Sport – 2006 results still mixed for the FFM –

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2006 results still mixed for the FFM

Sport - 2006 results still mixed for the FFM -

With five world championship titles and numerous places of honor in the world and in Europe, the French high level proves that the FFM is on the right track. However, many shadows continue to hang over French motorcycle sport… Balance sheet.

Sebastien Charpentier in Mondial Supersport (read our), Christophe Pourcel in MX2, Yves Demaria in MX3, Thierry Van Den Bosch in Supermoto S2 and Dominique Meliand’s Suzuki Castrol Team in Mondial endurance (read our and our): the French have obtained five world titles this year against three in 2005 !

"But these few titles hide significant potential in high level disciplines (motocross, speed, enduro and trial) with many places of honor in the World and in Europe, and in particular the performances of several women and French riders in the Youth categories.", tempers like last year Jean-Pierre Mougin, president of the French Motorcycling Federation (read).

"All of this is the result of federal channels that are now perfectly structured and increasingly efficient.", welcomed Mr. Mougin, surrounded by the 2006 champions.

"This is all very political"…

The bitterness is on the other hand very palpable when the president of the FFM evokes the recent appointment of Venezuelan Vito Ippolito as president of the FIM (read): "I can’t tell you everything … We are part of the game and we accept the rules", he regrets … Before changing his mind and continuing:"there was very strong pressure from the big promoters (Dorna and FG Sport in particular, Editor’s note) who supported the candidacy of the Dutch (Jos Vaessen, NDLR) and Venezuelan".

Visibly very upset, the president of the FFM specifies that "seven Balkan countries voted for Ippolito, plus a few last minute "traitors" as usual"… Later, referring to the discussions with the Chinese pilots who came to train in France, Jean-Pierre Mougin drives the point home:"china and six countries "under the influence" also had to vote for me … they did not !"

"The motophobic side sweats and ends up knowing abroad", also underlines Jean-Luc Roy, president of Motors TV and host of the annual conference of the FFM. As a result, France will no longer sit on the FIM management committee, just like Germany, Italy and France. ‘England.

"I roll nature"

At the national level, the results are rather satisfactory: the number of license holders continues to grow (64,000) and the number of events as well, with 1,300 dates including 20 at the international level. Taking up the classification made by our colleagues from The Magazine Team, Jean-Pierre Mougin welcomed the 17th place in his federation out of the 90 listed.

But all is not rosy, or rather green: "We’ve been talking about it for more than a year, but the Olin circular creates discord on the ground, depending on the prefects and the interpretation they make of this text … However, a circular must explain and not dictate the law !"exclaimed the president (read and).

Nevertheless, the FFM notes the growing support of the Olympic movement and some other federations – cycling for mountain bikers, hiking, etc. – "who realize that the driving bans could also affect them".

Renewing its commitment in the field of "green motorcycle and quad tours", the FFM continues to broadcast a"guide to good practices through the campaign entitled "Je roule nature", in order to give a positive image of motorcycles and quad bikes and to maintain freedom of practice". To be continued…

The French Open is dead, long live the French Superbike Championship !

By announcing the death of the French Open, Jean-Luc Roy will have had its small effect … Fortunately, the news only concerned the name of the championship and not the event itself…

"By renaming it the French Superbike Championship, we want to give this championship even more energy.", explains Jean-Pierre Mougin. The term" Superbike "has indeed today much more meaning vis-à-vis the general public than the mysterious French" Open "…

In 2007, the French Superbike Championship will integrate a new category: the "Pirelli Junior 600 Trophy" reserved for pilots between 16 and 19 years old. Note that at the end of the seven events, the best "junior" born after January 1, 1988 – for the 2007 season – will benefit from support to run in the 600 European Superstock the following year. !

Sides Coupes de France Promosport, a novelty will also see the light of day in 2007: the presence of a unique manufacturer! "After studying four proposals, two of which stood out, we chose Dunlop for a period of two years", explains the FFM.

Naturally, for the 600 cc in the French Superbike championship, the FFM would like to see a contract with Pirelli, which already supplies the 600 and 1000 grids for the SBK Mondial, be concluded in 2008 … Thus, young French shoots would already be familiar with rubber compounds. landing at the highest level !

Endurance despite everything

As for the French endurance championship, Jean-Pierre Mougin admits that the Federation’s resumption of this event is "slow and gradual", while ensuring that"we are sure to have a lot of pilots in 2007".

Globally, endurance is also expected to suffer a slight backlash as "the promoter FG Sport lay down after three successive years"His boss Flamini is said to have asked for the rights to the championship for free,"which is not possible for the FIM", considers – rightly, it seems – the president of the FFM.

The future of the endurance world championship is not in question, however, quite the contrary: "we are talking about an event in Qatar and a title sponsor who would also come from Qatar", reassures the FFM.

Endurance is not the only discipline to develop since the FIM, the FFM and the promoter Eric de Seynes have agreed to extend the famous Moto Tour formula to Italy and Belgium (read).

The disappointment of the FFM Honda Grand Prix 125 team

It remained to evoke the delicate subject of the French speed sector, whose centerpiece, the FFM Honda Grand Prix 125 team, greatly disappointed…

Mike Di Meglio, winner of the Turkish GP in 2005, only scored 8 points riding a Honda yet capable this season (read). Added to the fact that it was the first season of this team (read), can we reasonably hope that the 2007 season will be better? ?

The speech of the president of the FFM on this subject is not the most reassuring: "today everything is oiled. In 2007 we could have two pilots, but it is still necessary that the pilots have the level"…

Recalling that the number of pilots at the national level is sufficient, the FFM notes that although "the other countries envy us our industry, except perhaps Italy", the performance of the young French children remains a tone below their Spanish, English or transalpine neighbors…

Note that in Grand Prix from now on, the yellow flag will no longer be considered as "a prohibition sign but only information on a danger". The drivers will therefore be able to overtake each other without risking a penalty. A news that will especially relieve the track marshals and clerk of the course who were struggling to apply this rule. !

Do not say "ascent" but "circulation"…

Another sensitive issue: that of queuing up. Renamed "circulation between queues"politically more correct, the problem remains unresolved for the moment…

"Paris is rather favorable while the interior ministry is rather against", estimates the FFM. "We are between two chairs" – or rather "between two queues", outbid Jean-Luc Roy -,"but we must continue our efforts"…

Lastly, concerning the days "Open doors of the circuits", after the success of the 2006 edition whose eleven one-day sessions attracted 1,475 bikers, the FFM is planning in 2007 no less than 25 dates which unfortunately remain to be confirmed. Stay connected !

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