At the end of this year 2020 marked by a health crisis, it seemed interesting to us to take a first look at the situation with the new president of the French Motorcycling Federation, not only to draw up an essential first assessment, but above all to evoke the future at a time when French motorcycling competition continues to shine, not only in speed with Fabio Quartararo, Johann Zarco and Loris Baz, but also in endurance and off-road.
Who is the new president of the French Motorcycling Federation and how does he plan to encourage the emergence of new champions? Here are the first elements of the answer…
Mr. President, when and how did your passion for motorcycles come to you?
Sébastien Poirier: “As for many of us, it was from someone in the family who was already in this environment, in this case my uncle. He was a motocross rider and managed to get the whole family involved in this passion. My mother often told me that I was already in the paddocks to accompany her even though I wasn't walking. It turns out that, following my birth, he quickly stopped riding motorcycles to devote himself to it through voluntary investment as a club leader. He also participated in the creation of the Moto Club d'Ernée, then, one thing leading to another, he took on responsibilities in the Ligue de Bretagne before becoming President of the League, then to climb the federal ranks as an elected official. It was through him that I discovered the world of motorcycles, since I went with him and my parents to quite a few events as a fan in the Great West. I still remember running for the autographs of Malherbe, Carlqvist, Jobé, as well as that of Vimond when he was at the top, during its fantastic season, dressed all in pink! »
« It is so through the prism of the fan that I discovered this environment, but I never practiced in competition. In this sense, I stand out from my predecessor, and not of a lesser nature since he himself had won a Grand Prix! It’s certain that there, for now, in termss of motorcycle technology, you lose out since I haven't won a Grand Prix, far from it, but I've been riding a motorcycle for years. I ride on circuits and I have done a bit of off-roading, so today I represent what makes up the majority of our licensees, that is to say riders who discover motorcycling while training on circuits and who want to have fun at any age, with their motorcycle on dedicated sports equipment, without necessarily entering into a competitive logic. »
What we notice in your career is that alongside the attraction of motorcycles, there was also very early on a sort of attraction for federal authorities, in which your uncle had responsibilities...
« Quite ! As a manager, my uncle often spoke to me about clubs, leagues, the Federation, and then it turns out that I was doing law and that I was looking for an internship to be able to join a Master 2 in law and economics of sport in Limoges. So one thing led to another, I found myself in Paris for an internship of a few weeks which turned into a permanent job, which was a little quick because I had not imagined stopping my studies. But I was able to do my additional training in sports law and economics in Limoges alongside my missions here, and that's how I was hired at the Federation in 1995, as a lawyer to set up the legal department. of the French Motorcycling Federation. »
"From through my personal experience and my knowledge of the environment, I think that I integrated relatively quickly into this environment. My family motorcycle culture concerned more off-road but I discovered speed, rich and varied, without counting all the other disciplines since we have the chance to be a multidisciplinary federation, which is a strength since it allows to consider motorcycle riding in all its forms and aspects. »
What were the consequences of the health crisis on the activities and resources of the FFM in 2020? And what first emergency measures were taken?
“As for the figures, the Federation noted over the year a drop of 10% in year-round licensees, almost 60% of day licenses which were not subscribed, and above all much more serious , we lost almost 70% of our 2020 calendar. »
"You imagine that this is a considerable shock for all motorcycle lovers, including spectators who were unable to attend their Grand Prix or regional race. I believe we are all awares that we have experienced an extraordinary year, therefore the priority objective for the Fedition, and the role that I have assigned myself with my team is to do everything possible so that we have a 2021 calendar that is identical to the one proposed in 2019.
" It is that's why we put in place a support plan for our clubs, which we estimated at around a million euros, in addition to the usual million and a half in subsidies for the latter. This million euros financially supports clubs to enable them to establish their events and their 2021 calendar. This translates concretely into an annual subsidy of €850 which will be granted in addition to the subsidy of €1650. We are maintaining a dedicated Covid fund, that is to say that if unfortunately we were to have events canceled in 2021 or degraded in their reception conditions by spectator gauges which would be difficult for the clubs, there is a fund dedicated who will be there to help them financially and enable them to organize their event. »
" At At the pilot level, we have also put in place a somewhat special system for free transformation of a training license into a competition license. The difference in price will always be the responsibility of the licensee but the administrative costs associated with it will be eliminated in 2021. We are perfectly aware that certain drivers, in certain championships and in certain disciplines, have driven very little, and this is to This is why we put this system in place. It is also for this reason that for certain very specific French championships, such as the road rally, we have made a discount of €70 on 2021 entries in the French championship. »
"Our priority is to have a 2021 calendar. Half-price licenses in 2021 arethere are no organized tests, that makes no sense! Licenses at the normal price, as long as there is a calendar which guarantees that the clubs will maintain their event, I think that this will make drivers satisfied, and obviously spectators happy to attend the competition. »
Hoping that in 2021 we will not have to focus solely on the consequences of the health crisis, what are the major future directions of federal policy, in particular with regard to speed?
“I am naturally optimistic and I have no doubt that 2021 will be an opportunity for us to return to a normal or almost normal life, especially remembering, I hope, the fact that we will not forget this that we experienced in 2020. »
"In Regarding the Federation's projects, they are maintained and will be deployed from 2021. First of all, I am not in the revolution so I have adopted the main political axes of my predecessor, Jacques, which I had the opportunity to develop alongside him as general director, namely positioning the clubs at the heart of our federal development, and therefore to support all clubs which organize or manage sports facilities. We maintain this guideline. »
“Secondly, we are keeping the safeguard plan for motocross circuits, to which we will integrate a development plan. »
"The third point obviously concerns the security of circuits which will be maintained. As new president, I would like to insist on certified schools, that is to say, labeling structures which have an appetite for welcoming new practitioners, particularly young people. I think we really need to have a proactive policy towards young people, and therefore offer a clear landscape for parents who would like to take their child to a motorcycle structure. They must be able to easily, in a few clicks or through a single phone call, find out which structure is best suited to welcoming a young person who would like to start riding a motorcycle. For this, there will be an overhaul of our labeling policy to better promote structures that welcome an audience, young or old.His If I take myself as an example, I had the opportunity to do training courses with Christophe Guyot, and honestly these are truly extraordinary moments because at any age you can learn on a motorbike and on a circuit. We must demonstrate to a large motorcycling public that if we want to have fun on a motorcycle, there are now sites that are specifically designed, dedicated and developed for that.. I think that today this is really the meaning of the story that to bring these “Parisian ring road drivers” with their beautiful sports car to the Carole circuit. »
" For speed as well, I believe that we absolutely must capitalize on our champions, Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco, who are two wonderful ambassadors of French speed, and not only since they shine throughout French motorcycling. My project, with the Ccommission Nationale de Vitesse and Patrick Coutant, to deploy a policy of motorcycle speed schools, like what Spain knows how to do, since there are not far from around forty motorcycle speed schools identified on go-kart tracks. The idea is therefore to develop them at the territorial level and to facilitate as a Federation, financially, legally and administratively, the creation of speed schools, always with the objective of developing and expanding the base of the pyramid. »
" And then, on a major issue which will last a long time, it will be a question of developing speed league championships. We are lucky today to have major leagues, some of which have several speed circuits. The idea is therefore to set up local championships and ensure that all these drivers who ride on circuits in training, or through a circuit pass, take the step of the first race in a secure manner in an environment that allows them is suitable without necessarily being in an FSBK event, but rather in a truly leisure competitive event. »
" Finally, in 2021, still with Commission Nnational of Speed, we are going to create a new category of motorcycles which will be the Moto5 category, which will make the link between the 25 Power and the big circuits, with the aim of optimizing the general level of our young champions in speed. »
Can you tell us a little more about this new Moto5 category, if only to whet the mouths of the riders involved?
« We will make a specific communication for the speed in relation to the sector because there are quite a few things that are being worked on, but I can still tell you that the Moto5 will be based on a free chassis with a single engine , the Zongshen 250cc 4-stroke. We will therefore have a machine that we can use on karting circuits but also within the framework of the French Promosport Cups, where this Moto5 will be coupled with the 125 category. But you will really have more precise information at the start of the year next. »
We thank Sébastien Poirier for the time given and this initial information.
As we were editing these lines, the FFM issued the following press release:
