FIM Gala: 2019 World Champions celebrated in Monaco
The annual gala toasts the season’s biggest winners on two wheels, this time hosted in the Principality of Monaco
Monday, 02 December 2019
After another awesome season of competition, on Sunday it was once again time for the prestigious FIM Gala to bring the curtain down on the season. Gathering together Champions from all disciplines on two wheels, the Principality of Monaco hosted the event this year. Moto2™ World Champion Alex Marquez and Moto3™ World Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta flew the flag for MotoGP™, with reigning premier class Champion Marc Marquez unable to attend as he continues to recover from recent shoulder surgery.
Marc Marquez is no stranger to the gala, however, winning six of the last seven premier class crowns, and the Spaniard is now the youngest ever eight-time World Champion – adding another well-earned medal to the cabinet this season, which was collected on his behalf by his father Julia alongside a video message from the man himself. Marquez’ 2020 teammate and 2019 Moto2™ World Champion Alex Marquez picked up his medal on his second visit to the gala, and Moto3™ World Champion Dalla Porta was also back, this time to celebrate his first Grand Prix World Championship.
Jeremy Alcoba was also present to pick up his award for winning the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship ahead of his full-time debut in Moto3™ on the world stage next season, having impressed to wrap up the crown at the season finale at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.
Amongst the many others present were WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea, who took a record-breaking fifth consecutive crown, 2019 WorldSSP Champion Randy Krummenacher and WorldSSP300 Champion Manuel Gonzalez.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta was also presented with a special award as he was named an FIM Promoter Legend; presented the honour by FIM President Jorge Viegas.
That’s the final event of the season for those toasted on stage, as engines now lie dormant until the 2020 season, which begins in February. Sepang International Circuit plays host once again, with Marc Marquez aiming to defend the MotoGP™ crown, brother Alex moving up to partner him at the Repsol Honda Team and Dalla Porta likewise graduating, in his case to Moto2™. Who will return to the stage in 2020? Find out after 20 more spectacular races.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
2019 World Champions celebrated at the FIM Awards
Rea, Krummenacher and Gonzalez attended the prize-giving ceremony in Monaco with motorcycling’s best of 2019
The Principality of Monaco was the setting of this year’s prestigious FIM Awards ceremony with the beautiful Sporting Monte-Carlo venue and its breathtaking views on Europe’s most famous bay having the honour to host almost six hundred guests including motorcycling legends, manufacturers and team representatives, various members of the FIM, championship promoters, representatives of the national federations and, of course, the 2019 FIM World Championships.
After another record-breaking season, that saw him become the most successful rider in WorldSBK, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) collected his fifth consecutive medal in front of the world’s motorcycling elite. Alongside Rea, on the red carpet and then on stage to receive his medal was 2019 World Supersport World Champion Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team).
Following a full year of battles, Krummenacher took the honour at the final round of the 2019 season in Qatar entering the history books as the first-ever Swiss champion in WorldSSP. It was a history-making 2019 also for Spanish rider Manuel Gonzalez (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) that became the youngest World Champion in history after clinching the 2019 World Supersport 300 World Title. Gonzalez also attended the awards with Rea and Krummenacher to collect his medal in front of the world’s best.
The three WorldSBK World Champions were awarded and presented by motorcycling legend and two-time World Superbike World Champion Max Biaggi. Amongst others present were Moto2™ World Champion Alex Marquez, who also took his second world title and Moto3™ World Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta.
After the final toast, thoughts are now turning to 2020, as WorldSBK will welcome plenty of new faces, illustrious returns and the reigning World Champions heading into the new season with the pressure to defend their crowns.
