It is with great sadness that the FIM learned of the recent passing of Jos Driessen, who was a former member of the FIM Board of Directors, the FIM International Juridical Panel (LJI), and was an Internal Auditor (CCI). Also, Jos Driessen was President of the Fédération Motocycliste de Belgique (FMB) for twelve years.
Jos discovered motocross in the 1980s thanks to his father-in-law. He quickly became involved with AMC Genk and contributed to the organisation of numerous international events. He also played a key role in obtaining the necessary permits to open the circuit in 2006 as a practice track, where many motocross riders, amateur and professional, have been able to train ever since.
From 1999, Jos served on the Board of Directors of the Fédération Motocycliste de Belgique and was also part of the leadership team of the newly created Flemish branch, VMBB (now Motorsport Vlaanderen). His legal expertise as former lawyer, dynamism, ambition, and passion for motorsport quickly led to his appointment as president of the FMB. He held this position for three terms - 2004 to 2008, 2012 to 2016, and from 2020 to 2024. During these periods, the position was held by a candidate from Wallonia, in accordance with the FMB statutes.
In 2000, he became a member of the FIM International Juridical Panel and then served as an internal auditor from 2004. In 2015, he was elected to the FIM Board of Directors at the General Assembly hosted in Jerez, Spain, a position he held until the end of 2020.
Even after his final term as FMB President, Jos remained active as an administrator of the FMB and Motorsport Vlaanderen, for as long as his health allowed.
On behalf of the FIM Family, we extend our sincere condolences to Jos's family, as well as to the FMB and his many friends.