FIM Extends Ban on Russian Riders “Until Further Notice”

The FIM has confirmed that Russian and Belarusian riders, teams and officials remain barred from its competitions as the war in Ukraine continues, reiterating a position first introduced in March 2022.

The decision was restated during the governing body’s first Board of Directors meeting of 2026, held in Lyon, France, on February 4 and 5. After reviewing the situation, the Board said it maintains “sympathy and solidarity with all those suffering” as a result of the Russian invasion and will continue to monitor developments before making any changes.

For now, the ban applies across all FIM World Championships and Prize events, with no timeline given for when, or if, it might be lifted.

While the geopolitical stance will grab the biggest headlines, the meeting covered a wide range of sporting, technical and commercial topics as the federation looks ahead to the coming seasons.

Alongside its geopolitical stance, the FIM used the Lyon meeting to run through a packed sporting agenda. Promotion contracts were discussed across several series, including the Bagger World Cup, as well as the QuadCross, E-Bike Enduro, E-Bike City and X-Trial championships, while the Bajas World Cup is set for a refresh with a new logo and an upgraded Trail category aimed at improving the competition’s visibility.

Looking further ahead, preparations are already underway for the next FIM Intercontinental Games, scheduled for 23 January 2027 in Kuwait City. The event will again feature Supersport and Sportbike classes using Yamaha R7 and R3 machines, but will expand to include motocross for the first time with the addition of an MX2 category.

Away from competition, the FIM reported a healthy financial outlook and confirmed that its new Racing Motorcycle Museum will open on 18 February 2026. Other updates included regulatory amendments to the Disciplinary and Medical Codes, a new She Leads mentoring programme from the FIM Academy, and early planning for major events such as the Monte Carlo General Assembly and the upcoming Commissions Conference, where rider welfare, future calendars and long-term championship promotion agreements are all set to feature.

But despite the busy agenda, it is the federation’s unchanged position on Russia and Belarus that lands as the clearest takeaway: for the foreseeable future, those competitors remain on the outside of world motorcycle sport.

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