The ACU and FIM is saddened to confirm the recent passing of Jørgen Bitsch, the President of the Danish Motor Union (DMU) since 2009 and a member of the FIM Board of Directors until 2020. Jørgen finally succumbed to his injuries on 5th August 2023, which he had sustained as the result of a motocross accident two weeks previous.
Mr Bitsch was a former Sidecar Motocross Grand Prix winner and regular top ten finisher overall in the FIM Sidecar Motocross Championship during the mid-eighties through to the early nineties, with his best ranking being fourth in the series in 1988. Jørgen remained an active solo motocross rider throughout his life and continued to ride both modern and classic bikes on a regular basis right up until his sad passing.
In addition to heading up two Danish motocross clubs, namely Frederiksborg Amts Motorklub and Fredensborg-Humlebæk Moto Cross Klub, Jørgen was also appointed the Chairman of the Danish Speedway League in 2022. His missions included bringing professionalism to the sport, developing young talent, and the progression of elite riders, however his key focus was always rider safety, as he looked for the DMU to lead by example on this topic and others amongst the national and international federations.
Jørgen was passionate about all aspects of motorcycling, having been long associated with two wheels as a rider, a spectator, an event organiser and as a member of the FIM and DMU in several different roles, having first joined his national federation in 1975. Mr Bitsch joined FIM Europe in 1996 as a Member of the Motocross Commission, and then held positions within various FIM Board Committees from 2007, before becoming a Member of the FIM Board of Directors in 2012.
A popular and familiar figure within the motorcycling community, Jørgen will be hugely missed by the entire FIM Family. The ACU wishes to extend its condolences to his wife Pia, his two children Nicklas and Malene, his grandchildren and his extended family and many friends at this difficult time.