FIM introduce MiniGP World Series to promote young talent
The FIM have added a new string to the Road to MotoGP bow with the aim of promoting young talented riders.
Dorna Sports and the FIM have announced a new championship in the ‘Road to MotoGP’ project which focuses on aiding young fast riders to develop and grow into full MotoGP riders in the future, the championship is called the ‘FIM MiniGP World Series’ and will take place on karting circuits which have been scrutinised by the FIM to meet their minimum required standards.
The age range for this championship will be 10-14 years old and the riders will all ride identical Ohvale GP-0 160 motorcycles, these Ohvale machines have been a huge success in recent years with many MotoGP riders including Jack Miller using them for training, the championship also features a single tyre supplier which will be Pirelli.
There will be 4 events at a minimum with 8 races on the calendar and there must be 15 riders per race at a minimum, the championship winner at the end of the season will be offered ‘some incredible opportunities’ which most likely means that Dorna will fund a seat for them in a championship such as the European Talent Cup and assist with sponsorship.
Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “The FIM MiniGP World Series is the first step for all the young kids on their path to achieve their dream and reach the FIM MotoGP World Championship! This is the starting point that was missing in the ‘Road to MotoGP’ that will allow every talented rider to step on the ‘podium’, with an extremely low budget.
Also, this FIM/Dorna initiative puts the National Federations at the forefront of the system, because it is up to them to fully organise the national series and to hand-pick the best from each country, that will be present in the World Final in Valencia. Dorna and the FIM have been working on this project for a few years now; it is now becoming a reality and I would like to thank our Promoter and give an additional incentive to all our affiliated federations.”
Valerio da Lio, CEO of OHVALE: “It is a dream coming true! We are very proud to be part of the FIM MiniGP World Series project. This is an important step in the growth of motorcycling at international level. For many years Ohvale has been creating a solid basis for the growth of new talented riders at an international level and, thanks to the involvement of its sales network and national federations.
Ohvale has spread a new philosophy for young motorcyclists: equal bikes for all and sealed engines, because it is the rider who makes the difference. We thank FIM and Dorna for choosing OHVALE for the new FIM MiniGP World Series.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “The Road to MotoGP is very important to us and I’m very proud to see another initiative added to our talent promotion portfolio, in partnership with the FIM. The FIM MiniGP World Series will play an important role in standardising competition for young riders around the world, helping their talent to shine on a level playing field and creating more opportunities than ever before.
We are delighted to collaborate on this new project and see it become reality, and we can’t wait to see the talent that emerges from the Series in the future. The FIM MiniGP World Series is the perfect stepping-stone for young riders who are just beginning their Road to MotoGP and will not only help us discover MotoGP talent of the future, but also increase the breadth of the MotoGP fanbase and the number of young athletes who take up motorcycle racing.”
