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Photo caption from Left to right: Christopher Warren (MXGP FIM Chief Flag Steward); Giovanni Pavesi (President Motoclub Mantovano); Jiri Sitina (MXGP FIM Deputy Race Director); Andrew Summers (MXGP FIM Technical Director); Isabelle Larivière (FIM Communications Manager); Ingo Partsch (MXGP FIM Race Director); Giovanni Copioli (FIM Board Member / FMI President); Jean-Paul Gombeaud (FIM Sports Director); Jorge Viegas (FIM President); Antonio Alia Portelo (FIM CMS Director/MXGP FIM Steward); Giuseppe Luongo (President Youthstream Group SAM); Martin Syrucek (MXGP FIM Medical Director); Tony Skillington (FIM CEO); Dirk De Neve (FIM CMS Coordinator); Janika Judeika (FIM Delegate); Fabio Muner (FIM Marketing & Communications Director); Gianluca Avenoso (FMI/FIM CMS Bureau Member); Eddie Herd (FIM Europe Motocross Commission Chairman); Damiano Zamana (FIM Services Director); Ursula Luongo (Youthstream) © Youthstream
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The FIM President addressed a large gathering that included members of the International media, plus other invited guests in the form of Giovanni Copioli (FIM Board Member / FMI President), Giuseppe Luongo (President Youthstream Group SAM), David Luongo (Youthstream CEO), plus representatives from both FIM Europe and the Mantova Circuit.
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The new FIM President explained that it is his aim to champion the role of the FIM to the outside World, and to clearly show how its function is fundamental to the safe and fair running of the championship through the services, support and staff that it provides.
Mr Viegas set out the FIM’s mission within MXGP is to create the rules together with the Promoter and to apply the rules and the relevant sanctions issued by the FIM Stewards panel. The FIM is also in charge of circuit homologation, safety including all medical aspects and the antidoping programme. The FIM’s remit also covers the training of the officials, including the race director, clerk of the course, marshals, the technical and environmental stewards. This important training is conducted through FIM seminars delivered by FIM instructors around the World to teach the 100 to 120 track marshals needed during a MXGP weekend.
Particular attention is being given to the transformation and consolidation of investment to the championship in order to improve the safety and design of the circuits. This is being done by employing permanent staff to take care and oversee any changes that are required. Another area of focus is to provide medical recuperation and assistance where needed post-accident.
Having clearly set out the position of the FIM, the FIM President then invited each member of the FIM staff who were in attendance to present themselves and to explain their role within the MXGP structure. The invited speakers included:
FIM Motocross officials
• Antonio Alia Portelo (ESP) - Steward / CMS Director
• Ingo Partsch (AUT) - Race Director / CMS Member
• Jiri Sitina (CZE) - Deputy Race Director / CMS Member
• Janika Judeika (LAT) - Delegate / CMS Member
• Andrew Summers (GBR) - Technical Director / CTI Member
• Christopher Warren (GBR) - Chief Flag Steward / CMS Member
• Martin Syrucek (CZE) - Medical Director / CMI Member
• Dirk De Neve (BEL) - CMS Coordinator
FIM administration representatives
• Tony Skillington (IRL) - CEO
• Jean-Paul Gombeaud (FRA) - Sports Director
• Fabio Muner (ITA) - Marketing & Communications Director
• Isabelle Larivière (FRA) - Communications Manager
• Damiano Zamana (ITA) - Services Director
Following the presentations of each of the FIM staff, the FIM President Jorge Viegas added his own closing comment. “After my election, one of my goals was to expose the FIM to the outside World and to explain the fundamental role it plays in each championship, to ensure the safe and fair running of the championship through the services, support and staff that it provides. To do this, I am fortunate to have the support of a team of highly motivated professionals and it is for this reason that I wanted to organise this press conference to present them to you today. Through our close collaboration with Youthstream the promoter of the Championship since 2003 and all the other stakeholders, together we will continue to work closely to maintain MXGP as the top class amongst the off-road disciplines.”
FIM Communications