Oxford, UK – 16 September 2025 – The Auto-Cycle Union (ACU), the national governing body for motorcycle sport in Great Britain, was proud to host the FIM Secretaries General Meeting this week at the historic Merton College, Oxford.
The two-day event, held on 15–16 September, brought together representatives from motorcycle federations around the world to share ideas, strengthen international relationships and plan for the future of the sport.
This important meeting gave leaders the chance to openly discuss key issues facing motorcycling today.
Topics included:
• Making international competition easier and safer for riders by aligning licence systems and regulations.
• Tackling unsanctioned races to keep the sport safe and well-managed.
• Engaging governments and policymakers to protect and promote motorcycle sport.
• Encouraging more volunteers, who are essential to running events and supporting local clubs.
• Growing participation by attracting leisure riders and involving famous riders as ambassadors for the sport.
The event also highlighted the importance of protecting the environment, with discussions on reducing noise complaints and preventing illegal riding in protected areas.
A key session focused on the future of motorcycling, using new research to explore how the sport can evolve and thrive in the years ahead.
Global Participation
This year’s meeting demonstrated the truly international nature of motorcycle sport, with participants from over 20 national federations and each six Continental Union. Delegates travelled from across the world to take part, representing their national governing bodies and sharing their unique perspectives and challenges.
National Federations present:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Qatar, San Marino, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA
In addition, representatives from the FIM, SMC (Sveriges MotorCyclister), and Lockton Insurance were present to provide expertise and insight on international collaboration, public affairs, and rider safety.
This diverse group of attendees highlighted the shared commitment to developing the sport globally, showing how vital it is for federations to work hand-in-hand for the future of motorcycling.
FIM CEO Françoise Emery:
“It has been a great pleasure to join forces with the ACU and host this year’s Secretaries General Meeting at Merton College in Oxford. Bringing together about 40 representatives from over 20 different countries and all continents underlines the strength of our global motorcycling family. The fruitful discussions we shared here will not only strengthen collaboration between national federations and the FIM Administration but also inspire new initiatives to support the growth and future of motorcycling worldwide. We are extremely grateful to the ACU for their warm hospitality and their increased activity in motorcycling matters within the UK who have proudly staged ten FIM World Championships this year across different sporting disciplines.
ACU CEO Matthew Edwards-Wear said:
“Hosting this event at Merton College, Oxford, was a great honour for the ACU. Collaborating closely with other federations allows us to share knowledge and build a stronger future for motorcycling. It’s all about creating a sport that is safe, sustainable, and exciting for future generations. We were proud to welcome colleagues from around the world, including staff from the FIM administration. Personally, it was a privilege to co-host the meeting with FIM Liaison Director Nita Korhonen, who has supported me since my appointment as Secretary General of the ACU in 2023. That role has since evolved into CEO - a title commonly used by many federations - which better reflects the breadth of responsibility we hold within the national federation.
The ACU continues to benefit from mentoring, coaching, and support across all areas of our work. This empowers us, as the national governing body for motorcycle sport in the UK, to develop, promote, and organise the sport at every level - from youth and grassroots riders to regional and British championships - while also providing a clear pathway for talent to progress to European and World Championship events.”
The ACU offered special thanks to Merton College, Oxford, for providing such a welcoming and inspiring setting for these important discussions.
The success of this meeting shows how vital it is for federations across the globe to work together, ensuring motorcycle sport continues to grow while staying safe, fair and accessible for everyone.