Ireland secures spot in FIM MiniGP World Series

IRISH riders will face off in the all-new FIM MiniGP World Series after organizers confirmed their place today.

The Motorcycle Union of Ireland was revealed today as one of the national governing bodies chosen to be part of the new World Championship as Ireland enters the Road to MotoGP program for the very first time.

The news follows an announcement in April that the UK is also expected to be a participating country in the inaugural campaign.

Launched as part of a joint effort between the FIM and MotoGP promoters Dorna to standardize the progression ladder for young competitors, the MiniGP World Series is expected to use identical Ohvale machines operating under standardized regulations.

The series will take place in 12 different national and regional championships, with the top three from each series invited to compete in the World Final in Valencia, Spain, which will run alongside the MotoGP Season Final.

Under the title of the FIM MiniGP Ireland Series, the new championship will be promoted by the Motorcycling Ireland Circuit Racing Committee between July and October, with seven races at five venues across Ireland.

The series will take place twice at the Athboy Karting Center in Meath, visit Whiteriver Park in Louth and is also expected to make two appearances alongside the Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship at Mondello Park in County Kildare, before ending its season with trips at Kiltorcan Raceway, Kilkenny and Watergrashill in Cork.

Registration for the championship is open to riders aged 10 to 14 who already have experience in minibike, motocross or track racing. Standard machines have been made available to all National MiniGP World Series events at subsidized prices.

“This is a big step forward for Irish Motorcycle Racing,” said Daire Lowe, chairman of the MCI shorts committee.

“We have been working in the background on this since the project was announced, so that we will be ready to go once an Irish series has been confirmed.

“Now for the first time the MCUI will be involved in the Road to MotoGP program led by Dorna and the FIM and this will allow us to offer our best young riders an opportunity to prove themselves on the world stage.”

The FIM MiniGP Ireland Series will start in just five weeks at Athboy. In each of the seven rounds, the riders will run in three rounds per event. Up to 15 riders are expected to take part in the first round, all in view of the top prize of a trip to the first-ever MiniGP World Final in Valencia in November.

Young runners interested in participating can find all the information on the site dedicated to the series, www.fimminigpireland.com.