FIM History 1904 to 2010

2004 was the year of celebration of the Centenary of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (International Motorcycling Federation). It was founded on December 21, 1904, in the rooms of the restaurant Ledoyen in Paris, under the name of Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes.

The Motocycle-Club de France organised a race called the International Cup in Dourdan, south-west of Paris, on September 25, 1904 with the participation from Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, and Great Britain. The race was won by France, but disputes arose over the racing conditions. As a result, the sports authorities of the five countries represented joined together and put forward the idea of creating the Fédération Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes (FICM).

Motorcycling sport is run, at FIM World Championships and Prizes level, in five different disciplines. Road Racing, which include Grand Prix, Superbike, Supersport, Sidecar and Endurance; Motocross (with three solo classes and the sidecar), the Motocross of Nations (competition with National teams), Supercross, SuperMoto, Snowcross, and Freestyle; the Trial, with Individual Trial, Indoor Trial, Trial des Nations, competitions for men and for women; Enduro, with the World Championship, Indoor Enduro World Cup and the International Six Days – run since 1913, the oldest competition held under the aegis of the FIM – and the Cross-Country Rallies, and finally Track Racing, with Individual Speedway Grand Prix, the Speedway World Cup (team), Junior Speedway, Long Track and Ice Racing (individual and Team). All this represents a total of almost 50 FIM World Championships and Prizes.

The FIM is also engaged in non-sporting activities – tourism, gatherings and leisure, mobility, transport, road safety and public policy, environment, and the place of women in motorcycling activities - or activities linked with sport, such as technical, medical and judicial aspects. Currently the FIM is elaborating a strategic plan drawing guidelines for its activities in the next years. It also put in place a working group about alternative energies, and is actively involved in resolving sound level problems.