The 2009 FIM Conference Meetings were held from 19 to 22 February at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Geneva. The Management Council met on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th as well as the afternoon of 22nd. The main topics discussed by the Management Council were the following: – The working group of FIM Vice-President, Rob Rasor, continues its job on alternative energies in order to identify and promote the best opportunities for the FIM and its members. – During the Conference Meetings the FIM organised an exhibition of electric motorbikes (Qantya and KTM) one of which was the new world premier SuperMoto prototype of the Swiss make Qantya. – Mr Azhar Hussain, founder of TTXGP, presented his project for a “Carbon Zero” race. The FIM will support the first event organised by TTXGP on the Isle of Man on 12 June which is reserved for motorcycles with zero toxic emissions. – Furthermore, following the first conclusions of the Steering Committee concerning sound level reduction, led by Mr Jean-Pierre Mougin, FIM Duputy President, the Management Council decided to apply from 2010 onwards, exclusively at Motocross World Championships, the new 2m Max method. The other decisions of the Steering Committee have not changed for the national Motocross events or for Enduro. This decision constitutes a first step that will enable the FIM to answer many expectations in lowering the sound level following the increasing difficulties encountered all over the world in organising events. The decision will also enable the manufacturers to prepare in the best way the production series that will be commercialised for the 2011 season. – The FIM Environment Prize was presented by the FIM President, Vito Ippolito, to the Auto Moto Club of Serres, Greece, the organisers of the 6 Days Enduro in 2008. – World Environment Day (official date 5 June) will be celebrated at all FIM events on 30 and 31 May with the exception of Trial which will be celebrated on 6 and 7 June in Motegi. – The FIM Women’s World Cup has received the approval of the Enduro Commission (CER). It will have to be ratified by the FIM General Assembly during the Biennial Session in October in order to be added to the 2010 calendar. – The number of out of competition anti-doping controls will increase in 2009. – Presentations on the progress of the Strategic Plan were made during the meetings of all the Commissions and Panels as well as in the meeting of the Secretaries General. – To follow the example of the Latin American, African and Asian Continental Unions, strategic workshops will take place during the 2009 UEM Congress in Istanbul. – The Marketing and Communications Director, Olivier Godallier, gave a detailed presentation on his current and future Marketing and Communication activities. – The AMA withdrew the mandate of Greg Harrison within the Commission of Leisure Motorcycling. – Lucile Ackaouy has been promoted to Financial Director. – Isabelle Larivière has been recruited as Press Coordinator. – Marc Pétrier, as Documentalist. He will be responsible to organise and highlight the historical archives of the FIM. FIM Dates A session of the Management Council will take place on 20 and 21 June 2009 in Geneva (Switzerland). The 2009 Biennial Session will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 22 to 26 October at the Crown Plaza Hotel. The 2010 Conference Meetings will take place from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 February in Geneva (Switzerland). The 2010 FIM Congress will take place from 17 to 23 October in Macao, China.