FIM Europe Magazine #01|2023

MAGAZINE FIM EUROPE

CONTENTS

FIM EUROPE MAGAZINE

Chief Editor: Dalila Agrati

Photo Credit: Dorna, Infront, Jarek Pabijan, Tomi Tähti

FIM EUROPE

Viale delle Arti, 181 00054 Fiumicino (Italy) fimeuropepress@gmail.com

FIM EUROPE PRESS OFFICE

Dalila Agrati dalila.agrati@fim-europe.com

The articles pusblished in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of FIM Europe. The content of this pubblication is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time the articles were written. The copying of articles and photos even partially is forbidden unless permission has been requested from FIM Europe in advance and reference is made to the source (©FIM Europe).

POINT OF VIEW

MICHAL SIKORA

FIM Europe President

Finally, the new season is starting. After the winter period, which at least for me is always too long, we can start the engines.

Of course, during that time we had some activities both sporting and beyond sporting. As always we had a nice SuperEnduro European Cup, but unfortunately this year with only two rounds in Germany and Hungary. Also, two rounds, both completed in Poland, was forming the calendar for Ice Racing European Championship.

Another fantastic experience was the FIM Europe Club tour on the snowmobiles, where participants had a great chance to enjoy wild nature covered with snow in Lapland.

In January we managed to finalize meetings of our commissions, this time three beyond sport ones. Our new members of Touring, Public Affairs and Environmental Commissions had a change to meet for the first time and plan their work for nearest future.

We are on the last straight in preparations before next Congress in Zaragoza in Spain, which will be a part of Centenary of RFME. In middle of February, I had a privilege to attend special Gala in Madrid with all the Spanish Champions and Officials.

I fully believe that we are approaching an interesting and successful season which I wish to all of you!

EDITORIAL

DALILA AGRATI

FIM Europe Press Officer

Dear readers, we are at the beginning of a new year.

We finished the last one with a lot of news and previsions, ready for a new and thrilling season. Now we were ready to start off with new emotions.

After the Sporting Commissions’ Meetings in last October and November, in January the Beyond Sporting Commissions had the occasion to meet: a great opportunity to discuss face to face current topics and 2023 activities after the last official meetings at Bucharest’s Congress in July 2022.

The sporting season is ready to kick off. All the calendars have been published and some Championships already started. Also, some official events took place, such as the FIM Europe Club Lapland Experience, that gave the possibility to visit and live Rovaniemi. Others will soon take place and we’re all looking forward the next Congress in Zaragoza: once again, we’ll have the occasion to meet face to face.

We are just at the beginning!

The curtain of the new season is now ready to be raised!

Read, be curious and experience the FIM Europe World!

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FIM EUROPE BEYOND SPORTING COMMISSIONS’ MEETINGS

FIM Europe Beyond Sporting Commissions’ Meetings took place on January 14th, in Fiumicino (Rome) at the presence of the FIM Europe President Michal Sikora, the 2st Deputy President Roy N. Wetterstad, the Secretary General Alessandro Sambuco together with Silvia Monatti and Andrea Diamantini, responsible for beyond sporting matters in the office.

A great opportunity to meet and discuss face to face current topics and future plans after the last official meetings at Bucharest’s Congress in July 2022.

At the end of the meetings the chairmen came together to point out the outcome of the meetings to the President and the Chairman of the Beyond Sporting Council, Roy N. Wetterstad.

“We started new year with Beyond Sporting Commission meetings. In sunny Fiumicino three commission had met on January 14th. We had a chance to discuss some very important topics like noise issues, environmental protection or touring events. I think all members had a good day discussing their favourite subjects”.

MICHAL SIKORA

“It was a good experience to meet in the commissions for the first time. I am looking forward to work with dedicated and passionate members of the commissions. In the beyond sport area, we have a lot of important challenges in supporting sports and activities, and to work for our interests towards society, politics and market. Our teams seem to be ready for dealing with their tasks”.

ROY N. WETTERSTAD

FIM Europe President

FIM Europe 2nd Deputy President

GRAŻYNA MAKOWSKA Chairman Environment Commission

“We had a very good meeting with many interesting and creative discussions. We will continue our project to educate young riders. We also prepare the program for the seminars for European environmental stewards to get the FIM Europe licence. Such seminars could be organised on request of the federations”.

ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION

After the Congress in Bucharest the commission met twice at zoom meetings. In Fiumicino was the occasion to meet face to face. One of the main topics was the project dedicated to the education of young riders, together with the seminars for European environmental stewards to get the FIM Europe licence. The Commission also would like to explore possibilities to start the work with the FIM to use its checklist in the future.

PANAGIOTIS KALAITZIS

Chairman Touring Commission

“All in all, it was a very good and productive meeting. It was great, after the pandemic, to meet live again in Fiumicino, see each other and confer on our touring objectives”.

TOURING COMMISSION

In the Touring Commission several interesting ideas came up at the end of a brainstorming session. All of them will be soon put to the administration for evaluation and realization. The main axes of the Touring Commission were reconfirmed:

• the Tour Assistants program, which is going to expand from one to three days;

• the FIM Europe Club Experience Meeting, to be held in N.E. Italy in late September (26th29th);

• the FIM Europe Club Lapland Experience 2023 – from March 14th to 18th

From left: Panagiotis Kalaitzis, Dimitris Margaritis, Roy N. Wetterstad , Michal Sikora, Grażyna Makowska.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMISSION

MR. DIMITRIS MARGARITIS Chairman Public Affairs Commission

The committee had a full agenda, as always, of several interesting topics related to legislation/regulations at European level, the progress of projects funded by FIM and important events that plans to organize or contribute to.

“Even though we are a small group of people, we have the competencies and experience to undergo effort demanding tasks. We have had fruitful discussions leading to actions and initiatives that are beneficial to FIM Europe and motorcycling. Electromobility dominated our discussion and we have decided to show to politicians and the public that PTWs are going electric too!”.

THE FIM EUROPE 2023 YEARBOOK IS AVAILABLE

The FIM Europe is glad to inform that the 2023 Yearbook is now available.

The open version can be downloaded for free here, while the full edition is available in the reserved area of the FIM Europe website.

In the table of contents, the welcome from the new elected FIM Europe President Michal Sikora, the story, the organization and the structure of the FIM Europe, as well as info about International and National Organizations, Federations and Regional Associations. The Yearbook also contains the 2022 sporting results, the roll of honour of the European Championships and Cups and a preview on the 2023 sporting season and events.

2023 FIM EUROPE CLUB LAPLAND EXPERIENCE

The 5th FIM Europe Club Lapland Experience took place from 14th to 18th March in Rovaniemi (FIN). The event, organized by the SML - Finnish Motorcycling Federation in collaboration with the SGAF Association of Finnish Snowmobile Guides and FIM Europe, now represents a fixed annual appointment dedicated to the Officials of the European Federations and their guests. This year the 25 participants, coming from 5 European Countries, were welcomed by the SML President Erkki Heikkinen, past Presidents Juhani Halme and Tapio Nevala and by the Secretary General Ville Salonen. The group, led by Jukka

Lainkari, Member of the Touring Commission and SGAF Guide, was accompanied on over 400 km of exciting Lappish nature trails. Also present were the FIM Europe Secretary General, Coordinator of the FIM Europe Club Alessandro Sambuco and the Chairman of the Touring Commission Panagiotis Kalaitzis. Among the participants also the DMUDanish Motorcycling Federation President Jorgen Bitsch, the past President of the LMSF - Lithuanian Motorcycling Federation Virginjius Visockis with the former LMSF Secretary General Ingrida Visockiene.

ERKKI HEIKKINEN PRESIDENT OF THE FINNISH MOTORCYCLING FEDERATION - SML RY

“It has been a pleasure for SML to be a part of FIM Europe Lapland Experience 2023, it is important to keep up the good relationship between Federations. Having a chance to discuss matters of motorsport as well as non-sport activities is always useful. When all this takes place in a sunny springtime, Finnish nature combined with riding good snow scooters it is an unforgettable experience. We wish to meet even more colleagues in the future meetings”.

ALESSANDRO SAMBUCO

FIM EUROPE SECRETARY GENERAL

“I must say, for the benefit of those who wish to participate in these events, that the good average technical level of the participants, thanks to their predisposition to the use of motorcycles, allows them to enjoy rides that are not at all boring, not at all comparable to the tourist safaris organized in loco for ordinary tourists. The dynamic driving of the snowmobiles, the safety offered by the SGAF expert Guides and the amazing sceneries of the Lappish nature promise safe thrills and lasting memories. All this, together with the possibility of sharing a few moments with colleagues outside the working context, makes these events something unique to try”.

From left: Alessandro Sambuco and Erkki Heikkinen

ONE SPORT EXTENDS SEC LICENSE UNTIL 2030

During the Gala to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Speedway Euro Championship, representatives of One Sport and FIM Europe announced the decision on the extension of the contract to organize the Speedway Euro Championship series. One Sport will be the organizer of the series until at least 2030.

Thanks to the consistent efforts of the entire One Sport team, the SEC series has managed to rise to an excellent level. The starting list every year includes the biggest speedway stars, and the competition has come to Poland, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Germany, among others. Tomasz Gollob, Nicki Peder-

sen, Martin Vaculik, Leon Madsen, Mikkel Michelsen, Patryk Dudek and Emil Sajfutdinow, among others, have raced on a variety of tracks.

The renewal of the contract is both a reason for joy, but also an awareness of the next challenges. Intensive work has been going on since the beginning of the year, which is expected to growing up in the coming months.

In 2023, the TAURON SEC series will visit Czestochowa, Guestrow, Bydgoszcz and Pardubice.

MICHAL SIKORA FIM EUROPE PRESIDENT

“On behalf of the FIM Europe, I’m very happy to confirm the renewed partnership with One Sport until 2030. The Speedway Euro Championship series is becoming more and more attractive and gives fantastic opportunities of development for the motorsports’ brands. I would like to say thank you to the promoter: I’m confident this high-level collaboration will confirm the Championship as one of the most successful European series. Together we continue to find positive solutions and ideas in order to deliver the best Championship possible, and one that we can all be proud of".

KAROL LEJMAN ONE SPORT CEO

KAROLINA JANKOWSKA

BOARD MEMBER OF ONE SPORT

“We all watch the development of speedway sport and see how we need to direct our thinking, regarding the development of the SEC series. I want to assure fans that we are gushing with energy and have heads full of ideas. We are looking forward to the first competition in 2023 and hope it will meet the expectations of the fans”.

“We are very happy that the contract has been extended for another 5 years. We still have a lot of ideas in our heads, and we believe that our experience and fresh perspective on speedway sport will bring fans a product of the highest level. When we announced, for example, the return of speedway to the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, many doubted the success of this project. We hope that other ideas can also be realized and will appeal to fans”.

FRANZ ZORN CROWNED CHAMPION FOR THE SECOND TIME

25TH -26TH FEBRUARY

SANOK, POLAND

Race 2 was raced in perfect weather conditions. Despite some crashes, no riders were seriously injured. Once more, the spectator saw the amazing fight between Zorn and Bauer. This time the German rider had the best even if tied in the points with the Austrian, who thanks to the victory of Race 1 was crowned as European Champion for the second time in his career (2008). Second position in the standing for Bauer, who took the overall win too ahead of Zorn. Third place in Race 2 for the Czech Lukáš Hutla, while Olsén got the bronze medal in the standings thanks to the fifth position in the second race.

The single round of the European Individual Ice Speedway Championship took place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February in Sanok, in the south-eastern Poland, in front of over 2.000 spectators. Thanks to the great job of the organiser, the races were raced on a perfect track condition.

In the first race day the Austrian Franz Zorn took a clear win with maximum points, fighting until the last against the German Luca Bauer, second at the end of a thrilling battle for the victory. Third position for the Swedish Jimmy Olsén. The audience had the chance to see a hard-fought heat 21, with continuous overtaking, changes of positions and some crashes too, fortunately with no consequences.

Standings

1. Franz Zorn, AUT

2. Luca Bauer, GER

3. Jimmy Olsen, SWE

SHARING MOTORCYCLING

Sharing an experience is an opportunity to get to know yourself and others better, getting in tune and generating ideas and solutions. What could be better than sharing the passion for motorcycles with colleagues, making sure that this makes a job or in any case a professional commitment return to being a passion?

For some time at FIM Europe we have been trying to encourage this sharing by creating opportunities for those who manage our 47 National Federations and for our Officials to be together.

With the occasion of a Test Ride, BMW Motorrad Rome created another opportunity for us to share an on the road experience with some of the participants in the meetings of the FIM Europe Beyond-Sporting Commissions which were held in Fiumicino on Saturday January 14th

It is thus that on an unexpectedly beautiful day, not too cold, a group, accompanied by some members of the Motoclub Roma, had the opportunity to share a tour in the mountainous border area between Lazio and Abruzzo on an itinerary of about 250km.

Thanks therefore to BMW Motorrad Rome and its Dealer Operator Giovanni Tardani for the opportunity created and to the friends of the Motoclub Roma for sharing the experience.

We remain certain that this moment of sharing can only lead to an improvement in the climate of collaboration among those who work for a better motorcycling in our European continent.

From the left: Rodolfo Romeo and Gianfranco Ciatoni (MC Roma), Virginijus Visockis and Ingrida Visockiene (Lithuania), Maurizio Di Tonno (MC Roma), Jesper Christensen (Sweden) Alessandro Sambuco (FIM Europe), Giovanni Tardani (BMW Motorrad), Panagiotis Kalaitzis (Greece), Fausto Paoloni (MC Roma), Jukka Lainkari (Finland).

LIGHTS ON THE FIRST EUROPEAN RACE

New year, new season.

The Superenduro Cup opened the 2023 sporting season with its first round at the SachsenArena in Riesa, Germany.

As usual, the Riesa club crafted a technical and tough track for the European and world’s best riders, as the race was held together with the Super Enduro World Championship.

Experienced riders of the sport fired up a huge

crowd and created an unforgettable atmosphere in the stadium.

The European Cup saw 26 riders on the starting list and 14 qualified to the final races. In the first manche Polish rider Grzegorz Kargul won ahead of English Dan Peace, twice second, and Hungarian Roland Liszka, twice third. Race 2 was ruled by Hungarian Mark Szoke. Event

1. Peace Dan, GBR

2. Szoke Mark, HUN

3. Liszka Roland, HUN

4. Kargul Grzegorz, POL

5. Faude Max, GER

BRITISH PEACE IS THE NEW CHAMPION WHILE ITALIAN AZZALINI IMPRESSES

The SuperEnduro Cup was back in action for the second and last round of the season with an amazing and thrilling weekend at the Papp Lazlo Sport Arena in Budapest, together with the third GP of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship.

12.000 fans followed and lived the adventures of all the top riders of the European Cup and World Championship.

After the win in the first round in Germany, British Dan Peace (Sherco) confirmed his role as leader. Although he didn’t take victory in either of the races, the Sherco rider managed to climb to second place overall in the GP which was won by Alessandro Azzalini (GASGAS).

The young Italian rider showed great strength and won the first race ahead of Peace and crowd-pleaser Roland Liszka (KTM).

Race two was awesome for its chaos. Sixth in race 1, home hero Mark Szoke (SHERCO) pulled a last lap, last corner pass to make the Hungarian crowd go wild for a brilliant win with Peace steady to maintain the overall points lead with the third position.

Thanks to the fourth position in race 2 Azzalini took the overall in Budapest, ahead of Peace and Szoke, who confirmed his leadership in the standings, winning the European Cup.

BONACORSI DOMINATES THE FIRST ROUND OF EMX250 IN SARDINIA

The first round of the EMX250 Championship of the season took place in Sardegna and has concluded with Andrea Bonacorsi winning for the second year in a row with some strong racing throughout the weekend.

“It is always good to start the season like this. I felt good during the two races".

Andrea Bonacorsi

The first race of the EMX250 class saw a great start with three riders detaching themselves with Ivano Van Erp and Andrea Bonacorsi from Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team and Fantic Factory Team Maddii’s Cas Valk taking the lead with Van Erp taking the better of the others over few turns until Valk made a move on the inside to be 1st on lap 1.

On Race 2, Prugnieres led the way on lap 1 in front of Van Erp and Bonacorsi. But Van Erp made a move on the Frenchman to take his turn at the top. A battle between the three riders would go on until lap 4 when Bonacorsi took the reins of the race to never give it up as he increased its lead throughout to win comfortably.

EMX250 - Overall Top 10 Classification:

1. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 50 points; 2. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 40 p.; 3. Kay Karssemakers (NED, HUS), 38 p.; 4. Cas Valk (NED, FAN), 38 p.; 5. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 36 p.; 6. Valerio Lata (ITA, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Alexis Fueri (FRA, FAN), 25 p.; 8. Marc-Antoine Rossi (FRA, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Federico Tuani (ITA, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Xavier Cazal (FRA, GAS), 17 p.;

EMX250 - Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 50 points; 2. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 40 p.; 3. Kay Karssemakers (NED, HUS), 38 p.; 4. Cas Valk (NED, FAN), 38 p.; 5. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 36 p.; 6. Valerio Lata (ITA, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Alexis Fueri (FRA, FAN), 25 p.; 8. Marc-Antoine Rossi (FRA, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Federico Tuani (ITA, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Xavier Cazal (FRA, GAS), 17 p.;

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