National motorcycle group seeks to develop official role

Larry Tate

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

A national advocacy group is looking at co-ordinating the regulations of motorcycle racing groups across the country, with an eye to making it easier for Canadian racers to compete with each other – and raise their profile on the international stage.

The Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada announced Thursday that it has set up a group to develop the co-ordination of the sanctioning, licensing and insurance among the myriad motorcycle competition groups currently in Canada.

"We're looking at cross-country benefits such as one competition licence that's recognized by all groups ... a more comprehensive insurance plan ... a more rigorous and consistent set of safety rules for on-track activities (and) possible off-track insurance in case of loss or damage to equipment," said MCC president Peter Jacobs.

"There's a full range of options on the table."

MCC, a not-for-profit national advocacy organization that champions motorcycling interests throughout Canada, was set up in 2003 as a federation of clubs, manufacturers and interested motorcycle groups. Until this week's announcement, it's been primarily oriented toward the street motorcyclist.

Many of the major professional competition groups are part of the working group announced this week. They include three that already span the country: the Canadian MotoSport Racing Club (CMRC) for motocross and flat track, the Parts Canada Superbike Championship (PCSC) for road racing and World Enduro Canada (WEC). Also on board are other MCC members, racing clubs from as far apart as B.C. and Quebec, and the four Japanese manufacturers.

The impetus to look at the co-ordination of regulations came from the MCC's own members, said Jacobs. "We believe that a national licencing program, for example, will not only make it easier for riders to cross the country, but also give them more opportunity to achieve international status," he added.

What about those groups that aren't part of the program yet? "We started with our existing members," said Jacobs. "But reaching out to everyone else and convincing them to get on board is going to be a very important part of our progress."

Long-time motorcycle racers will recognize MCC's plans as pretty much a copy of the mandate of the Canadian Motorcycle Association (CMA). But every professional series in Canada, including those named above, either withdrew from the CMA years ago, or never were involved with it.

Nevertheless, CMA has official affiliation with the FIM, the international body that regulates motorcycle sport. Jacobs said the CMA was invited to attend Thursday's announcement, but the organization declined.

Reached later on Thursday, the CMA declined to discuss the proposal. "Our official position is that we have no comment," said CEO Marilyn Bastedo.

So is MCC planning to replace the CMA as Canada's motorcycle federation?

Jacobs called that an exaggeration, given that the major groups in the MCC are not affiliated with the CMA at all.

"Many of our members, such as Mark Stallybrass of CMRC or Lawrence Hacking at WEC, or Colin Fraser at Parts Canada, already have FIM contacts through their own businesses," said Jacobs.

"And MCC, in the four years we've been around, has become well-connected internationally with such groups as the Federation of European Motorcyclists; we've had a lot of good international exposure.

"Certainly we want FIM recognition, and we hope we'll get it in time on our own merits. We've invited CMA to join us ever since we started, we really want them on board, but they've declined to get involved with us," he said.

Freelance motorcycle racing writer Larry Tate can be reached at larryt@primus.ca

More videos from Wheels.ca and our partners