Sport – Jean-Pierre Mougin: the FIM will transform into a commercial type structure … –

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Jean-Pierre Mougin: the FIM will transform into a commercial type structure…

Sport - Jean-Pierre Mougin: the FIM will transform into a commercial type structure ... -

Defeated for the second time by Venezuelan Vito Ippolito as president of the International Motorcycling Federation, former FFM president Jean-Pierre Mougin gave us an uncompromising interview on the future of motorcycle sport.

Jean-Pierre Mougin, president of the FFM from 1989 to 2008 (among other functions in the world of motorcycles), presented himself the day before yesterday in Macao for the election of the president of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM). But after a first attempt in 2006, this second attempt again ended in another failure against the Venezuelan Vito Ippolito…

For what reasons ? What will be the consequences of this vote on world and French motorcycle sport? Will the former president of the FFM stand for re-election at the head of the FIM in 2014? How does he see the future of French motorcycle sport in general and of the Carole Circuit in particular? Live from Macao, Pierre Mougin explains himself in the columns of Site.

"I thought reasonably and mathematically to be able to win"

Site: First of all Jean-Pierre, not too disappointed ?
Jean-Pierre Mougin: Yes, of course, because I had done a lot of lobbying, especially in Asia which, with 23 countries, would make the difference … Vito Ippolito had the full support of the countries of South America (20 countries) and I myself had in principle strong support from European countries (44 countries) as the only European candidate. The Arab countries were also a significant force with ten countries. I therefore thought reasonably and mathematically to be able to win, but we saw, once again, that it was politics that won with also, as often, a bonus for leaving.

"To give new impetus to the FIM and better recognition of motorcycle sport at world level"

MNC: What were your main arguments for the presidency of the FIM ?
J.-P. M .: My orientation was to clearly place sport and the national federations at the heart of FIM decisions. But also and above all, I spent 25 years within the FIM, 20 years at the head of an important national federation, six years at the head of a continental union and I was recently general secretary of a National Olympic Committee (therefore in relation with the IOC and the whole world), not to mention my good relations with the FIA ​​and its new president (30 national federations are members of the FIA ​​and the FIM). All this gave me a certain legitimacy and a certain credibility to give a new impetus to the FIM and a better recognition of motorcycle sport at world level..

MNC: You get 41 votes against 55 for Mr. Ippolito. What were its strengths and what were your weaknesses ?
J.-P. M .: The 41 votes in question were obtained with a priori 29 votes from Europe (out of 44), six votes from Asia (out of 23) and six votes from Africa (out of ten). Unfortunately, it was therefore Europe that was not there, and my colleague, president of the Italian federation, candidate for the vice-presidency, was eliminated in the first round. The three vice-president positions at stake, held until today by three Europeans, have been taken over by an Asian (Qatar), an Australian and a European (Portugal), thus considerably reducing Europe’s place in the within the FIM.

Vito Ippolito’s strong points were the launch of the FIM strategic plan in which he actively involved many representatives from all continents, a strategic plan which made it possible to propose a future vision for the FIM and certain hopes, knowing that I myself have worked actively on this plan and have always defended the idea. Vito is also a lovely boy, who rarely makes decisions but is friendly and pleasant. Finally, a president in place who always represents a certain advantage, because he has built up a solid network through his numerous trips around the world..

"Vito is also a charming boy, who seldom makes decisions, but who is friendly and pleasant"

As far as I am concerned, my weak point – or rather the one that some opponents wanted to highlight – is that of being a strong and determined European, who risked further strengthening Europe’s power within the European Union. FIM compared to other continents (44 countries in Europe and 57 outside Europe). Neither my skills nor my ability to become FIM president were questioned, but it is also certain that I could scare some with the FFM, the first federation in the world in terms of licensees, events and world titles.

"Vito Ippolito’s record is very mixed"

MNC: What conclusions do you draw from the presidency of Mr. Ippolito? What would you have done differently in his place ?
J.-P. M .: The results of the four years of Vito Ippolito are very mixed: difficulties in making decisions, too much power left to the central administration and strained relations with certain promoters … We do not have at all the same style of management and in As far as I am concerned, I would have been more dynamic in the implementation of certain actions and in decision-making. We know that there are still some major problems to be resolved such as the positioning of the Moto GP in relation to the Superbike, the trial crisis, the situation of the supercross world championship or the future of the supermotard … and it is urgent to take appropriate action in conjunction with industry and promoters.

MNC: Do you remain vice-president of the FIM ?
J.-P. M .: I no longer have any elective mandate within the FIM. To return to the FIM, I would have to apply again in 2012 or 2014 !

"The FIM will quickly transform into a commercial type structure: the surprises will be big!"

MNC: Exactly, do you plan to run for the presidency of the FIM in 2014? With what arguments ?
J.-P. M .: We must first "digest" the result of Macao and understand what happened. Many people did not really understand what was at stake in this election and will discover that the FIM will quickly transform into a commercial type structure with commission directors (ex-commission presidents) who will be employees of the FIM and which will report directly to the sports director and the CEO. The surprises are going to be big !

Many federations have already come to see me, just two days after the election here in Macao, in order to react to this situation. As far as I’m concerned, I will have to make a joint decision anyway with the President of the FFM in order to see what is the best way to follow to see a Frenchman again on the FIM Board of Directors.

"French motorcycle sport is not really a minor sport"

MNC: French motorcycle sport is still a "minor" sport in France. How do you explain it and what solutions could you have brought to it as President of the FIM? ?
J.-P. M .: French motorcycle sport is not really a minor sport, because the FFM is in the middle of the table in terms of licensees and among the top 25 federations in terms of structure and budget. However, to improve the notoriety of motorcycle sport in our country, two paths must be followed simultaneously.

"Set up a" FIM Club "made up of prestigious world personalities passionate about motorcycles"

First of all, ensure the promotion of motorcycle sport at the global level.
In this regard, the FIM, with its promoters, has already done a good job. The marketing and communication actions carried out for two years now are starting to bear fruit and we must continue in this direction. As far as I am concerned, as President of the FIM, I had the idea of ​​setting up a "FIM Club" made up of prestigious world personalities passionate about motorcycles, and they are numerous: actors, artists, heads of state , ministers, IOC members, Olympic champions … This club would have made it possible to put our sport at the center of the stage.

Then, ensure the promotion of motorcycle sport at the national level: there it will be much harder, because we see that even with many world champions in motocross and enduro, the situation is hardly improving, despite the efforts made by the FFM. In fact, we lack world champions in speed, a discipline that is much more publicized than the other disciplines. But here too, the recipe is not obvious because we can see that despite all the energy expended by the FFM for many years, the results are always very uncertain. A key element that differentiates us from Spain or Italy is the difficulty of finding high-level partners in France as well as high-profile audiovisual media, but it goes together…

MNC: How do you see the future of the Carole Circuit? After the reduction in the budgets allocated by the General Council (read), do you think that the often announced end of this unique circuit of its kind is now near? ?
J.-P. M .: The future of the Carole circuit is at three levels:

"The Ministry of Transport guaranteed us that Carole would not be removed until another equivalent circuit was built in the Paris region"

1. Maintaining it even in its current position, given the potential constraints still linked to the development of Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport and the replacement projects that we talked about two or three years ago. At the time, the Ministry of Transport guaranteed us that Carole would not be removed until another equivalent circuit was built in the Paris region. There is no reason to believe that this desire has changed, with an interministerial delegate for Road Safety, Michèle Merli, convinced like us that such circuits are effective tools for improving road safety through training, driving courses and operations such as the "Open Doors of Circuits".

2. Obtaining new financial aid to cover operating costs (around 300,000 euros / year) following the withdrawal of the General Council: the FFM is currently studying various solutions which would make it possible to ensure this funding..

"Cover the operating costs (around 300,000 euros / year) and upgrade the circuit and its installations, ie 2 to 3 million euros"

3. Obtaining investment credits in order to upgrade the circuit and its installations, ie 2 to 3 million euros: here too, the FFM hopes to be able to obtain from the General Council, the Regional Council and the State the expected support. For my part, as Secretary General of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), I will strongly support the funding file via the National Center for the Development of Sport (CNDS).

I am convinced that solutions will be found to guarantee the sustainability of this essential circuit in the Paris region. !

MNC: To be continued … Stay connected !

Interview by Eric MICHEL

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