Peter Doyle currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer – Motorcycling Australia, and comes to this new appointment of FIM Oceania President with decades of experience in motorcycle sports as a competitor, International Team Manager and the CEO of one of the largest FMN’s. Incidentally, PD also demonstrated an acerbic wit as an MCNews.com.au columinst for some time while Team Manager for Mat Mladin in AMA Superbike way back when.
Doyle has held the position of Deputy President of FIM Oceania for over 3 years, the crucial role and work of the ‘’Down Under CONU’’ comes as a very familiar responsibility in the role as incoming FIMO President. This position coming with the important appointment as a member of the FIM Board of Directors, representing the FIMO CONU.
FIMO President-Elect Peter Doyle
‘’I am very proud to be appointed to this position. It is an exciting time for FIM Oceania as the sport continues to grow strongly in this region. In the FIM Oceania region we are very lucky that we are already bouncing back from the effects of a tough CIVID effected year. 2021 within our region is looking positive.
“Yet again, FIMO region has produced more FIM World Champions in 2020. Given the great challenge of distance and long-travel, creating FIM World Champions from Oceania is so much harder. However, the passion for motorcycling within this CONU has created a long history of success, and the outlook looks bright for our future rider talent. This will be a key focus for FIMO moving forward.
‘’I look forward to working with the other FIM Board of Directors whilst representing FIMO. We will continue the great progress over recent years within Oceania thanks to the hard working FIM Oceania Board of Directors from Australia and New Zealand. We are only two FMN’s, but we race across a landscape of a massive region – split by Oceans and Seas. However, the competition Down Under is World class.’’
FIMO President-Elect Peter Doyle
FIM President Jorge Viegas
“We would like to sincerely thank Mr Glen Williams for his commitment and contribution over the last years. We truly enjoyed collaborating with him and take this opportunity to wish him every success in his future endeavours.
‘’We are pleased by the appointment of Mr Peter Doyle, as new President of FIM Oceania, and would like to convey our best wishes for fruitful achievements along this journey. Safe racing and congratulations to FIM Oceania and its new President!’’
The FIM Oceania Board of Directors thanked Glen Williams, outgoing FIM Oceania President for his dedication and great work as over the past 4 years in this role.
Glen Williams
“I would like to thank my fellow FIM Oceania board members and our member federations of MA & MNZ for the full support that they have provided to me during my term. It has both been humbling and also made my role as FIMO President enjoyable and rewarding. My thanks also go out to the members of the FIM Board, The FIM President and FIM Staff who have been invaluable for their positive and constructive guidance throughout my term and through the Covid-19 period.”
FIM Oceania additionally welcomed Mr Noel May to the role of FIM Oceania Deputy President. Mr May come to this appointment highly experienced in motorcycle sport, also holding the current role of President of Motorcycling New Zealand for the past few years.
FIM Oceania enters into the new era as it undergoes the development of the FIM Oceania Strategic Plan, with support from FIM. This planning process will help to guide the future of FIM Oceania and motorcycling in the Oceania region. An important focus is held for junior development, empowering volunteers and growth of the CONU. In addition, cementing strong links with other CONU’s and the FIM through projects and sporting competition.
The new FIM Oceania President term of 4 years starts from December 1st , joining fellow FIMO Board Members from Motorcycling Australia (MA) and Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ).
FIM Oceania President – Peter Doyle (MA)
FIM Oceania Deputy President – Noel May (MNZ)
FIM Oceania Board Member & Secretary General – Simon Maas (MA)
Of course with a lot less MotoGP rounds taking place this year there were less crashes overall but on a per round basis 2020 still saw plenty of fairings destroyed and leathers flayed.
Of the last decade 2017 saw the most crashes – In 2020 we had far fewer rounds to crash at
The number of crashes by MotoGP riders has increased dramatically since Michelin took over as the sole tyre supplier from Bridgestone in 2016. Controls were also introduced in 2016 which restricted the bespoke electronic systems to a more rudimentary level.
In the most recent decade 2010 recorded the least number of crashes. 2020 had far fewer rounds than the other season so the decline illustrated in the graph can largely be ignored if we are looking at the trend on a per event basis
If we include all classes, the worst year for crashes was 2017 with a massive 1126 falls recorded across the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 categories. In the most recent decade, 2010 wtinessed the least number of MotoGP riders fall.
There were more Moto2 crashes in 2020 than there were Moto3 tumbles. The average falls per event in 2020 for MotoGP was 12.8 for a total of 180, in Moto2 it was an average of 19.4 that produced a tally of 292 crashes, while Moto3 averaged 16.6 crashes per event for a total of 250. It should also be noted that this season there were no wildcard riders due to the COVID situation and this season also was staged in better weather than most.
2020 MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 crash statistics
Le Mans has proved the most treacherous circuit on the calendar over the past two years. There were 100 crashes over the Le Mans weekend this year, 30 of which were at turn three. The next worst was Catalunya with 64 crashes. Valencia and Misano both witnessed 61 tumbles.
Losail saw the least riders hitting the ground with only 27 crashes, but MotoGP did not race at Losail this season. Thus the newest circuit on the calendar, Portimao, actually proved the safest with only 32 crashes recorded across all three classes at the spectacular rollercoaster that is the Portuguese track.
Of course MotoGP did not visit Phillip Island this year but historically the Australian circuit does see plenty throw it down the road. In fact, during season 2016 the Phillip Island event witnessed the most crashes all season with 90 tumbles across the race weekend. Cal Crutchlow survived the carnage to take the win in 2016 from Rossi and Vinales.
The most treacherous event of the last seven seasons took place at a rain lashed Valencia in 2018. The Spanish marshalls would have had their arms dropping off after flagging an inredible 155 crashes over the weekend. The MotoGP race was red-flagged as heavy rain caused multiple riders to crash and racing conditions were deemed too dangerous. Andrea Dovizioso won the re-started race from Alex Rins and Pol Espargaro.
Crashes by circuit – 2014-2020
With 15 crashes this year Johann Zarco topped the crash data for the MotoGP riders in 2020. Alex Marquez had 14 tumbles while Aleix Espargaro also made the crash podium with 12. Danilo Petrucci was the safest of the permanent riders with only two crashes recorded against his name while Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso were next best with four apiece. Jack Miller recorded eight crashes, as did Pecco Bagnaia, Miguel Oliveira, Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins.
2020 crashes by MotoGP rider
Across all categories it was Malaysia Kasmayudin Daniel that wore out the most leathers with 20 crashes while fellow Moto2 rider Jorge Navarro took second place with 19 tumbles.
And the riders that crash the most are….
Data compiled and sent to us by MotoGP.com Analysis by Trev
Two BMW satellite teams will be competing alongside the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team in the upcoming 2021 season: the Italian RC Squadra Corse team and the Bonovo Action team from Germany. Both teams will be racing with one BMW M 1000 RR.
Markus Schramm – Director of BMW Motorrad
“Cooperation with satellite teams represents another important step for our involvement in the FIM Superbike World Championship. It is great to have two more BMW M 1000 RRs in the field alongside the two motorbikes from our works teams, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team with riders Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the two satellite teams in our WorldSBK project. The Bonovo Action team with Jonas Folger is the first German team to register to compete in the WorldSBK with a Bavarian rider on a Bavarian motorbike. That is a special combination. I am also delighted that Eugene Laverty will remain an integral member of our BMW family, applying his talents and his knowledge of BMW superbikes in our satellite team RC Squadra Corse, newly formed but already well known in the World Superbike paddock. I hope that they will all enjoy a successful 2021 WorldSBK season!”
RC Squadra Corse will compete with Eugene Laverty (IRL), who spent the 2020 season with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and will be combining appearances in the WorldSBK with his role as BMW test rider.
Headed by team owner Roberto Colombo, the RC Squadra Corse team will be appearing under a new name in 2021 but has been present in the World Superbike paddock for some time. The team has been competing in the World Superbike Championship since 2016 and also appeared in the 2020 Supersport World Championship. 34-year-old Laverty is one of the most experienced riders in the WorldSBK. 2020 saw him complete his first season with BMW as a rider for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Right from the start, Laverty was closely involved in development of the BMW M 1000 RR and brings plenty of experience to the RC Squadra Corse team.
Bonovo Action will continue the successful cooperation with rider Jonas Folger (GER).
The Bonovo Action team is headed by team owner Jürgen Röder and team manager Michael Galinski. The team dominated the International German Motorcycle Championship IDM with Folger in 2020. Folger claimed the championship title, winning all eight races in the IDM season. The team also competed with Folger at the two WorldSBK events in Barcelona (ESP) and Estoril (POR), with both team and rider delivering convincing performances. The 27-year-old Folger began his international career in 2008. In subsequent years, he competed in all MotoGP World Championship classes, moving from the 125s (that later became Moto3), to Moto2 and then MotoGP.
Both satellite teams will work closely with BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers
“We are really looking forward to the partnership with Bonovo Action and RC Squadra Corse. The cooperation with these two teams allows us to diversify our WorldSBK project even more. They will communicate closely with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. The benefit for us is that we can access yet more collective feedback. The teams are also very strong as far as the riders are concerned. Jonas Folger and Eugene Laverty are not just fast, but their many years of experience allow them to make important contributions to the further development of the BMW M 1000 RR. It is great that Eugene will still be on board, and to welcome Jonas to the BMW family.”
Competing for Red Bull KTMFactory Racing Team, Williams_Adrian has been the class of the 2020 field, scoring five races wins and two further podiums from eight races. Even when double MotoGP™ eSport champion trastevere73 (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) applied pressure throughout the final round, the Spaniard wouldn’t wilt.
AMX MXOpen event set for Wonthaggi in mid-December
Section: Competition
Top-level teams and a mixture of categories to headline Victorian return.
Image: Foremost Media.
Motocross competition will return to Victoria at Wonthaggi on 13 December when the gates drop on the 2020 AMX MXOpen event, headlined by $15,000 in prize money.
Racing will return this side of Christmas at the Dandenong Motocross Club, confirming that Penrite Honda, CDR Yamaha Monster Energy and SB Motorsports will all be on-track.
“We are starving for racing,” commented event organiser Yarrive Konsky. “It’s been eight months without competition in Victoria and riders, sponsors, teams and clubs are hungry for it. I wanted to see racing happening this side of Christmas and I appreciate the Dandenong Motocross Club’s enthusiasm towards making this possible.”
Motorcycling Victoria CEO Robert Mestrom added: “We are getting behind this event. Yarrive, the DMCC and Motorcycling Victoria share the same passion for competition. We know that some of our members want to get back to racing and we have offered our full support to Yarrive and the DMCC.”
Entries are available online now at www.ridernet.com.au, with the categories to include Pro Open (A and B-grade), Pro Lites (A and B-grade), Senior Women, Veterans (30+, 35+, 40+, 45+), C-grade 450, C-grade 250, 2-Stroke (Pre-90s, Pre-2000s, Open) and a variety of regular junior classes.
On a recent visit to the MV Agusta factory on the banks of Lake Varese in northern Italy, I took the opportunity to chat with MV Agusta’s Russian-born CEO, Timur Sardarov.
The former London-based international businessman, who now lives in Italy, took over MV Agusta in December 2018 from the Castiglioni family when once again the historic brand hovered on the bring of extinction.
Timur Sardarov (L) and Adam Child (R) talk MV Agusta – Image by Milagro
Over the last few years there’s been a clear injection of cash and urgency with MV Agusta stepping up their game and delivering more new models than ever before. As we face the uncertainty of the current Covid pandemic, we managed to grab half an hour of Sardarov’s precious time.
Adam Child: Thank you for taking time to chat with us, I appreciate you must be really busy. Since you took over MV in December 2018, has the journey been what you expected?
Timur Sardarov: “It was tough, I thought it would be easier, but it would be much better if Covid hadn’t come. The company would be stable a bit earlier, but still we have surprisingly recovered for the first time in the history of MV Agusta. We have stable production, finances and stable plans – the company structure is proper and continues to be a family run venture. But there are, as always, small issues which we are dealing with.”
Timur Sardarov, CEO of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.
AC: What have been your highlights?
TS: “This year we have launched five new models. In the history of MV Agusta, this hasn’t been done.”
AC: Aside from Covid is this where you expected to be?
TS: “Slightly behind, because of Covid, restrictions of movements and everything to do with regulatory bodies have put us three to four months behind schedule on some of the work we do, but generally Covid has brought the company together. With new management we are working to maximum capacity and with good spirits too.”
The MV Agusta factory
AC: Where do you see MV Agusta in the next 2-3 years?
TS: “MV Agusta is now going into the wider range of mobility. The journey will start in the lighter mobility segment and move to urban commuters that will be powered by electric propulsion. We will produce high-performance bicycles that are also electrified. We are working on a new 500 cc platform with quite an interesting philosophy and we are also working on our new adventure range that will be announced in next 3-4 months.
“We are also working on a brand new 950 platform and our 800 is going through major change with Euro 5. We took the opportunity with the Euro 5 transition to bring significantly more changes to all the bikes and all the platforms across the entire range. It’s not just Euro 5, it’s major change to the products in terms of styling and technical packaging – from next year I would say all our range could be considered new.”
AC: When I’ve spoken with your team before there’s been talk of the electric bikes coming from the Cagiva brand. Is that correct?
TS: “Oh, Cagiva is more utilitarian electric, more for B2B services – sharing platforms rather than lifestyle, premium lifestyle products like MV.”
Timur Sardarov- Image by Milagro
AC: Is a replacement for the F4 in the pipeline?
TS: “To be honest, that’s still on the drawing board. We currently have to work more towards electric propulsion rather than saving the combustion engine. MV Agusta is a small company compared to many others and for us it’s important to see where everyone is going and evaluate complex developments for the high-performance superbike. We realised that after a certain amount of power is produced, we spend more time removing that power, rather than applying it. We could produce a bike with 250 horsepower, let’s say, but there is probably only 2-3 per cent of the time when this power can be applied. So the quality of the rider plus the quality of the ride need to be balanced. Do we need to produce a bike with so much power when we spend 80 per cent of that production time removing this power to make the product reliable, safe and fun and more usable for the wider audience of rider?
“We are seeing performance cars with 1000 horsepower but this power is applicable – we can all use it, you or I. Put your foot down and you can use it as the electronics in a car protect you from doing stupid things! A bike is different, it’s not as easy as that, you have only one wheel with that much power; there are physics limitations.
2019 MV Agusta F4 Claudio
“We need to first see what will happen with electric, hybrid or combustion and whether we will need a massive engine with a lot of power or something different. The F4 is a brand in its own right that appeared at a time when the most technologically advanced product was the superbike. Will superbikes be important in five years, and still represent the biggest technological advancements? I don’t know. So it’s an interesting question, but perhaps another product will have that technological superiority rather than a superbike.”
AC: So I guess for a small company, if you were going to focus your efforts, it would be on the smaller capacity?
TS: “It’s important to move towards own-brand retail. The supermarket-style bike dealers are at the bottom of the food chain of the business, and Covid is putting nails in its coffin. Dealers will either have to be loyal to a brand to deliver the experience to customers, or they will be wiped out. The faster they realise this the better, otherwise this business will not exist in a couple of years.
MV Agusta have announced a number of dealers in Europe that only offer their motorcycles in 2020
“I’ve seen a lot of dealers in Europe deal with multibrands and I’m confident that this standard dealer model is dead. So, for me, in terms of investment, it’s about bringing in experience and showing the depth and history of the company to the customer.
“We are also moving towards becoming a mobility company rather than just a motorcycle company because we have a new DNA in which mobility is becoming more important. Thirty years ago the journey of the motorcycle rider started with a 50cc moped and now it starts with a scooter, so it’s a very different. We are also moving towards safe mobility, premium product and beautiful designs, but not too much about sports, as that’s a very dangerous area that could backfire on the company.
“Lifestyle, less pollutants, more comfortable, cheaper to own, reliable… this type of message is integrated into the product, which is why we are looking towards lighter motorcycles that are very connected. Our focus is adventure.”
Is mono-brand dealers the future? MV Agusta’s CEO thinks so
AC: When you say adventure – smaller or bigger capacity?
TS: “Both. We will bring two bikes, one will be 500cc one around 1000cc.”
AC: With your focus moving more towards introducing people to the brand with smaller bikes and the mobility market, how does that change your view towards racing, which you’re currently involved in with Moto2? Will the MV brand still need to be racing?
TS: “To be honest, we don’t need racing for our brand. It’s a good showcase, but it depends how we are approached. The company went through a crisis and we had to reduce our direct involvement in non-profit making activities so, we gave it up in 2017. All the racing we do now is done with partner teams and we are evaluating that involvement with Moto2. We are going to stay for 2021 and maybe the year after, depending on how that goes. In Supersport we are evaluating it right now: there is a chance we will come back ourselves over the next two years as a factory team. Racing is relevant but not top of the priority list.
MV Agusta’s racing heritage is looking to be taking a back seat in future development – Image: Mike Hailwood on an MV Agusta
“MV Agusta never made money, and the priority now is to make sure this brand is sustainable. I think I owe it to the company to love and make this brand work. Focusing on something that doesn’t make money would be a shame, as the industry would not be the same without MV Agusta.”
The huge investment in motorcycle shows will likely be directed elsewhere in the near future – EICMA 2019 pictured
AC: The way the media and manufacturers work is changing. Historically we would go to the international shows to see new models, how are you going to get the message over for MV Agusta?
TS: “Trade shows will not come back in the next 2-3 years, there will be less people and the significance of that investment is going to drop. I can tell you, for example, that the participation in EICMA in terms of people, products and time will cost MV more than one million euros. Multiply that by the amount of different shows that we have to attend to interact with our customers and the spend becomes significant. Is this an effective spend of money or not? I consider not, because its more for the public than the industry but the public is not coming – if this is only for the industry I’m pretty sure we can spend the same amount of money on a more effective way of delivering information – digital or direct – so that’s why we are evaluating how we are going to present the new products and how to communicate. We will still be introducing new Euro-5 models without EICMA.”
With no EICMA in 2020, the future of big bike shows remains uncertain
AC: Where do you see as the growing market – America, Europe, Asia?
TS: “For MV Agusta every market is growing. Number one market is Italy, we can grow by 2, 3… 5 fold here in a very short period of time. Same for Germany, UK, France and Spain, Netherlands… all the northern countries. Europe is our direct market, we can bring the clients, meet the collectors and I can be involved myself – we can be very intimate with our customers – we are friends with our clients. Many other companies have managers, but we are more entrepreneurial, easier to understand and more welcoming.
“Then there’s America, where we are now direct distributing. Things would have been so much better had Covid not intervened. America is a great country, but it is in disarray. Businesses on the ground are really struggling, which is why our events and activities have been halted.
“China is a modern market, where we have signed to build our network and I’m a great believer in this project. Then Japan, we are growing there. So I would say Europe, US, China and Japan, these are our biggest markets for MV Agusta to grow. Because we are so small, I can consider we are underperforming.”
Timur Sardarov, CEO of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.
“From next year we will produce 10,000 bikes, which will be a record for MV Agusta. From there we will start to be strong and the market will feel that effect. Over the next three years we will grow in all the segments but with our production outsourced, especially for the 500 cc platform, which we are outsourcing to China, we will achieve 20,000-22,000 bikes in the next three years.”
AC: What is the current production?
TS: “Around 5,500.”
AC: Everything is currently produced in Italy, but in the future?
TS: “Everything above 500 cc is produced here in Italy, everything below 500 is produced elsewhere.”
MV Agusta Brutale 1000RR
AC: Finally, readers would like to know is more about yourself. Do you still ride bikes?
TS: “I used to ride bikes and own bikes but I do not consider myself as a rider. Am I a car or bike person? I would say car person, but I grew up in the north so I’m Russian, then I lived in London, but in the north there are very few bike riders. Now I ride bikes weekly, all different bikes – it’s not that I’m sticking to MV Agusta, for me it is very important to understand every single bike that we consider our competitor and there are a lot of good bikes in the modern world. I am a great advocate and supporter of the industry.”
AC: If we went to your house and opened the garage would we see bikes in there?
TS: “I have custom Harleys, custom BMWs and MV Agustas.”
AC: Did you ride in London?
TS: “Yes, it’s the easiest way to get around, now all my bikes from London are here in Italy.”
Timur Sardarov- Image by Milagro
AC: Do you support and follow the racing when you can?
TS: “I do, MotoGP is doing very well and I’m happy it’s growing compared to Formula 1, Moto GP is exciting, this year shows how unpredictable the racing can be so makes it more exciting than Formula 1. I think maybe Mir for this year. He is Spanish and everything is in Spain.”
It’s easy to enter. Just read this article and pick out the bike that you most want to see at the exhibit and then leave the name of the bike in the comments section.
We will pick five random winners and name them next week. GOMA will be in touch to arrange delivery of the tickets.
Prices range from $18 for a GOMA member to $25 for non-members with concession prices for children, families, seniors, pensioners and season passes. Buying your tickets online in advance will save you waiting at the door with permitted numbers restricted by COVID policies.
It arrives just in time for border openings and school holidays.
I just attended the media preview of the exhibit of motorcycling through the ages and into the electric future and I can tell you picking a highlight is not easy.
There are more than 100 motorcycles from the 1860s to the present day, drawn from private and public collections across the globe.
The world-exclusive exhibition that takes up the entire ground floor in three big rooms features some important bikes, some major coups and some of my personal favourites.
Other highlights include:
Apart from the bikes, there is also a collection of motorcycle helmets painted by 15 contemporary Australian artists at the entrance to the gallery.
Literally a brain bucket!
There are also interactive displays where you casn create your own custom bike.
Scattered among the exhibits are big screens that from a Motorcycles on Screen exhibit within the exhibit.
It features old racing and riding footage plus iconic films classicssuch as The Wild One (1953) and Easy Rider (1969), cult favourites Scorpio Rising (1963) and Akira (1988), plus recent films Finke: There and Back (2018) and The Wild Goose Lake (2019).
The Motorcycle exhibition will be accompanied by virtual talks and tours, storytelling events, trivia nights, and ‘Motorcycles on the Green’ on 27 February and 18 April 2021, featuring more than 60 motorcycles from local community groups, live custom bike builds, DJs and more.
You can also grab a gift from The Motorcycle Exhibition Shop, including exclusive exhibition apparel and accessories by cult brand Deus ex Machina, and bespoke design pieces produced by local heroes Ellaspede.
You can also show off your ride by posting with #MotorcycleGOMA.
GOMA Director Chris Saines says the exhibition will appeal “not only to bike and motor sport enthusiasts but to anyone with an interest in social history, popular culture, design and technology”.
The GOMA exhibit has been curated by American physicist Professor Charles M. Falco and US filmmaker Ultan Guilfoyle in collaboration with GOMA.
They were co-curators of the landmark 1998 Guggenheim Museum exhibition in New York, ‘The Art of the Motorcycle’ that ran for three months.
It was subsequently seen in Chicago, Bilbao, Spain, and Las Vegas, with a total attendance of more than two million people.
Prof Falco described himself as a passionate motorcyclist who had his first motorcycle at 15, his first crash at 15.5 and last year rode a 90-year-old motorcycle across the USA.
“For a sustainable future, the world needs motorcycles for personal transportation,” he says.
His co-curator says motorcycles are an example of how “design drives everything”.
Chris says the exhibit will include the earliest 19th century steam-powered motorcycle, right through to electric motorcycles and future designs.
“Over its 150-year history, the motorcycle has undergone extraordinary reinvention, from steam power, to petrol-fuelled internal combustion engines to battery, and from humble backyard creations to custom-made, high-tech chrome speed machines,” Chris says.
“More than just a means of transport, the motorcycle is a design object, with forms and styles that reflect innumerable cultural and societal influences.”
