMoto World Champion THOMAS CHAREYRE OWNS AN S1 DUEL TO REMEMBER France versus Finland, TM versus TM, Thomas Chareyre versus Mauno Hermunen; the 2014 FIM SuperMoto S1 World Championship presented a season-long majestic dispute between two of the current forces of the scene. After seven rounds and fourteen races and with six chequered flags each, former double FIM World Champion Chareyre was the one to triumph by the narrowest of margins and placed the title-winning garland on top of his 450Fi. Thomas Chareyre leapt out of the blocks with three chequered flags from the first four sprints in France (an emphatic double on home soil) and Romania but Hermunen hung close and convincingly claimed round three in the Czech Republic. Both athletes forged a campaign of consistency. Chareyre dropping out of the top two only twice; the second occasion when he

throttled to fourth place in the final race of the year to make sure of the crown. Hermunen missed the podium just once. Ivan Lazzarini and Thomas’ brother Adrien also made their presence felt with victories in Italy and “Europe” but these were brief moments when the Chareyre-Hermunen face-off was not taking centre stage.

Thomas Chareyre’s bright start and decisive double win at Estonia for the penultimate round made the difference in the title saga. Hermunen will rue a double crash in the second race in Eastern Europe where he initially held pole position and also the red plate heading to the Tabasalu venue but finished eleventh and handed the baton to Chareyre. The Frenchman rode steady at Jesolo in Italy in mid-September to confirm his hat trick.

© BPROM 69

Jett Lawrence Born on 7 August 2003 in Buderim, Queensland, Australia

FIM 65cc Junior Motocross World Champion LAWRENCE OF AUSTRALIA CONQUERS THE WORLD !

First and second positions in two tricky races at Lierneux for the 2014 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship saw Jett Lawrence post the first major milestone on his young CV as an aspiring professional racer and scoop the 65cc title on his KTM. The Australian, who celebrated his eleventh birthday only a few days before the intense and pressurized event in Belgium for which he had flown through the time zones from his native Queensland, is from solid motocross stock with his older brother Hunter also a race winner and world championship runner-up the previous year.

Jett came to Belgium having already secured two national crowns in 2012 and 2013, and won a close first moto with Jett Reynolds and finished safely as runnerup in the second race to make the lengthy journey back to the southern hemisphere seem a little shorter. The climb up the motocross ladder to the uppermost rung of FIM competition starts now for Lawrence.

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Kim Savaste

Born on 16 January 2000 in Helsinki, Finland

FIM 85cc Junior Motocross World Champion SAVASTE ; THE NEW FLYING FINN ?

The Finnish star learned a valuable lesson in 2014 as mistakes that cost him a European Championship on his 85cc KTM were eradicated in the rain and mud of Lierneux and he gladly accepted FIM World Champion status at an event that saw almost three hundred other competitors battling for qualification and honours.

The fourteen year old took a steady approach in difficult conditions over the weekend in Belgium during midAugust to post third and second positions in the two motos to make his dream a reality and after building up to this achievement with multiple national successes in the past four years.

Savaste is held in lofty regard back in his native land and is looked upon as Finland’s next big hope to aim for MXGP. An association directly with the KTM factory and the Marchetti Grand Prix team will help with his assault on the 2015 FIM World Championship and also the hugely subscribed EMX125 European Championship that runs concurrent to MXGP events.

© Nuno Laranjeira 71

Brian Hsu

Born on 29 April 1998, in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion STEADILY CLIMBING THE LADDER TO SUPREME MOTOCROSS GLORY Brian Hsu has been on the radar of European factory race teams since the teenager’s voice broke. At the age of 16 Brian is firmly on the path to an exciting status as a professional thanks to having previously won a 65cc European title, a FIM 85cc Junior Motocross World Championship and now a 125cc European and World double in 2014.

This was Brian’s year and riding the Rockstar Suzuki RM125 he seized most of the accolades he could lay his hands on. The Euro title fell with three victories from the seven rounds and came one week before he made the trip from Lommel to the Belgian edition of the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Lierneux.

The weather was unkind at the track placed a short distance from the former MXGP venue at Bastogne but Hsu seemed to revel in the conditions and ran out a convincing winner in both motos. In the second race he reached the chequered flag almost thirty seconds ahead of the next nearest rider. EMX250 and the final stepping stone to Grand Prix awaits in 2015 and of course Hsu will run those famous yellow colours in the ultra competitive feeder series to the FIM Motocross World Championship.

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Ben Adriaenssen & Ben Van den Bogaart

Driver : Ben Adriaenssen

Born on 27 January 1989 in Turnhout, Belgium

Passenger : Ben Van den Bogaart Born on 24 September 1989 in Turnhout, Belgium

FIM Sidecar Motocross World Champions THE BENS MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW !

When the FIM World Championship season began back in April the 2013 champions, Ben Adriaenssen and Ben van den Bogaart made it clear that it was their intention to defend their crown and hopefully join the exclusive club of seven crews who had won back to back titles.

At the opening round in Holland, driver Ben injured his foot but still managed to take second place overall, just one point behind one of their main rivals, Bax / Stupelis. Over the next few rounds they put together steady results and by the middle of the year had a lead of 34 points over Bax who in turn was not getting away from Brown / Chamberlain and Hendrickx / Mucenieks.

Three overall wins on the trot then saw the gap open up to forty-four points. Bax went on to win the final three rounds but the two Bens kept their composure and did all they needed to do, finally winning the championship.

Bax, who was just 18 points adrift, took second and Brown / Chamberlain finished third, the highest ever finish for a British crew.

And, as the icing on the cake, Ben Adriaenssen has become the first ever Belgian driver to achieve back to back wins.

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Chiara Fontanesi Born on 10 March 1994 in Parma, Italy

FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion FONTANESI MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW WITH CRUCIAL CZECH GP PERFORMANCE Chiara Fontanesi became the joint most successful female motocrosser ever after a career-defining backagainst-the wall performance in a tense 2014 FIM World Championship dispute.

After dominant success in 2012 and 2013 the Italian faced her toughest threat yet at World level with Australian Meghan Rutledge and the likes of Livia Lancelot (the inaugural champion back in 2008) also on the scene and motivated for glory against some of her younger rivals. A heavy crash at a memorable opening event in Qatar was not the start that the double FIM World Champion hoped for but she was back on top of the box at her home Grand Prix at Trentino for round two. Rutledge was a hard competitor – four years younger than the champ – and pushing hard continually on her Bud Racing Kawasaki. She kept Yamaha’s “Fonta” close in the races and the standings and with victory at

the penultimate round in Germany the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship was set for a last meeting showdown between the pair.

The scene was set at the Czech Republic and on the slippery hard-pack of Loket. Fontanesi had used the four week break after Germany wisely. She had honed the set-up of the new and versatile YZ250F and also adjusted her preparation by putting more race and riding time under her belt. Neither rider could afford a mistake.

It was Fontanesi who struck the vital blow by taking victory ahead of Rutledge in the first race and stretching her slender advantage in the standings to seven points.

In the deciding second outing Rutledge again finished as runner-up but with Fontanesi exercising all her experience and determination to finish third the title was secured by just five points after twelve long and impossibly close races.

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Ryan Villopoto

Born on 13 August 1988 in Poulsbo (Washington), USA

AMA Supercross FIM World Champion CHALLENGED BUT UNBEATEN !

Ryan Villopoto has dented the record books of off-road motorcycle racing since his first AMA title in 2006 but his fourth consecutive AMA / FIM Supercross crown in 2014 meant that he became one of the greatest in the forty years of this spectacular stadium-based discipline.

During ’14 RV notched seven wins and twelve podium finishes from east to west across the United States and during an intense schedule of seventeen rounds in eighteen weeks from the beginning of January. It was his superlative form in the eight races from Daytona to Las Vegas – where he dropped out of the top two on just one occasion on the works Monster Energy Kawasaki

– that was the foundation of his latest championship success and meant that he became just the second rider in the history of the sport – equalling the great Jeremy McGrath – to go four in a row.

Ryan bowed out of top level supercross for the time being with victory in Vegas this May and took his tally of wins in the premier class to over forty. He has earned even more respect in the global motocross community for electing to cross the Atlantic and attempt the FIM Motocross World Championship in 2015 for what will be a mouth-watering match-up against MXGP star Tony Cairoli.

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Jordi Tixier Born on 2 November 1992 in Etampes, France

FIM MX2 Motocross World Champion TIXIER TAKES HOME MX2 TITLE AFTER LAST GASP THRILLER Jordi Tixier became Red Bull KTM’s fifth different FIM MX2 World Champion since 2008 after a fantastic culmination to the seventeen round 2014 campaign that could not have been scripted any better for tension and entertainment. 145 points behind team-mate Jeffrey Herlings with just four rounds remaining Tixier unearthed a series of results and performances that baffled his critics and deservedly brought his dream to reality and gave France their eighteenth title in the sport.

Herlings initially set the pace. The double FIM World Champion came into the season worried by his lack of preparation and fitness due to an injury in the winter.

Even though the Dutchman won the first two rounds he had to sit out the Grand Prix in Brazil due to a damaged shoulder. Upon his return in Italy he would win the following ten meetings in a row. Tixier vied for podium places with the likes of Dylan Ferrandis, Romain Febvre,

Tim Gajser, Arnaud Tonus and Glenn Coldenhoff. Physical problems would play their part as Tonus and Coldenhoff would suffer but Tixier was hitting his stride by the middle of the summer and picked up five consecutive rostrum places until Finland and round thirteen. A week later and Herlings would break his leg and the onus fell onto “911”.

Tixier signalled his intent with his first ever Grand Prix win in the Czech Republic a fortnight afterwards (where KTM had originally planned to toast Herlings’ third crown), made the podium in Belgium and then rode superbly at Leon in Mexico for round seventeen of seventeen to take Pole Position, win the first moto and overtake a suffering Herlings in the second to secure enough points – only four, after six months and thirty four races – to be able to take a “9” and a “1” away from the front of his bike for 2015.

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Antonio Cairoli Born on 23 October 1985 in Patti (Sicili), Italy

FIM MXGP Motocross World Champion CAIROLI UNSTOPPABLE FOR SIXTH PREMIER CLASS TITLE The first year of “MXGP” saw a slightly different look for the premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship but the formbook and ultimately the record remain unchanged with Tony Cairoli using his factory Red Bull KTM to win a sixth title in a row and fifth with the 350SX-F. MXGP began for the second time under the lights of Losail in Qatar before entering the heat of Thailand and moving to the unstable weather of Beto Carrero in Brazil. By the time the series shifted back to Europe for round four, Cairoli had already owned four of the six races run and set both the bar for performance and the tempo of the series at his usual high level.

It was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Gautier Paulin who actually won at Qatar but a mechanical problem in Italy followed by a crash three weeks later in the Dutch sand of Valkenswaard ended his championship aspirations with a dislocated shoulder and broken thumb. The stylish Frenchman would return to wow fans with his quad jump at Lommel in Belgium and claim the season-closer in

Mexico before fulfilling his destiny with outright victory at the Motocross of Nations. Rockstar Suzuki’s Clement Desalle was another protagonist as the rate of attrition for this demanding series struck high once again through injury, limiting the potential of riders such as Max Nagl, Evgeny Bobryshev and Ken De Dycker. Desalle would win four Grands Prix in 2014 but a broken wrist would end his campaign with three rounds remaining.

Cairoli racked-up a win every other Grand Prix despite suffering the sudden loss of his father early in the summer. He was defeated by Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek in one of the best and closest races of the season in the Czech Republic. The Belgian had a superbly consistent first term with the YZ450FM to finish second overall with twelve podium finishes.

“222” accrued enough points to confirm his eighth career title by the end of the first moto in Trindade, Brazil and the penultimate fixture of the year.

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Road Racing Tim Reeves & Grégory Cluze

FIM Sidecar World Champions

Yamaha Racing – GMT 94 – Michelin

FIM Endurance Team World Champion

David Checa - Kenny Foray - Mathieu Gines FIM Endurance World Champions

Michael van der Mark

FIM Supersport World Champion

Sylvain Guintoli

FIM Superbike World Champion

Alex Márquez

FIM Moto3 Grand Prix World Champion

Esteve Rabat

FIM Moto2 Grand Prix World Champion

Marc Márquez

FIM MotoGP Grand Prix World Champion

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Grégory Cluze & Tim Reeves

Driver : Tim Reeves

Born on 28 August 1972 in Tenterden, United Kingdom

Passenger : Grégory Cluze Born on 9 October 1972 in Bordeaux, France

FIM Sidecar World Champions REEVES & CLUZE TAKE THE TITLE Visiting some of the best circuits in the World, the 2014 FIM Sidecar World Championship was raced for over eight rounds that included ten races, and it turned out to be a battle royal between the two top teams.

Pre season favourites for the title were the German pairing of Jörg Steinhausen and Axel Kolsch, unfortunately they were sidelined for the rest of the season after an accident in qualifying at round three in Croatia. English Brothers Ben and Tom Birchall were also considered to be title contenders. With Steinhausen and Kolsch out of action, it turned out to be a battle between the Birchall Brothers and eventual winners Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze. The two teams certainly entertained the crowds throughout the season with their close

fought battles. But it was Reeves and Cluze who came out on top winning five of the ten races, giving Tim his fifth World title, and Gregory his first taste of world champion success. Gregory also became the first French passenger to win the FIM Sidecar World Championship, as Kawasaki also enjoyed their first victory in this class.

Tim and Gregory also won the first ever FIM Sidecar F2 World Trophy. This was contested over two races in Oschersleben, Germany. The Anglo French pairing fought off strong challenges from the all-Austrian team of Michael Grabmuller and Sophia Kirchhofer, and the Anglo Scottish pairing of Gordon Shand and Phil Hyde to take the title.

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Yamaha Racing GMT94

Team Manager : Christophe Guyot

Riders : David Checa, Kenny Foray, Mathieu Gines FIM Endurance Team World Champion SPIRIT AND SOLIDARITY This former school teacher who became a motorcycle racer at the age of 26 began his career in 1989 in the Championnat de France Promosport on a Yamaha RDLC 350. Two years later, he created the GMT94 structure, a team that has made a name for itself with numerous outstanding performances over its 20 years of existence including wins in the French Superbike Championship in 1998, the 24 Heures du Mans in 2001 and the World Endurance Championship in 2004, at a time when Christophe Guyot was still doubling as rider and team manager. This year, he hung up his leathers once and for all to devote himself 100% to his role as team manager in the GMT94. Supported by Yamaha France since 2003, the GMT94 is today the official

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Yamaha Racing team in the FIM Endurance World Championship. Faithful to the number 94 since the outset in recognition of his Department, which helped them to race in the early days, the team is very involved in a lot of projects for young people and is happy to send its riders out to meet the youngsters in person. Present in the French Championship, in the FIM Supersport World Championship and in Superbike before devoting itself 100% to Endurance, Christophe Guyot’s team has become a permanent fixture in the Paddocks. Ten years after its first world title, the GMT94 has won its second World Endurance Crown in 2014, this time with riders David Checa, Kenny Foray and Mathieu Gines.

Michelin

David Checa

Born on 20 April 1980 in Sant Fruitós de Bages (Barcelona), Spain

Kenny Foray

Born on 2 August 1984 in Sèvres, France

FIM Endurance World Champions

Mathieu Gines

Born on 20 November 1988 in Ploemeur, France THE WINNING TRIO David Checa : David Checa joined team GMT94 in 2003. He was replacing Christophe Guyot who had injured a vertebra and immediately won the 24 Hours of Oschersleben in Germany with his new team. It was the start of a marvellous adventure which is still going on twelve seasons later. David, who is the linchpin of the team, already had a rich experience as a rider when he joined GMT94 in 2003. Fourth in the European Supersport Championship in 1998, he also took part in several Grand Prix 250 races between 2000 and 2002.

Kenny Foray : The second rider of team GMT94 in terms of seniority, Kenny rapidly made his mark as one of the outstanding riders in the FIM Endurance World Championship. Winner of the 24 Heures du Mans and the Bol d’Or in 2008 in the Superstock category and

Endurance Vice World Champion in 2013, this year with GMT94 he saw one of his childhood dreams come true : becoming a World champion !

Mathieu Gines : The latest member of the Guyot gang, joining team GMT94 just this year, he is by no means the least talented. Having rapidly made his place in the team, he is drawing on his considerable experience as a rider including a French Supersport Championship title in 2009 and more recently again in 2013. For his first year with GMT94, he has become Endurance World Champion like his team mates.

A fine adventure for three young men who work hard and give their best on the track !

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Michael van Born on 26 October 1992 in Gouda, Holland

der Mark

FIM Supersport World Champion A YOUNG MAN IN A HURRY When Michael van der Mark puts on his leathers, he is transformed into a bulldozer. Magic Mickey started his career at the age of 14 by coming second in the Dutch Junior Cup after a first season that was a true revelation.

Since then, this young man of 22 has continued to make progress at an astonishing rate. Quickly spotted by the highly respected team Honda Ten Kate, Michael joined the junior structure as a permanent rider in 2011. He at once pulled on his seven-league boots, coming third in the UEM 600 Superstock Championship and obtaining a Moto2 wild card for the Grand Prix of Assen. One year later, in 2012, he was crowned European Superstock 600 Champion. Honda and Ten Kate immediately offered him a place in their celebrated World Supersport

structure. At that point, the Honda Ten Kate structure already had ten FIM World Supersport Championship titles under its belt with prestigious names such as Foret, Vermeulen, Charpentier, Pitt and Sofuoglu. For his first race in Australia, Magic Mickey made it on to the third step of the podium. Third in the Championship in 2013, Michael dominated the 2014 season with six wins and four second places, giving Honda Ten Kate their ninth title in the FIM Supersport World Championship. Michael is also the only Dutch rider to have won the Suzuka 8 Hours. In 2015, he will undoubtedly be the youngest rider in the FIM Superbike World Championship, where he will be continuing his adventure with the team Honda Ten Kate.

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Sylvain Guintoli

Born on 24 June 1982 in Montélimar, France

FIM Superbike World Champion THE GENTLEMAN OF SUPERBIKE Discreet, distinguished and particularly hard-working, Sylvain Guintoli is highly respected around the Superbike paddock both as a man and as a rider. Even at the height of the tempests and tumults that have punctuated his career, the Frenchman who lives in England has a very British sang froid. He rarely loses his cool and is an exemplary partner for the riders who have the good fortune to be on the same team. Today he has a long experience of competition which he began with scooter races at the age of 12. Spotted and signed up by the Fédération Française de Moto, he joined the French road-racing team in 2000, going on to race his first

season in GP 250 with the SCRAB team the following year. Until 2006, Sylvain raced in 250, moving up to MotoGP in 2007 with the team Tech3. He left GP for British Superbike in 2009, suffering a serious accident during the season when he was very well placed in the Championship. He made his World Superbike début the following year thanks to Francis Batta who signed him up for team Suzuki Alstare. After five seasons, 129 starts and 40 podiums, Sylvain Guintoli has become the 2014 FIM World Superbike Superbike Champion, giving France a successor to Raymond Roche after a wait of 24 years !

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Alex Márquez Born on 23 April 1996 in Cervera, Spain

FIM Moto3 World Champion ALLEZ ALEX ! THE MARQ OF A CHAMPION The smallest category of Grand Prix motorcycle road racing once again proved to the closest, with the battle for the FIM Moto3 World Championship going all the way to the final round at Valencia. The chase for the title initially looked like a two-way affair between Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR46), who shared three wins apiece from the opening six rounds as the Australian established a fivepoint lead over the Italian.

However, of all Miller’s rivals it was Alex Márquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0), sixth in the championship and 44 points adrift after those opening six races, that would provide the strongest challenge. Back-to-back victories for the Honda rider at Assen and Catalunya kickstarted

an unbroken run of points-scoring finishes that he would maintain until the end of the season, taking in a third victory at Motegi and further podiums at Silverstone, Misano, Aragon and Phillip Island, to set up a titledeciding final round at Valencia.

With Márquez’s good form coinciding with a drop in performance for Miller, the Honda rider held an elevenpoint lead over over his KTM rival going into the last race, knowing a podium place would be sufficient. Miller won the race but a typically hard-fought third place for Márquez proved enough to seal the title, ensuring that he and elder brother Marc had become the first brothers to win titles in the 66-year history of the FIM MotoGP World Championship.

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Esteve Rabat

Born on 25 May 1989 in Barcelona, Spain

FIM Moto2 World Champion “TITO” TAKES TITLE IN MOTO2 Esteve “Tito” Rabat made the switch to the Marc VDS Racing Team in 2014, as the Belgian outfit looked to build on Scott Redding’s runner-up spot in the Moto2 World Championship in 2013. With Redding and Pol Espargaró both headed for MotoGP, Rabat went into the season as the highest-ranked rider in the series and he backed up his “preseason favourite” status with victory in the opening round in Qatar by over a second from his experienced team-mate Mika Kallio.

Between them the Spaniard and the Finn shared six victories (two for Kallio, four for Rabat) from the opening seven races as they quickly established that the battle for the title was going to be a two-horse race, despite the best intentions of impressive Spanish rookie Maverick

Viñales – a winner in just his second race in the class with the Paginas Amarillas HP40 Team.

By round fourteen there had not been a single race without either Kallio or Rabat on one of the top two steps of the podium and Marc VDS Racing were able to wrap up the teams’ title with two rounds to spare.

All that remained to be decided was which one of their riders would be crowned World Champion and third place for Rabat in the penultimate round at Sepang was enough to give him the title. Two weeks later he could celebrate in front of his home crowd in the final round at Valencia, exactly nine years on from his Grand Prix debut there as an unknown 125cc wildcard.

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OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER

T I S S OT T- R AC E Mo to G P T M AU TO M AT IC C H RO N O G R A P H L I M I T E D E D I T I O N 2 01 4 . AUTO M AT I C C H R O N O G R A P H M OV E M E N T W I T H 3 16 L S TA I N L E S S S T E E L C A S E A N D S E E - T H R O U G H C A S E B AC K .

I NNOVATO RS BY T R A D IT I O N .

TISS OT.CH

Marc Márquez

Born on 17 February 1993 in Cervera, Spain

FIM MotoGP World Champion TEN OUT OF TEN SEASON FOR RECORD-BREAKER MARC After becoming the youngest ever rookie MotoGP World Champion in 2013 Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez set about continuing to rewrite the history books from the opening round of his title defence in Qatar in 2014.

Victory in that race was followed by nine more in a row, equalling Mick Doohan’s record undefeated sequence of ten races from 1997 as he obliterated a high-calibre opposition that included seven-time champion Valentino Rossi and double champ Jorge Lorenzo.

The resurgent Rossi battled regularly with Marquez at the front as he rolled back the years, scoring eight podiums before finally making a return to the top step in front of his adoring home crowd at Misano. Indeed, the Italian legend – who made his Grand Prix debut shortly after Marquez’s third birthday in 1996 – proved to be

the closest rival to the sport’s new master and he added a second victory to his tally at Phillip Island as he held off the challenge of Movistar Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo for the coveted runner-up spot.

However, no rival was ever able to seriously threaten Marquez’s stranglehold on the championship and despite a slight wobble in his form towards the end of the season, second place at Honda’s home race in Japan was enough for the 21-year-old to seal back-to-back titles with three races to spare. A thirteenth pole position in Malaysia broke Doohan’s record for poles in a season whilst a thirteenth victory at Valencia also ousted the Australian legend as the man with most wins in a year, capping off a resounding title defence.

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The FIM would like to thank all the 2014 Champions and wish them all the best for the forthcoming season !

The FIM also wants to thank all the promoters and partners for their support in the organisation of the 2014 FIM Gala Ceremony.

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