FIM Europe MAG 4 2015

Nr 4/2015 - July/August

ALL THE PHOTOS OF THE FIM EUROPE CONGRESS FOCUS ON: ENDURO

INDEX

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FIM Europe Congress: Day1

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FIM Europe Congress: Day2

64 FIM Europe Congress Day3

9 th Road Safety Conference

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Chief Editor: Fiammetta La Guidara Photos: Dorna, Youthstream, R. Pairan, M. Zanzani, Romano Neri, Fiammetta La Guidara

Focus on Enduro: inter view with Marco Bolzonello

FIM EUROPE Via Giulio Romano, 18 00196 - Rome Italy E-mail: fimeuropepress@gmail.com

FIM Europe MAG #4 July - August 2015 The articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of FIM Europe.

The content of this publication is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time the articles were written.

The copyring 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 (ŠFIM Europe)

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FIM Europe Congress in Malta

The island of Malta hosted the 21st edition of the FIM Europe Congress, which was held from 2nd to 4th July.

This issue of FIM Europe MAG is mainly dedicated to the event.

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FIM Europe Congress First contact with media

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As soon as FIM Europe staff arrived in Malta to organise the Congress Secretariat, a press conference was organised by ASMK, the Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi, which is going to host the FIM Europe Congress.

The press conference was to introduce to the media the Continental event, which will start on July 2nd and will continue for three days in Grand Hotel Excelsior of Malta.

The meeting was held in the hotel which will host the ConFIM Europe Mag 4/2015

gress announced the first numbers of the event.

«At the moment, more than 250 delegates coming from 38 National Motorcycling Federations have already confirmed their presence to this 21st FIM Europe Congress», said Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General.

«The Congress will host FIM Europe delegates to discuss and approve decisions regarding management and all kind of issues in the field of Motorcycling», stated ASMK Presi-

dent, Frans Deguara. «Besides, the Road Safety Conference, this year will deal with electronics on motorcycles and where the local situation about motorcycling in Malta will be presented, too».

Mrs Fiammetta La Guidara, FIM Europe Press Officer, invited the collegues to take part to the General Assembly, but also to the Road Safety Conference, and confirmed full support to the media for the Congress which will take its start on Thursday, July 2nd.

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On Wednesday July 1st everything is ready for the start of the 21st edition of the FIM Europe Congress in Malta.

The organisation of such an event is not an easy task and it starts already the day after the end of the previous annual Congress.

The FIM Europe staff arrived yesterday in Malta and started organising the practical aspects of the Meeting, which will start on July 2nd, to last up to July 4th.

With the support of ASMK, the Assocjazzjoni Sport Muturi u Karozzi, which is going to host the Congress, the day before the event the FIM Europe staff welcomed the first 50 delegates. Within the following morning 200 more delegates would arrive, to represent a whole of 38 National Motorcycling Federations.

The aim of the Congress, which is the first with the Presidency of Dr Wolfgang

Srb, is to discuss and approve decisions regarding management and all kind of issues in the field of Motorcycling and Touring.

A new edition of the Road Safety Conference will be held too, which will deal with electronics on motorcycles and where the local situation about motorcycling in Malta will be presented.

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FIM Europe Congress Day1

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On July 2 nd the 21 st FIM Eu rope Congress kicked off in the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Malta.

As scheduled, the program started with the meetings of the Sporting and Non-Spor ting Council, where relevant issues were discussed with the chairmen of the various Commissions.

The whole day the delegates

continued to arrive at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, where the Congress is being held (in the photo).

On the next day the program would foresee the Meetings of the Management Council, Commissions and Panels, the Road Safety Conference and the Meeting with the Secre taries General.

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Above and below, the welcome desk, with delegates checking in.

Below, the FIM Europe Congress Secretariat. From the left, Silvia D’Amico, Andrea Diamantini, Silvia Monatti, Alessandro Sambuco and ASMK President Frans Deguara

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On the right FIM Europe President Dr Wolfgang Srb with Jean Pierre Moreau, Chairman of the FIM Europe Public Affairs Commission

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Below, the Sporting Council.

On the left Ivo Tsvetanov, Chairman of the Supermoto Commission, with Marco Bolzonello, Chairman of the Enduro and Rally Commission.

On the right Anders Minken, Chairman of the Trial Commission and JosĂŠ Artur Campos Costa, Chairman of the Vintage Commission

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Below Jan Stovicek, FIM Europe Vice-President, with Eddie Herd, Chairman of the Motocross and Snowcross Commission and Piotr Szymanski, Chairman of the Track Racing Commission.

Above, from the left Martin de Graaff, 1st

Deputy President, Dr Wolfgang Srb, FIM Europe President and Michal Sikora, Treasurer.

Below, Stijn Rentmeesters, Chairman of the Marketing, Promotion and Industry Commission.

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In the photo above, from the left Karl Voegele, Chairman of the Motoball Commission, Ejgil Solkaer, Chairman of the Road Racing Commission and Palle Lind, Chairman of the Drag Racing Commission.

Aside, Adamo Leonzio, Chairman of the Environment Commission Below, Silvio Manicardi, 2 Deputy President. nd

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On the left, Silvia D’Amico, FIM Europe staff, with the official cap of the Congress.

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FIM Europe Congress Day2

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On Friday 3 rd the 21 st FIM Europe Congress lived its second day of activity in Malta.

As scheduled, the Management Council was held, so as the Mee tings of the Commissions and Pa nels. In the afternoon, the Road Safety Conference took place, which was very successful, with big attendance of delegates and media.

The day ended with the traditio nal meeting of the Secretaries General, where various issues

were discussed, like insurance and licences. Professor Nils Ryr holm from the University of Gae vle (Sweden) presented the project ‘Motorsport and Biodi versity’.

The next day the Congress will live its third day and the program will start with the Sporting and Non-Sporting Council Meetings, followed by the Management Council. In the afternoon there will be the General Assembly.

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The welcome desk, with delegates checking in.

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Above, Rodolfo Romeo, Alessandro Sambuco and Michel Turk.

In the centre, Martin de Graaff with Laurent Delbroek.

Below Gianluca Avenoso, Tony Skillington and Paolo Sesti.

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On the left, the President of the ASMK Frans Deguara welcomes FIM President Vito Ippolito in Malta.

Below, the Meeting of the Management Council

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FIM Europe President, Dr Wolfgang Srb, with a group of delegates.

Below the Road Racing Commission, On the right, the Motoball Commission,

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On the opposite page, from the top, the Enduro Commission and the Motocross and Snowcross Commission.

Above, a group of delegates.

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On the opposite page, the Medical Panel.Above, the Touring Commission.

Below, the Track Racing Commission

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Above the Vintage Commission, aside the Public Affairs Commission and below the Trial Commission.

Below, the Drag Racing Commission

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In the opposite page, from the top, FIM Europe President, Dr Wolfgang Srb with Martin de Graaff and Michel Turk, Above, from the left, Laurent Delbroek, Juhani Halme, JeanMarc Desnues, Silvio Manicardi, Silvia Monatti and Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General.

Below the Public Affairs Commission

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9 T H ROAD SA FET Y CON FE R E NC E

The 21st FIM Europe Congress in Malta hosted the 9th edition of Road Safety Conference, which traditionally deals with the most important and updated topics of the matter. In the latest years, the Road Safety Conference dealt with road incidentality, industry responses and initiatives, the systems to improve Road Safety, traumatic injuries and first aid, 2 wheeler behaviour and safety, roadside barriers and crash tests, 34

and, last year, with themes related with Safety concepts and devices derived from Track, such as airbag for motorcyclists.

This year the Road Safety Conference dealt with the development of electronics to increase usability and safety both on track and on road.

The conference was held under the auspices of Silvio Manicardi, FIM Europe vice-president, and

of Jean-Pierre Moreau, Chairman of Public Affairs Commission.

The first lecturer to speak was a representative of the hosting Country, Mrs Audrey Testaferrata de Noto, Transport Malta, who also gave the statistics of the Island as for 2 and 4 wheels. In particular, in 2014 there were 18.400 licensed motorcycles, 278 road accidents with motorcyclists. The most common collisions are with

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The Road Safety Conference: above, Silvio Manicardi during the introduction

motor vehicles emerging from side roads.

Mr John Chatterton-Ross, FIM Europe Director of Public Affairs, made his intervention on “Current issues facing motorcycling from Brussels”: the European Court of Justice and the case of Mr Vnuk (insurance problems in sporting events); PPE Personal protective Equipment standards (gloves, boots, jac-

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kets, clothing and one piece suits); EU ‘White Paper’ on Transport (not to forget Europe’s 38 million riders!); Euro 5 emissions standards for powered two wheelers - threat of city bans; relations between FIM, FIM Europe and the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations, FEMA. The third lecturer to speak was Antonio Perlot, Secretary Gene-

ral of ACEM, with his speech on “The safe ride to the future Industry commitment to road safety”. Starting from a recap of the motorcycle industry in Europe, Perlot stressed the diversity of vehicles, owners and purposes (commuting, leisure, sport) and that congestion costs Europe about 1% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year. The speech faced the policy orientations of road safety 35

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In the opposite page Jean Pierre Moreau during the Road Safety Conference and, below, the attendance.

Above, from the left, Perit Audrey Testaferrata de Noto (Transport Malta), John Chatterton-Ross (Director Public Affairs FIM-Europe), Antonio Perlot (Secretary General ACEM) and Matthias Moerbe (Vice-President Systems and Components Technology Management Bosch)

for 2011-2020, and the safety trends, as well as the industry approach to road safety. In the end, the renewed ACEM road safety strategy was illustrated.

Matthias Moerbe, Vice President of Technology Management System and Components of Bosch Engineering GmbH, spoke of “The electronic on road bikes and on circuit: how they help each other in the development of better systems for road use”. The main topics were traction control, lean angle sensor, ABS and MSC, gear shift, drive by wire, semi active suspension, airbag and data recording, to conclude that road bikes and on circuit benefit from the same technology and inspire each other.

The full presentations of the Conference are published on FIM Europe website in “Social” section.

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FI M EU ROPE SEC R ETA R I ES G E NE RA L

M E ET I N G The 21st FIM Europe Congress hosted the Secretaries General Meeting.

Among the themes which were dealt with, very interesting was the speech of Professor Nils Ryrholm, who made a presentation on Biodiversity showing that for the global ecosystem services it is essential a component of nature that keeps the environment balanced and makes life run continuously on the basis of mutual interdependence of plants and animals. The existence of different organisms creates a balance 38

depending on each other for survival. Biodiversity is especially depending on continuity of the habitats. If the habitat remains the same it will keep a higher biodiversity, and a continous disturbance like on a motortrack assures this kind of continuity. Without continous disturbance from the bikes it will be lost. Seen from this perspective motortrack changes character from an environmental problem to a resource for both the environment and the society.

The FIM Europe support for the biodiversity project on

European level would be of great help for saving a number of tracks. Namely those facing the risk of getting closed due to their assumed only negative impact on the environment. The FIM Europe President remarks he has been waiting for this since years, and in his opinion FIM Europe has to do the best out of this new perspective and that a discussion is necessary about this issue. The Secretary General Alessandro Sambuco refers all eventual questions to Professor Ryrholm.

During the conference, the

issue of insurance in sports was dealt with, too.

The Secretary General and FIM CEO, Mr Ignacio Verneda, had a meeting in Milan with the international insurance broker Marsh. However the FIM is already evaluating also other proposals received by different brokers. Marsh is already present in Superbike. The insurance problem affects all Federations and especially the biggest ones because it is not possible to be sure if a rider arriving in a Country is in possession of the appropriate licence. The insurance situation was discussed in a FIM meeting organized in March in Mies to evaluate the situation with the specific Working Group, whose intent is to find a fair insurance system for everyone.

The problem is the coverage of the international licence and for the Working Group it is necessary to find a broker giving the chance to include the medical treatment and repatriation in the coverage and to solve the insurance problem also for CONUs.

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On the opposite page, Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General, with Silvia Monatti and Paola Bianchetti.

Above, Ignacio Verneda, FIM CEO, during his speech.

Below, the audience, with FIM Europe President Dr Wolfgang Srb and, sitting near him, John Chatterton Ross, Director of Public Affairs

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Another interesting topic was that of best practice in administration. The Secretary General Alessandro Sambuco has visited in February, together with Ms. Silvia Monatti, SVEMO Heardquarter in Norrkรถping, Sweden, with the main purpose to view the RA Administration system which is used by this Federation since 5 years. This computer system combines all different activities of a Federation such as calendar, licences, circuits, riders etc. and can be personalized to the requirements of all FMNs. With this system the clubs are able to manage all competitions and competitors attending the events. It is very

complex to show its functioning, but SVEMO will be available for the interested parties to explain the system and answer all questions. FMB would like to organize a presentation of SVEMO system in Brussel and FIM Europe will be at disposal for a date to be established.

Alessandro Sambuco also reminded about the creation of the FIM Europe Club which is addressed to all Officials, Honorary Members (present in FIM Europe Yearbook) and all the Presidents and Secretaries General of the European FMNs. No membership fee is foreseen and the costs will be borne by the participants to the events.

Aim of the Club is for the

members to share both work and free time, to spend time together in a gathering and to ride a bike and to have the opportunity to get to know each other better, to increase cooperation and the level of trust between the people. The Secretary General will be the organizer of the first event which will take place in Tuscany/Italy, from 16th to 19th October 2015. The base will be Hotel Borgo Tre Rose, between Montepulciano and Cortona.

The Experience will consist in riding and visiting Tuscany, Firenze-Monteriggioni-Montepulciano-Pienza-Montalcino.

Below Filippo Bellotti, SEL representative, On the opposite page, from the top, Nils Ryrholm and John Chatterton Ross, Director of Public Affairs during their speeches

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FI M Eu rope C o n g re ss Day 3

The 21 st FIM Europe Congress in Malta finished successfully with the Meetings of the Sporting and Non-Sporting Councils, the Ma nagement Council as well as the General Assembly in the after noon. There were 38 National Federations present and over 250 delegates.

Important decisions were taken, among them the approval of the

2014 Balance-sheet, of the 2015 Budget and the election of one auditor (Mr Tapio Nevala from Finland), additions to the Spor ting Code as well as to the Disci plinary and Arbitration Code.

Comprehensive reports have been presented about the Spor ting as well the Non-Sporting ac tivities.

The General Assembly approved

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the bid of the Luxembourg Fede ration to organise the 2017 FIM Europe Congress in the city of Luxembourg.

«I am very pleased with the re sults of the Congress in Malta», Dr Wolfgang Srb stated. «Impor tant decisions for the future of FIM Europe have been taken.

The atmosphere and the coope ration during all these days

were excellent and I am happy with the strong support for our common targets. Malta was a most beautiful venue and I hope that we will return one day».

The 22 nd edition of the FIM Eu rope Congress will take place from 30 th June to 2 nd July in Ka vala, Greece.

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Above Silvio Manicardi explaining during the session of the Management Council.

In this page, some more photos of the Management Council on the Day 3 of the FIM Europe Congress, just before the General Assembly

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Aside Vito Ippolito, FIM President, in his welcome speech, and below, 1st Deputy President Martin de Graaff during his report about the Sporting activities At the bottom, the audience.

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Above, Michel Turk, president of Luxembourg Federation, presenting the bid for the 2017 Congress in Luxembourg.

On the opposite page, Laurent Delbroek during his speech.

Below, the audience

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Aside, Dr Wolfgang Srb with AMSK President, Frans Deguara, who receives a plate of memory for the 30th anniversary of the Maltese Federation.

In the centre, Håkan Leeman, who receives a plate of memory for the 80th anniversary of SVEMO. At the bottom Amedeo Michelotti who receives a plate of memory for the 50th anniversary of the San Marino Federation

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Aside, Chris Agius MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth & Sport, receives a plate as memory of the Congress.

Below, the assignation of 3 Honorary titles with the handover of a diploma by the FIM Europe President: Mr Ted Bartlett, as FIM Europe Honorary Vice-President Mr Gerhard Ittner, as FIM Europe Honorary Road Racing Commission Member Mr Günther Zaritsch, as FIM Europe Honorary Road Racing Commission Member

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FIM Europe President, Dr Wolfgang Srb, during his speech at the General Assembly and, above, with Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General

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Aside, Silvio Manicardi, 2nd Deputy President, Chairman of the FIM Europe Non-Sporting Council, during his speech.

Below, Michal Sikora presenting the 2014 Balance Sheet and the 2015 Budget.

Below, the audience. In fist row, from the left, Rodolfo Romeo, Vito Ippolito, FIM President and Ignacio Verneda, FIM CEO

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Above, the stand of My Laps in the Grand Hotel Excelsior.

Aside, FIM Europe President with the Italian delegation.

Below, the staff of FIM Europe, from the left Silvia D’Amico, Silvia Monatti, Alessandro Sambuco, Secretary General, Paola Bianchetti, Avvocato Rodolfo Romeo, Andrea Diamantini and Fiammetta La Guidara

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Above, from the left, Ignacio Verneda, Vito Ippolito, Dr Wolfgang Srb and Michel Turk. Below the photo of the group at the end of the Congress, On the opposite page, the audience

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The Gala Dinner

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From the left, Vito Ippolito, FIM Europe President, Chris Agius MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation , Youth & Sport, Johann Pace, ASMK Secretary General, Dr Wolfgang Srb, FIM Europe President, Frans Deguara, ASMK President and Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General

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Marco Bolzonello with Nicola Dutto, the first paraplegic rider, who takes part to the European Bajas Championship

Focus on: Enduro Commission

Marco Bolzonello, Chairman of FIM Europe Enduro Commission, makes a point on all the specialties The Enduro European Championship enjoys excellent health. What is the secret of this success?

The Enduro, let’s not forget it, is the discipline motorcycle with the oldest race, the Six Days, which celebrated 100 years in 2013, with the Italian edition held in Sardinia. Until a few decades ago, the European was the World Championship, which later became the WEC, giving way to the new course, with a European Championship born along with UEM, today FIM Europe.

Behind today's success there is tradition, history, commitment of many individuals: many small teams and dealers, the Federations, good organizers, young and less young ri-

ders supported by friends and family, the promoter Mr Wolfgang Butzner, the atmosphere of pure and authentic sports you breathe, and, let me say it, even the interpersonal relationships and the ability to pursue the discipline on the part of our Working Group.

We have reached a high standard as for the organization, with trails, paddocks, logistics, image, however containaing costs, and that's why for years now, in a Championship in four races we always over 10 requests every year. Our philosophy is also to give light in the international Enduro to new European Countries, and so far this goal has been reached. I can think of Estonia, Latvia, and Romania and, this year - really a good sur-

prise - Croatia. Besides Nations and Federations with proven experience, such as Portugal, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Finland.

Organizing a European championship is relatively easy, less bureaucracy, expenses (claims?) of a World Cup. I believe that innovation, but in tradition, is a bit our secret...

How is it structured at the level of classes?

We count three junior classes, three senior, a veteran and female respectively. In addition there are the overall class (absolute) and that of the commercial teams. And it is provided, on request of an organizer / FMN, the 50cc class (not the cham-

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pionship, but the cup). Important for us are the Junior classes, with particular attention to the Under-20, but also the possibility of having experienced pilots with young people, I speak of Seniors, but also the Veterans, who sometimes are parents or relatives of some Junior.

The Overall is also appreciated, which rewards the absolute champion of the race and of the championship.

There are classes with a particularly high number of participants? Why?

The classes with more riders are the Junior ones. These young riders can do high level international experience, train for races of the world championship or for the respective national championships.

Then, back on this, I think also for the ease of having information (we have no secrets about what the Commission does, on calendars, proposals, etc.), simple but comprehensive websites , excellent cooperation with the offices of FIM Europe, professional work of the Press Officer of the European Enduro Pairan. But again, the fact that each member of the Commission is really versed in all aspects of the matter, working in their respective Federations always in support to enduro.

Without the concerted efforts of all, it would be difficult to go on and maintain good race! Of course, there is still to work on the overall enhancement of the discipline, but this is an aspect that also sees the World Cup in difficulty.

Are there news for the championship in 2016? If so, which?

As for several years, it is never easy to baste the calendar the following year, both for the number of requests that exceeds that of the races (and that's good!), but also for the dates of the World Cup races that are not defined ot are likely to adjustments.

Nevertheless, in July, in the usual meeting in mid-season coinciding with FIM Europe Congress, the Commission established the calendar for 2016, which is provisional for the reasons cited. Latvia will return, not only for the experience and the commitment of its organizers, but also for the geographical significance compared to Northern European Countries.

One reason that drives us in the allocation of races, told of attention to new organizers, is also the number of riders expressed by a geographical reality, trying to limit the long trips, which is also very difficult given the distances among the various European Countries.

Then, after some years of absence as an organizer, the Netherlands is back, with the Final in 2015 strongly supported by the local Federation KNMV. And this also considering the good number of Dutch riders who have always participated to the European championship.

Who are the riders who choose to participate to European? Mostly young people or not?

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It's a broad spectrum: we go from young riders, perhaps helped by their fathers, to those with the strongest team or dealers behind, to senior and veteran riders supported by themselves, with family in tow.

Of course, numbers in hand, the Junior are the most represented. And this is so encouraging, because many of these are now in the top standings in some category of the World Enduro.

Some Federations "use" the European Championship also to select their best elements for the national team which will take part to the Six Days We also have to say that many Fede-

rations follow riders and teams participating to the European Championship, not just at the last round (the final), which is also valid for National and Motoclub Trophies.

What is the technical level?

The races today have achieved an excellent professional organization.

Paths, logistics in paddock, special stages, timing and ranking centers and web presence testify the route taken. To this we add the image and the help given by the promoter Butzner.

What about the participation of public?

The Enduro is a difficult discipline to understand, it does not take place in

heats in comfortable facilities (see motocross or speedway), and is more for connoisseurs and enthusiasts. Nevertheless, thanks to the work of advertising that each organizer makes on site, the population of the centers where the event is held is involved.

The simple opening ceremony is important, with the presentation of riders per Country, the presence of local authorities (this is an important relationship, because the Enduro is complicated to manage, also for the large number of permits for the use of territory). We had the presence, almost always, of the mayors of towns and cities where the race was held, but also high-level representatives (ministers or, in Croatia, representative of the President of the Republic).

Is there a European Country where enduro is particularly prevalent?

The enduro is strongly present in many European Countries, both in the Mediterranean, Central and Northern Europe, with very different traditions, factories, industries, events but that make this discipline popular.

Who are the riders who left the En-

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duro European Championship and then have been successful in the world series?

Talking of 2015, two young Britons coming from European, are fighting to win the Junior class in the World Championship. Same thing in the World Youth. In the upper classes of the World Championship some top level riders maybe come from motocross, but many of them arrived from the European Series, and some even passed in the meantime to other disciplines, such as the African rallies.

When was the Enduro European Championship born?

Until 1997 the European Championship was the current World Championship. The European, as we know it today, was born in 1998.

A recent discipline is the Enduro Extreme Cup: why was it created and with what results?

That of extreme enduro races is a very different reality from enduro traditional races, with races easier to manage, generally short courses, but with weather conditions and locations that make it difficult to complete a race. We tried to "build" a simple regulation, safeguarding the characteristics of the existing extreme enduro races, of which every organizer is "jealous": it is useless to give new rules, we would have received the answer: No thanks, we'll do as we've always done". At these events, then, there are often major 68

awards, which also attract world-renowned specialists. Certainly it is not easy to put together races with different rules, but we are trying, and I think that it can be a useful option for all future enduro, too".

Let's talk about the Bajas championship.

It's a beautiful championship, a discipline full of charm, where riders of motorcycles, quads and UTV are competing with cars and sometimes trucks ready for adventures such as the Paris-Dakar.

But there is a but: despite the support of Pagusmedia, and excellent organizational level, the costs are extremely penalizing for the riders.

For next year, we lowered the limit of the entry fee for one race, hoping just to draw more riders. This perhaps displeasing, we realize it, the organizers ...

After all, it is not easy to organize competitions of hundreds and hundreds of kilometers, with important limitations as regards the safety, which is always one of the goals of all our reasoning.

Tout Terrain and Cross Country: this year there were no races. Why? Is reintegration foreseen for the next year?

We tried a few years ago with the Cross Country Cup, but the target of the riders is amateurs who cannot afford, or do not want to engage in challenging trips. Moreover it deals

with easy races, with tracks of limited length, also open to non-enduro bikes, lasting some hours, with major championships in certain Countries (see Poland, Slovakia, Germany, just to name a few).

As for Tout Terrain: we tried, especially with the help of Italy, the Country where Rally is very felt, but with a few other important events organized under the aegis of a Federation.

Of course there are rallys in some Countries of the Balkans, but they are not Federal and therefore we cannot take them into account. However, it should be noted the great work of the organizers of the Serres Rally, which has grown a lot and now is a real reference, like the Romanian rally in the past.

We are always willing to consider requests, proposals and suggestions aimed at developing a discipline.

Thanks to the Finnish Federation for some years we’ve also having SnowEnduro and Snowmobile enduro cup: with excellent results in terms of attendance and organizational quality.

This is an enduro race, with special stages and time controls that takes place in the middle of winter with snowmobiles. It is a discipline certainly limited to a few Countries in North, but we hope that Russian riders will take to part to it.

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Road Raci ng Activities During the round of MotoGP in Assen, FIM Europe President Dr Wolfgang Srb and FIM Europe 1st Deputy Mr Martin de Graaff met with Mr Vito Ippolito, FIM President, Mr Ignacio Verneda, FIM CEO and Mr Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna CEO, to discuss about European Road Racing activities.

FIM Europe President Dr Wolfgang Srb in Prague, during the World Speedway Championship, with the winner of the 2015 Speedway GP of Czech Republic, the English rider Tai Woffinden. At the sides of the photo, Michel Turk and Jan Stovicek.

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