MCUI / FIM MiniGP Ireland Series SPORTING REGULATIONS
A downloadable copy is available HERE.
MCUI / FIM MiniGP Ireland Series
SPORTING REGULATIONS
INTRODUCTION: The FIM Mini GP Ireland Series is a Motorcycle Racing Championship run under the general competition rules and standing regulations of the MCUI and the sporting regulations contained in this document and any additional regulations included in the event regulations of a round of the championship. The series consists of six events run at various closed circuits in Ireland.
PROMOTERS: The championship is organised and promoted by MCUI, Motorcycling Ireland, Mondello Park, MCRRCI and Ohvale Ireland.
EVENTS: The 2024 FIM Mini GP Ireland Series will consist of seven events. The dates for these events will be as follows:
5. The dates for these events will be as follows:
Club – Date – Track
SCC – 2nd June – Athboy
SCC – 29th June – Mondello Park National
SCC – 14th July – Whiteriver
SCC – 1st September – Whiteriver
Testing
No testing or practice (on any machine) or Track Familiarisation is allowed at any time at any circuit within 10 days prior to a FIM Mini GP Ireland event organised at that circuit, unless authorised by the Series’s organisers/officials. The penalty for an infringement can be a time penalty, grid position penalty, disqualification from a session or race or exclusion from the meeting depending on circumstances.
OFFICIALS: MCI Appointed officials
EVENT ORGANISERS: Motor Cycling Ireland Short Circuit Committee, MCRRCI and Mondello Park Sports Club TECHNICAL ELIGIBILITY: Promoter / Ohvale Ireland / MCUI Technical Stewards
1. COMPETITORS:
Riders must be between 10 and 14 years of age
Minimum age: the rider cannot participate until he/she has turned 10
Maximum age: the rider can continue to participate until the end of the year in which the rider reaches the age of 14
Riders should have a minimum of 1 years previous experience of racing motorcycles either mini bikes, junior motocross or grasstrack. Riders must be a member of a club that is affiliated to the MCUI SC / UC or MRA. Riders must have a Junior Type J or Short Circuit Grade B Competition Licence
2. CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES:
Ohvale GP160 4 speed
3. CHAMPIONSHIP REGISTRATION: Championship Registration is a requirement to compete even as a one-off competitor. Championship registration is free and available on-line on the championship web site www.fimminigpireland.com.
4. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
4.1. POINTS SCORING: Championship points will awarded per event, (Not per race). In each race at an event points will be allocated to all finishers using the table below. The total points for all races will then be added together to decide the event results with the highest scoring rider across the three races taking first place points, the second highest scoring rider taking second place riders and so on. Points are counted as per FIM regulations in the following way;
1st – 25, 2nd – 20, 3rd – 16, 4th – 13, 5th – 11, 6th – 10, 7th – 9, 8th – 8, 9th – 7, 10th – 6, 11th – 5, 12th – 4, 13th – 3, 14th – 2, 15th – 1
4.2. TIE BREAKER: In the event of a tie at the end of each event, riders will be given equal points. In the event of a tie at the end of the championship the tied riders finishing position record will be used to determine their championship order. If the finishing positions of two riders are equal across all rounds of the championship the rider who finishes highest in the final championship race will take the tied position.
4.3. COUNTING ROUNDS: All championship events will count towards a riders final championship points total. 5. AWARDS
5.1 RACE AWARDS: Awards will be presented after each race for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place.
5.2 AWARD PRESENTATION: Where a podium presentation is organised for a particular race the award winners from each class (taking into account the above) within the race will be required to attend the presentation. Failure to do so may result in the withholding of the award or loss of championship points.
6.ADVERTISING: Riders in any class will be required to carry advertising for championship sponsors. If this is required the branding will be supplied to the riders. Failure to carry required branding will result in ineligibility to score points for any round where the branding is not carried.
7. TRANSPONDERS: You must provide a transponder number on your entry. Under no circumstances will machines be allowed to compete without a transponder. It is your responsibility to ensure that the transponder number entered on the form is correct. In the event that during a session a machine is not detected by the timing system (for whatever reason) the inclusion of the rider in the results of the race is at the discretion of the timekeeper.
8. ENTRIES: Entry forms will be issued directly to registered FIM MiniGP Ireland Series riders The entry fee for all each event will be €90. Unpaid entries will not be accepted. The club reserves the right to refuse an entry without assigning a reason.
9. SIGN-ON: Sign on will be at the event.
10. SCRUTINEERING: Before commencing practice, competitors must present their machine and equipment to the Scrutineers for inspection. Scrutineering will take place in the paddock from 08.00. Machines must be present with the petrol tank ready for removal to facilitate inspection of the frame. Crash helmets must bear the 2022 MCUI Stamp of Approval. Each driver must have a current competition licence available for inspection when signing on. A competitor must not practice or race on any machine that has not been fully scrutinised. It is the responsibility of the competitor to present for scrutineering, machines and protective clothing which are safe in all aspects and comply with the general competition rules of the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland.
11. PITS: The Pit area will be clearly marked and will be situated close to the start. Signalling to a rider from a position other than the pits is forbidden and failure to comply with this requirement may result in the exclusion of the rider the pit attendant represents.
12. PRACTICE: Practice will commence as listed in timetable. The order and composition of practice will be as per instruction of the Clerk of the Course and will be displayed in the race programme. Anyone who misses their practice session will be deemed a non qualifier.
13. QUALIFICATION: Qualifying positions for the first race for each class will be determined by timed practice using transponders, when available. If transponders are not available, grid positions will be by championship positions for all riders entered by the closing date. In the event of any dispute, the decision of the event officials will be final.
14.GRID POSITIONS: Grid positions for the first race will be as per section 14 above. Grid positions for the second race will be determined by the fastest lap time for each rider in race one. Where two riders set an identical lap time the riders will be placed on the race 2 grid in order of their finishing position in race 1. Any rider who qualifies for race 1 but does not set a lap time in that race, or only completes the first, standing start, lap will be demoted three places from their starting position from race 1 for race 2. Grid positions for the third race will be determined by the fastest lap time for each rider in race two. Where two riders set an identical lap time the riders will be placed on the race 3 grid in order of their finishing position in race 2. Any rider who qualifies for race 2 but does not set a lap time in that race, or only completes the first, standing start, lap will be demoted three places from their starting position from race 2 for race 3.
15. TYRES: Each rider is allowed to use ONE set of dry weather tyres over the course of their three races at an event. In order to police this rule Tyres will be affixed with “Tyre Stickers” in Parc Ferme after the qualifying session and these must be the only tyres used during the event (unless the session is declared “wet”). The correct tyre stickers must be in place for each race and qualifying sessions. Tyre stickers from previous events may be present on any tyre used so long as the correct sticker for the current event is also in place. Tyres may be checked in the pit lane before riders go on track for their races. Tyres may also be checked on the grid or in Parc-Ferme at the end of a race, and any rider found without the correct stickers may be excluded from the results. Tyre stickers are not required to be used for practice sessions but tyres must still by correct rated tyres.
16. PRE RACE BUILD UP: Pre-race procedure (times shown are sample times). Pre race procedure will be as shown below unless otherwise stated in the event regulations.
13:00: Once the previous track activity has been completed and the track is clear and ready for racing. The pitlane/holding exit will be opened for 30 seconds allowing riders to exit the holding area /pit lane and make their way to the grid.
13:03 approx: Green Flag: Once the starter waves the green flag the riders will commence their warm up lap. Any riders who arrives after the holding area / pit lane is closed but before commencement of the warm up laps will start the warm up lap from the pit lane/holding area and following the warm-up lap will take their position at the BACK of the grid in the order in which they arrived at the top of pit lane/Holding area. Any rider who arrives at the top of the pit lane/holding area after the warm up laps have commenced will not be allowed to start the race.
17. WARM-UP LAPS: All classes will receive one warm up unless otherwise stated in the event regulations.
18. PIT LANE SPEED LIMIT: There will be a speed limit of 60kph in pit lane. Penalty for breach of the pit lane speed limit will be as follows:
1st offence – 15 second time penalty for the next race following the infringement. This time penalty will be added to the offending riders total race time.
2nd offence – Exclusion from the event.
19. METHOD OF STARTING: All races will be clutch start.
20. RACE START PROCEDURE:
a) As the bikes complete their warm up lap they will form up on the grid in their allotted positions. During assembly of the grid no lights will be displayed.
b) When all bikes have completed their warm up lap and are in position on the grid an Official at the rear of the Grid will wave a green flag.
c) The Starter will then instruct the Official at the front of the Grid, displaying the red flag, to walk to the side of the Grid.
d) A red signal light will be then be turned on and displayed for between 2 and 5 seconds. The race will start when the red light is switched off.
21. FINISH: To be classified as a finisher a competitor must have completed 75% of the distance covered by the race winner and have crossed the finishing line within two minutes after the race winner has finished. After receiving the chequered flag competitors will be directed to the paddock by the flag marshals.
22.PADDOCK RE-ENTRY: At the end of a qualifying session or race, when a rider has taken the chequered flag they must re enter the paddock via the holding area gate. When returning to the paddock riders and their machines may be held in Parc-Ferme and they may not leave Parc-Ferme without permission of the Promoter / Ohvale Ireland / Scrutineer.
23. DISQUALIFICATION & CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: If a rider is disqualified from a race for a technical infringement they will lose ALL championship points scored prior to their disqualification at the event at which they are disqualified. If a rider is disqualified for a riding infringement they will only lose points scored in the race from which they are disqualified. If a rider is disqualified from a race for not carrying the correct tyre stickers they will lose the points from the race in which they did not carry the stickers and will also be fined 5 points for the first offence, 10 points for the second and 15 points for each subsequent offence.
24. MEDIA & PRESENTATIONS: Refusal to be available for a TV or Media interview or failure to appear at a post race podium presentation may result in the deduction of five points for a first offence, 10 points for the second and 15 points for each subsequent offence.
25. FLAG INFRINGEMENTS: Unfortunately some riders are still blatantly ignoring flag signals. Therefore there will be an appointed official to review riders’ times at the end of each session to ensure flags are being obeyed. Riders need to be seen to slow down under yellow and red flags.
26.YELLOW & RED FLAG INFRINGEMENTS AND PENALTIES:
26.1 Yellow Flag Infringements: The area controlled by a yellow flag commences once a rider passes the flag position and remains in force until the flag position following the incident has been passed. Once the flag position following the incident has been passed riders may recommence racing. Any overtaking manoeuvres completed before a yellow flag area is reached will not incur a penalty. If a rider has not completed an overtaking manoeuvre before commencement of the yellow flag area they must slow down and remain behind the rider they were attempting to overtake, unless it is safer to continue with the manoeuvre and pass the rider. If an advantage is gained by overtaking a slower rider a penalty may be applied at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course. In all cases overtaking of slower riders must be completed in a safe and controlled manner. The definition of an overtaking manoeuvre being completed is that any portion of the bike doing the overtaking is ahead of the bike being overtaken
26.2 Waved Yellow Flag Penalty: The following are the penalties for overtaking or not slowing down in the area covered by a waved yellow flag and not immediately reversing any positional or time advantage gained:
During warm-up or qualifying: Cancellation of lap times or a loss of grid positions in the next relevant race. In addition a fine may be imposed.
During a race: A penalty which may result in a loss of places in the result, or a time penalty, or exclusion from the results, or a grid penalty in a subsequent race, depending on the circumstances. In addition a fine may be imposed. If in any case the Clerk of the Course considers an offence to be a case of reckless or dangerous riding they may report the offence to the Stewards for further action.
26.3 Stationary Yellow Flag Penalty: for overtaking or not slowing down in the area covered by a stationery yellow flag and not immediately reversing any positional or time advantage gained:
During warm-up or qualifying: Cancellation of lap times or a loss of grid positions in the next relevant race. In addition a fine may be imposed.
During a race: A penalty which may result in a loss of places in the result, or a time penalty, or exclusion from the results, or a grid penalty in a subsequent race, depending on the circumstances. In addition a fine may be imposed. If in any case the Clerk of the Course considers an offence to be a case of reckless or dangerous riding they may report the offence to the Stewards for further action.
26.4 Red Flag Infringements: Riders must slow down and return slowly to the pit lane or grid, as instructed. Any rider not slowing sufficiently will be deemed to have committed an offence.
Red flag Penalty: The penalty for a red flag infringement can be a time penalty, grid position penalty, disqualification from a session or race or exclusion from the meeting depending on circumstances.
27. RIDER BEHAVIOUR: Abusive or threatening behaviour, whether verbal or physical, by any rider, or anyone associated with a rider, towards any official, marshal, competitor, spectator or member of track staff will not be tolerated. Any rider who engages in such behaviour, or any rider who is associated with anyone who engages in such behaviour will be subject to the following sanctions.
1st offence; Possible disqualification from the event at which the transgression occurs along with possible forfeit of all points scored at the event at which the transgression occurs. Possible refusal of entry for the following event.
2nd offence; Possible cancellation of competition licence.
28. FOUL, UNFAIR OR DANGEROUS DRIVING: The Clerk of the Course shall immediately exclude, or apply any other penalty they may feel necessary, any rider who, in their opinion, is guilty of any foul, unfair or dangerous driving, either in practice, warm up or during a race.
29. SCRUTINY: If a rider fails to attend scrutiny before practising or fails to get their machine scrutinised after crashing the rider may be excluded from the event and may fined €100.
30. FALLEN RIDERS: Once a rider has fallen from their machine, they are permitted to remount or continue in that race or qualifying/practice session.
31. ON-BOARD CAMERAS: All onboard cameras and associated equipment must be presented at scrutineering for approval. Mounting plates must be bolted on and the camera and/or housing lock wired to the base plate. An approved media sticker will then be issued. No bikes carrying camera equipment will be allowed on track without this media sticker. The use of tape, tie wraps or Velcro fastenings etc. is strictly prohibited. Approval is only valid for the duration of the event. Any rider using an onboard camera must provide footage recorded on the camera to the organisers or event promoters when requested. Riders using on-board cameras are precluded from making public any footage from an event, through social media, web sites or other outlets.
32. IDENTITY DISCS: An identification Disc/SOS card must be worn during practice and racing.
33. DOGS: Dogs may not be brought to the circuit under any circumstances.
34. OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS: A fine may be imposed by the Stewards, or the MCUI Centre or the Club, on an entrant, driver assistant, mechanic or passenger who does not comply with the requirements, of the supplementary regulations, or the official instructions. A fine imposed by the Stewards of the meeting shall be limited to £100/€150.
35. FUEL: All fuels must be stored in metal containers and comply with MCUI Rules.
36. PUSH STARTS: Anyone wishing to push start a machine for any reason in the paddock area, must only do so in the area designated.
37. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: All competitors’ support vehicles must carry a fire extinguisher; the recommended type is a 1.5 kilogram extinguisher.
38. PADDOCK MOVEMENT OF MACHINES: Riding in the Paddock is strictly forbidden, with no exceptions and includes paddock bikes, mini bikes, scooters and bicycles. Riders must not ride or allow their machine to be ridden in the Paddock at any time and must not allow any of their crew, or anyone associated with them to ride any paddock bikes, mini bikes, scooters, bicycles or similar vehicles or equipment in the paddock during the event. Penalties for doing so are as follows:
1st Offence – 15 second time penalty for the next race following the infringement. This time penalty will be added to the offending riders total race time.
2nd Offence – Exclusion from the remainder of the event.
39. TOURING ON TRACK: Touring on track in any session or warm up lap is forbidden. Any rider who is deemed to be touring on circuit during a qualifying session may have their fastest lap or any number of laps disqualified, or may have all of their lap times disqualified. Any rider deemed to be touring on a warm up lap may have a time penalty applied to their race result at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course. Any rider deemed to be touring during a race will be black flagged.
40. LAPPING OF SLOWER RIDERS: In previous events slower riders being lapped have not shown enough awareness of faster riders overtaking them. Please be aware that if you are one of the slower qualifiers for a race that from two thirds race distance you may be in danger of being lapped. Please keep an eye out where possible for riders closing in on you and in particular be aware that once one rider has lapped you others will more than likely follow. Riders being lapped should stick to the line they are on and not make any sudden changes of line or slow dramatically due to being overtaken. Faster riders need to be aware that the onus is on them to avoid collisions with slower riders.
41. GDPR: By entering a Motorcycling Ireland event you are giving your consent to having your personal details such as name, home town and race number shared with other competitors, and the public, through publication of entry lists and event programmes, and for use in marketing and promotion of events you have entered. Any personal information which you volunteer to Motorcycling Ireland or its affiliates will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, strictly in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 2018. The information will only be used for the purpose for which you have provided it and will not be added to a mailing list nor made available to other third parties.
A downloadable copy is available HERE.
