Australian Motorcycling Feats Celebrated At 2015 FIM General Assembly

The event, which was held in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain on November 19-22, brought together representatives from the 58 motorcycling Federations from around the world.

Motorcycling Australia (MA) was represented at the FIM General Assembly by President Tania Lawrence, who also acted as FIM Oceania’s representative on the FIM Board.

Lawrence said there were a number of important developments to come out of the annual meeting of motorcycling’s key powerbrokers.

“In the General Assembly, the Continental Union Presidents presented their plans and projects for 2016 and underlined the importance to strengthen the cooperation between the Unions,” Lawrence said.

“The General Assembly approved the affiliation of Georgia with FIM Europe; bringing the number of Federations to 113. The financial statements and the 2016 FIM budget were also approved.

“The decision was also made to rename the CCR as the Commission of Circuit Racing.”

Following the FIM General Assembly, leading figures and stars within the international motorcycling community gathered for the FIM Gala Ceremony, with Lawrence having the honour of accepting awards on behalf of Australia’s world-conquering 2015 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) teams.

“After receiving the great news last week of Australia’s clean sweep at the ISDE, it was an absolute pleasure to accept the awards on behalf of our Senior World Trophy, Junior World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy teams,” Lawrence said.

“This is a magnificent achievement in anyone’s books, and it certainly underlines our status as the world’s best in the discipline of Enduro racing.”

Running concurrently to the General Assembly and Gala Ceremony, Australia experienced further success at the inaugural FIM Women in Motorcycling Conference.

Peta Thomas from Motorcycling Victoria (MV) became the first to be awarded the Women in Motorcycling Trophy for her work in MV’s Female Participation Program (FPP).

Lawrence commended Thomas’ commitment to increasing women’s participation in all motorcycling disciplines.

“This is a wonderful achievement by Peta and indeed Motorcycling Victoria as a collective,” she said.

“The FIM have recognised Peta’s work as world class, and it is great to see her outstanding efforts in getting this program up-and-running recognised.

“What Peta has been able to achieve with the FPP in Victoria will be the basis of similar programs that we will look to roll out in the future not just across Australia, but around the world.”