Working Group meets at FIM Headquarters

The Working Group made up of the Handi Free Riders and Diversamente Disabili associations, members of the FIM sporting, technical and medical commissions, and the FIM Programmes Director whose remit includes matters relating to social responsibility, held its first meeting of the year at the FIM Headquarters this Tuesday. 

A debriefing on the first round of the International Bridgestone Handy Race, held in Le Mans on 19 May on the occasion of the Grand Prix de France, provided a good opportunity to remind the participants that this race is in line with the FIM’s strategic ambition to broaden the practice of motorcycling sport and open it up to everyone. This inclusivity is a natural consequence of the objective of bringing people together around the values of respect for diversity, solidarity and fair play.

The FIM Sports Director Fabio Muner explained: “The next stages of the project will involve drawing up sporting, technical, medical and disciplinary guidelines and rules. We have to provide our FMNs with regulations framing the development of this form of sport at national level and move forward with training of clerks of the course and track and medical officials to enable them to manage races organised specifically for riders living with a handicap.”

The FIM wants to help its national federations to develop championships for disabled riders and will be launching a survey to gain an overall picture of their existing activities in this area. The FIM is also in contact with the organisations who work in this domain, notably the International Paralympic Committee, to help to build up a positive image of motorcycling sport for disabled people.

Stéphane Paulus (Handi Free Riders) welcomed the initiative: “This meeting was very constructive. We were able to debrief on the first round of the season and also address the points we need to work on as regards the medical rules, for example. We share the same opinions and are really delighted to have the support of the FIM to help us move our project forward.”

Emiliano Malagoli (Diversamente Disabili) said: “Today we have lived through a very important day for disabled motorcycling sport. We are very happy to be able to work all together and to have the FIM’s support to help us regulate the activity we are developing with Handi Free Riders and Diversamente Disabili.”

FIM Programmes Director Damiano Zamana expressed his satisfaction: “This meeting was fruitful in both technical and sporting terms. For the FIM, it is vital to improve cooperation with civil society and the FMNs, who have been active for years in developing motorcycling sport for people living with disability. Their experience is a good point of departure to help us regulate the International Bridgestone Handy Race going forward.”

The Working Group’s next meeting will take place in July, ahead of the second round of the International Bridgestone Handy race to be organised on the occasion of the FMI Cup in Mugello on 25 and 26 August.

FIM Communications