2018’s Champions recognised in Andorra
The annual FIM Awards ceremony brought the curtain down on a spectacular weekend in Andorra, where more than 100 national motorcycling federations gathered to celebrate their communal values of courage, excellence and commitment.
At the crowning ceremony were some of the biggest names in two-wheeled sport, from record-breaking five-time FIM MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquéz to 14-year-old FIM 85cc Junior Motocross World Champion Caden Braswell – the youngest gold medal recipient of 2018.
Aussies
Australians recognised at this year’s FIM Award Night included the 2018 ISDE Championship winning teams, with Daniel Milner, Daniel Sanders, Lyndon Snodgrass, and Joshua Strang claiming the World Trophy, and Jessica Gardiner, Tayla Jones and Mackenzie Tricker claiming the Women’s World Trophy title.
Bailey Malkiewicz (Yamaha) also won the FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Championship on home soil in Australia, while Josh Hook was a part of the F.C.C. TSR EWC World Championship winning team.
Toby Price was also recognised for his victory in the Cross-Countries Rally Championship.
MotoGP
Marquez is no stranger to the gala, winning five of the last six premier class crowns, and the Spaniard is now the youngest ever seven-time World Champion – adding another well-earned medal to the cabinet in 2018.
Marc Marquez
“It’s amazing to be here with everyone, I want to congratulate all these Champions. If we’re here we had a great season. And thanks to the team and all those kind of things, now back to the party! Try to enjoy it!”
Marquez was joined at the gala by 2018 Moto2 World Champion Francesco Bagnaia after his impressive year, and another record breaker in the form of Moto3 World Champion Jorge Martin.
Raul Fernandez was also present to pick up his award for winning the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Championship ahead of his full-time debut in Moto3 on the world stage next season, having impressed to wrap up the crown ahead of the final weekend at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.
Francesco Bagnaia
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and finally I reached it! And I want to thank the Team, Sky, the Academy, my family, my girlfriend and friends…and next year for sure I have my next objective and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Jorge Martin
“It means a lot to me, I want to thank my family and team and all the people who support me. I want to congratulate all the Champions because they know how difficult it is to be here – and I’ll work hard to be back here in the next few years!”
World Superbikes
History-maker and 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) collected his medal – for the fourth time in a row – and was joined by FIM Supersport World Champion Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) who took the title in his rookie season in the final round at Losail International Circuit.
One of the most notable champions attending the awards was FIM Supersport 300 World Champion Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team), who became the first solo female to win a world title, crowned in dramatic style at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
“Once again I’ve been incredibly proud to accept my FIM World Championship medal in front of all the other champions from various disciplines. It truly is the moment when what we have achieved starts to sink in. I want to thank all my team at KRT for all their support, my family and friends for their support.”
As well as officially crowning over fifty FIM World Champions from the 2018 motorcycling season, five equally important FIM Awards were also bestowed on individuals and organisations for their contributions to motorcycling ‘Beyond Sport’.
The FIM Women in Motorcycling Award was collected by Macrocampus, an event organised by the RFME Women’s Commission of Motorcycling at the famous MotorLand Circuit in Aragón.
The winner of the FIM Fair Play Trophy was Sebastien VanBaelen, a Belgian Enduro rider who came to the aid of a stricken competitor in l’Enduropale du Touquet, in France, while the FIM Environment Award went to Sky Ocean Rescue in Italy.
Meanwhile, Michael Woodford MBE picked up the FIM Road Safety and Public Policy Award for his road safety campaigning and important work regarding ‘Automatic Headlight On’ technology, while the first ever winners of the FIM Award for the Future were Dorna Sports for their investment in and commitment to various rookies’ series, in collaboration with the FIM National Federations and Continental Unions.
Carmelo Ezpeleta – Dorna CEO
“Thanks to the FIM and those who decided to give us this award. It is now 27 seasons we’ve been working with the FIM, with the national federations, with all the clubs. Special thanks to all the riders who have permitted us to grow during this time. From the beginning we thought it was important to create new strategies for people who maybe, without this programme, might not be able to participate. I’ve very proud to receive it in the name of Dorna, in the name of all the people who work at Dorna. And to receive this from Giacomo (Agostini), it’s an incredible honour for us to receive this from him.”
The list of names treading the red carpet included a prestigious line-up of prize givers, who handed over the honours to the World Champions and award recipients.
FIM Legend and fifteen-time FIM Circuit Racing World Champion Giacomo Agostini was joined by FIM legend and former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, Pentti Korhonen and legendary former alpine skier turned racing driver and keen motorcyclist Luc Alphand.
Source: MCNews.com.au