Monaco hosts largest FIM Awards ever

Once again, the Principality of Monaco, with its rich motorsports history, provided the perfect setting for tonight’s FIM Awards. Recognising and rewarding both the 2020 and 2021 FIM World Champions, having lost last year’s event to the pandemic, it was certainly a very special evening and was well received by the entire FIM family who was present inside the Sporting Monte-Carlo venue and were joined by S.A.S Albert II, Prince of Monaco.

The six hundred strong audience included not only the biggest single gathering of FIM World Champions, but also representatives from the one hundred and fifteen national federations, motorcycling legends, various members of the FIM, championship promoters, manufacturer and team representatives, sponsors and other invited international guests. 

The new look ceremony hosted by Barbara Pedrotti and James Toseland saw two years’ worth of FIM World Champions representing all the major disciplines – Circuit Racing; Track Racing; Motocross; Enduro; Cross Country Rallies and Trial – take to the stage to collect their well-deserved and respective FIM gold medals from the designated FIM Legend. 

The evening got underway with new 2021 FIM Trophies being awarded as follows: FIM Women in Motorcycling Trophy – Australian Women in Motorcycling Programme – MA (Australia) / FIM Environmental Trophy – A fast race towards sustainability – FMI (Italy) and FIM Family Trophy – Two-wheel Touring and Safety Riding Initiatives in Nepal – NASA (Nepal). 

Next up Speedway Legend Greg Hancock was on hand to present the medals in the Young Champions category which included 2020 and 2021 FIM Youth Enduro World Champions – Sergio Navarro and Albin Norrbin; 2021 FIM Speedway Youth World Champion – Oskar Paluch and 2021 FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion – Haakon Osterhagen.

Cross Country Rallies legend Cyril Despres stepped up to distribute the medals in the Off Road Champions category that included 2020 and 2021 FIM Women’s Trial World Champions – Emma Bristow and Laia Sanz; double FIM Flat Track World Champion – Lasse Kurvinen; 2021 FIM Sidecar Motocross Rider / Passenger World Champions Etienne Bax and Nicolas Musset; and twice FIM E1 Enduro World Champion – Andrea Verona. 

For the Circuit Racing category it was Road Racing Legend Franco Uncini who handed out the FIM gold medal which included 2021 FIM Sidecar Rider / Passenger World Champions – Markus Schlosser and Marcel Fries; 2020 and 2021 FIM Supersport World Champions – Andrea Locatelli and Dominique Aegerter; and 2020 and 2021FIM Moto2 Grand Prix World Champions – Enea Bastianini and Remy Gardner.

The 2020 and 2021 Ultimate Champions were presented their medals by FIM President Jorge Viegas and Albert II, Prince of Monaco respectively. These included double FIM TrialGP World Champion – Toni Bou; FIM EnduroGP World Champions – Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman; FIM Speedway Grand Prix World Champions – Bartosz Zmarzlik and Artem Laguta; FIM MXGP Motocross World Champions – Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings; FIM Superbike World Champions – Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu; and FIM MotoGP Grand Prix World Champions – Joan Mir and Fabio Quartararo. 

The FIM President Jorge Viegas also had the honour of presenting the Team prizes that included 2020 and 2021FIM Speedway of Nations winners – Russia and Great Britain; 2021 FIM Women’s Trial des Nations winners – Spain; 2021 FIM International Six Days’ Enduro World Trophy winners – Italy and 2021 FIM Motocross of Nations winners – Italy. Additionally, Mr Viegas presented the 2020 and 2021 FIM Promoter Legend awards to Giuseppe Luongo and Paul Bellamy respectively. 

After formally closing the ceremony FIM President Jorge Viegas concluded by saying: “Tonight has been a truly memorable occasion, after what everyone has lived through over the last two years it was wonderful to have the entire FIM family back together again and to finally celebrate all our 2020 and 2021 FIM World Champions at this wonderful venue in Monaco and in the presence of Albert II, Prince of Monaco.” 

Photos – Good-Shoot