Live chats – Live chat with Jacques Bolle, president of the FFM –

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Live chat with Jacques Bolle, president of the FFM

Live chats - Live chat with Jacques Bolle, president of the FFM -

Transcription of the chat which took place yesterday live with Jacques Bolle: French motorcycle sport, license prices, circuits, lobbying, federation of the motorcycle world: the new president of the French Motorcycling Federation has answered your questions.

As soon as he was elected head of the French Motorcycling Federation at the beginning of September, Jacques Bolle said he wanted to fight against ambient motophobia (read). Quickly received by the interministerial delegate for road safety (read) about the rise of queues, he then specified that he wanted to bring the Federation closer to its base, without excluding joint actions with the FFMC (read).

Pierre Bonneville (left) and Jacques Bolle (right) during the Chat Site.

To take stock of his objectives, the new president of the FFM was our guest on Tuesday, November 25 to answer your questions live. Here is the transcript of the Chat Site, while waiting for the full interview !

Question from Sophie : Can you explain to us concretely what are the missions of the FFM in France and abroad? For example how does the FFM differ from the FFMC ?
Jacques Bolle : Good evening everyone ! The FFM’s missions are twofold: on the one hand, a sport management mission within the framework of a delegation of public service from the State, that is to say that we are responsible for defining the rules of practice and security. On the other hand, we are an association whose statutes also provide for the consideration and defense of all road bikers..

Question from gazafond : What are your relations with the FFMC? You say you can get closer to them. This will not pose problems with the association FFM Lamoto, the counterpart of the FFMC, but under your bosom?
Jacques Bolle : Getting closer does not mean "getting married"! That said, I am convinced that the biker community will be more credible if it happens from time to time to speak with one voice on consensual themes..

Question from Sam’la cut : You who are one of the rare French pilots to have won a GP, how do you explain the lack of success of French pilots at top speed? ?
Jacques Bolle : The GP have existed since 1949. From 1949 to 1999, ie for 50 years, France obtained only two solo world champion titles (Tournadre in 1982 and Sarron in 1984). Since 2000, that is to say for 8 years, we have been at three levels (Jacque in 2000, Vincent 2002 and Di Meglio in 2008). Can we really say that the French are not currently successful? Of course, it will always be difficult to compare with the two leading nations of motorcycle sport, Italy and Spain, which for cultural reasons will remain leaders in motorsport for a long time..

Pierre Bonneville (left) and Jacques Bolle (right) during the Chat Site.

Asked by robert75 : You said on the FFM site that you wanted to ensure that the motorcycle world speaks with one voice. How will you proceed to unite the industry, importers, resellers, users, insurers, equipment manufacturers ?
Jacques Bolle : We have already initiated a series of meetings with the FFMC, the CSIAM (Chambre Syndicale des Importateurs Motos), the FNCRM (National Federation of Motorcycle Trade and Repair) in order to try to federate goodwill on this issue. subject. However, I remain aware of the difficulty of the task, but if we do not try…

Asked by calamity jane : Hello Mr. Bolle, about the recognition of motorcycle sport by the Ministry and the government, I would like to know: when a sportsman, whatever his discipline, obtains a world title or an Olympic medal, he receives from the ministry a " prime "(or a subsidy, as you like). Do the French pilots like all other sportsmen receive this mark of recognition for their performances, and for having made France shine in a world championship? This resource seems fundamental to me in a sport where very few pilots are pro and can be. Especially since motorcycle sport is far from offering athletes training and coaching structures such as swimming, athletics and many others. And does the FFM also give them a "bonus"? Thank you for your reply.
Jacques Bolle : The government bonus only exists to my knowledge for the Olympic Games. Regarding the FFM, it is much more useful to help an aspiring pilot than a titled pilot. The help we gave Mike di Meglio at the start of the season was surely more useful than a bonus after his title.

Question from Nyme the nickname : Hello Mr. Bolle. As vice-president of the FFM, you have long and sometimes passionately defended the French team FFM Honda in GP. However, as soon as you were elected, you dissolved this only concrete means for French pilots to reach the high level, why? By your own admission, this sector has allowed Mike di Meglio, Sylvain Guintoli, Randy de Puniet to bloom, why stop it in this case, while French speed is doing so badly ?
Jacques Bolle : Unfortunately, economic realities have caught up with me! Two of our important partners (Dorna and the ministry in charge of sports) have withdrawn their support for this team. The cost became prohibitive knowing that speed is only one of the activities of the FFM. As for the health of French speed, I just answered this question previously.

Asked by jonh : Nature motorcycles are in danger, what do you think? Do you have pressure from "green" movements
Jacques Bolle : Of course, motorcycle sport is one of the targets of environmental movements. The FFM is on the front line when it comes, for example, to initiate an appeal on a circular (Olin). On the other hand, we are always present during meetings at the Ministry of the Environment in order to provide a counter argumentation against the extremists of certain green movements..

Asked by calamity jane : Hello, what is the motorcycle discipline that has the most licensees? ?
Jacques Bolle : motocross (around 22,000) ahead of enduro (around 18,000) then speed (around 12,000).

Asked by Kill Bill : Mr Bolle, circuits regularly emerge in France in a "confidential" way: Beuvardes in the Aisne, the aerospace industry near Paris … Why is their access also regulated and often reserved exclusively for cars, while everyone agrees that the circuits must be open to bikers to allow everyone to let off steam in complete safety ?
Jacques Bolle : I am surprised by this observation, because the circuits agree in saying that their activity is generally equal between cars and motorcycles. Regarding Beuvarde, the FFM organized an operation there recently.

Question from Anthony : Hello, why the price of entries in the French Sprint Championship is increasing and on the other hand the bonuses are decreasing ?!
Jacques Bolle : Quite simply because the cost of the organization increases regularly, in terms of security for example. My former club (MC Lesigny) has long organized a French Superbike championship (ex Open) in Carole. We stopped a few years ago, because it was no longer profitable for the club which was not intended to make deficits every year.

Question from Hugo : Hello, I have been a member since 2004 and I would like to know if the license prices will increase further in 2009. Thank you.
Jacques Bolle : Yes and no ! That is to say in constant euros (inflation taken into account), no. The increase will be on average 3%.

Asked by LIOREPSOL : Hello Jacques Bolle, I am 27 years old, I have an NCB license in a motorcycle club in Herault. Is there a project to create a new motorcycle and car circuit worthy of the name between Montpellier (34) and Perpignan (66)? Thank you. Lionel.
Jacques Bolle : No, not that I know of.

Asked by calamity jane : During the press conference (seen on Moto-Net) you said that motorcycle sport had to apply the age limits of the highway code before. But now the FFM could decide on the minimum ages for engines. Can you tell us more. Is that going to change for the young enduro riders who have to stay in 50cc until the age of 16 I believe. Thank you.
Jacques Bolle : This change only concerns activities taking place only on closed circuits, enduro which is partly practiced on public roads is therefore not concerned..

Asked by zzr 1200 : Hello. I have a 15 year old son who would like to ride motorcycles on the track but there is no structure to train young people. How do you explain this deficiency? Thank you
Jacques Bolle : The FFM has set up different formulas to access competition, such as the Junior Cup which is practiced from 14 years old. Driving courses are also accessible by searching a little (call the circuits: Carole, Alès, etc.).

Asked by erwan : Good evening, before the FFM provided the list of approved circuits. As of this year, it no longer appears on licenses. Does this imply that all circuits are? cordially.
Jacques Bolle : Previously, the FFM approved the circuits. Since the release of a decree in May 2006, all circuits must in fact theoretically be approved by the administration. To be checked, however, because some take the risk of opening without this mandatory approval !

Asked by jomoto : Can we have a stronger action with the circuits in order to increase the number of opening of these to amateurs? (We praise the merits of training courses on tracks in terms of improving safety in particular by better control of the vehicle, but these courses are too expensive for the majority of bikers).
Jacques Bolle : The FFM is working on this through the open days of the circuits (25 days on a dozen circuits per year). However, remember that the circuits are commercial enterprises whose main concern is profitability….

Question from nic : I do not understand that you do not bring in many sponsors in motorcycle sports. The World Superbike and Supersport category does not have enough French competitive teams. Not to mention the sinking of the 125 and 250 categories with the French team. I do not understand Federation policy.
Jacques Bolle : Do you seriously think that the FFM is closing the door to sponsors? Please note that the majority of the sponsors we had on the FFM Honda GP 125 team were … Italian! Motorcycle sport, unfortunately it is a reality, is not considered a leading sport for French advertisers.

Asked by jomoto : How is it that the Carole circuit is one of the few to regularly welcome amateurs? ?
Jacques Bolle : The Carole circuit is a circuit managed by a public authority (the General Council of 93) and which responds to the social vocation at the origin of the creation of the circuit. But let’s be clear, this makes deficit management without subsidy.

Site question : the chat will end.
Jacques Bolle : Thank you all for your questions, sorry I couldn’t answer all of them (there are over 100!). See you soon on Moto-Net. Good evening.

Collected live by Site readers

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