FIM Europe News

As the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship takes to the demanding dark sand of Valkenswaard so to will the season opener of the EMX125 class Presented by FMF Racing. With FMF Racing renewing is presenting sponsorship of both the EMX125 and EMX300 classes, it clearly shows, once again, its support for the top level of two stroke racing in Europe. FMF, Flying Machine Factory, is a world leader in aftermarket power exhaust systems for dirt bikes and ATV’s, and was set up in 1973 by a youthful twenty-two year old by the name of Donny Emler, a typical Southern California native who like everybody else in the seventies found the urge to ride and race dirt bikes simply irresistible. While FMF’s bread and butter have be taken care of on home turf in America you may have noticed their presence gain traction in MXGP over the past few years, not

After a long winter break, the 2017 FIM Supermoto European Championship season is about to start this weekend at Ottobiano, Italy. The famous Ottobiano Motorsports Park in the city of Pavia will host the first race of the European Championship, an venue which already hosted many events in the past and is one the best utilized circuits in Europe. Biggest change for this year’s season is the separation of the FIM Supermoto European and World championship races. The European championship rounds are open for all riders so not only for last season’s S2 class, but also for the S1GP riders. At the start in Italy the new S4 class will make its debut as well. In Ottobiano the defending World champion TM Team Factory rider Thomas Chareyre will be present on the starting grid. The fast Frenchman will do his best to leave Italy with the red plate on his

After three years in which the FIM Europe Trial Championship started from in Italy, next weekend Zelhem in The Netherlands will open the doors at its 26th edition. A closed area will allow public to follow well the whole competition walking from one section to another. This is the same venue that hosted the series in 2012. The European series knows no crisis with a number of participants increasing year after year.  A success due to a very familiar environment: licensing costs not expensive, dates chosen in school holidays to encourage young people's participation, less rigid regulations. For example, the closed traffic circuit that allows the sixteen year old riders to ride higher-capacity motorcycles than what they should by law. There also is a singular system of attribution of the championship points, ranging from 100 to the first, 85 to the second, 70 to the third, and so on. All

In the weekend from Friday 21st  to Sunday 23rd April, the follow­ing European races will be held: 21-23 April - EMX 125 and 250 at Valkenswaard/The Netherlands 21-23 April - S2 and S4 Supermoto European Championships at Ottobiano/Italy 21-23 April - European Trial, Women and Youth Championships, Over 40 and Junior Cups at Zelhem/The Netherlands

Yesterday at the FIM Europe office in Rome the periodic meeting between FEMA and FIM Europe was held, to discuss the position papers, which are regularly updated according to the latest information both about market and regulations. These documents will then be approved by both organizations - FIM Europe and FEMA - and will be made public on the occasion of the FIM Europe Congress in Rome in late June. Among the topics discussed, also the organization of the next mobility test - that is:  use different modes of transport - motorcycle, moped, car, public transport and bicycle if possible, start at the same time from a set place in a suburb and head for a goal inside a European city while a time keeper collects the results. We already made the mobility tests in 2014 for the first time, and it will be repeated in 2017. In this regard, we had

The first round of the EMX ITP Quad European Championship started on sunny Monday at Oldebroek, in The Netherlands. The owner of the second place in qualification Mike van Grinsven was unfit to take part to the event because of broken pelvis on Saturday qualification. The first holeshot went to young Estonian rider Kevin Saar who was leading for 6 laps but had technical problems and was forced to retire. After his technical problems Dutch rider Marc de Vries took the lead till the 14th lap when he was passed by Finnish rider Jani Tanhuanpaa who won Race1 2,782 sec ahead of the best Dutch rider Marc de Vries and 9,504 sec of Belgian rider Oliver Vandendijck. Race2 started well for Marc de Vries who was leading for 13 laps and fighting to maintain the 1st position with another Dutch rider - Ricardo Phoelich. In the 14th lap Phoelich overtook

The first round of the International Classic Grand Prix Cup was held last weekend on the circuit of Paul Ricard, in France with 37 riders at the start. The “Sunday Ride Classic” was a great event, with many spectators from several countries all over Europe. The presentation of old racing machines and historical names created a special atmosphere, with 23.000 spectators in the three days. In Race1 the winner was British Mike Edwards, who had over 11 seconds of advantage on his first rival, French Kean Paul Lecointe. Third position for Ian Simpson, from Great Britain. British Colin Sleigh is fourth but first of 250 Class. Ninth position for the winner of YC250 class, French André Gouin. In Race2 Mike Edwards was able to confirm himself, even if this time the gap from the second was slightly less than 7 seconds. The second place belonged to Ian Simpson, who finished the race ahead

The Motocross track of Kolding in Denmark hosted the second round of the EMX 65 and 85 North West Zone of the European Motocross Championship. This was also the first round of the year for the Open class. More than 500 spectators were present despite the bad weather that was haunting the circuit since Friday. EMX65 Both EMX65 races saw the domination of Dutch rider Ivano Van Erp (KTM) who managed to win with a big margin and won the overall with perfect score. Second position in Race1 for Dutch Damien Knuiman (Husqvarna) while the last step of the podium went to local rider Nicolai Skovbjerg (KTM). In Race2 it was Danish Mads Fredsoe (KTM) and Lucas Coenen from Belgium (KTM) to catch the second and third position but due to their low score in Race1 they did not step onto the overall podium. Dutch Damien Knuiman and Danish Nicolai

The first round of EMX ITP Quad European Championship started in Oldebroek, The Netherlands with 27 riders. The weather conditions early in the morning were bad and it was raining but after few hours it was sunny and windy. The track was well prepared. In  qualification practice the first position went to the young Estonian rider Kevin Saar, 1,191 sec ahead of the best Dutch rider Mike Van Grinsven, and 2,231 sec in front of another Dutch rider: Marc de Vries.  Mike Van Grinsven had a crash during Qualifying and he hopes to recover within the racing day, next Monday.

In the weekend from Friday 14th  to Monday 17th April, the follow­ing European races will be held: 14-16 April - International Classic Grand Prix - FIM Europe Cup at Paul Ricard/France 14-16 April - EMX 250 at Pietramurata/Italy 14-16 April - EMX 65/85 North West and Open at Kolding/Denmark 14-16 April – EMX Quad at Oldebroek/The Netherlands 17 April - European Individual Grass Track Championship at Balkbrug/Germany.   In the photo @Youthstream, the start of EMX250 last year in Pietramurata