12.11.2024 IMBA Congress 2024

Now, what happens next? Ben Jeuring took over the position of chairman on the board - at least for a year until someone new is found. The new Sports Director is Michael Fröhlich, known to many from Kleinhau and the sidecar scene, who is also responsible as Sports Director in the DAMCV.

The Belgian Betty van Lommel and SAM Sport President Gisela Hilfiker have also made themselves available to help out in 2025. Betty van Lommel was once the fastest female motocross rider in Belgium and is now the driving force behind the Belgian VMCF women's team. How exactly Gisela and Betty will contribute their expertise remains to be seen; Gisela will be the first to take care of a new IMBA website (together with CH-IMBA director Marion Schleifer) and will also take the IMBA's social media area under her wing. Jill Deenen from MON will support the IMBA Secretary, who will continue for another year, with translations and other administrative work.

Ben Jeuring, a calm but determined person, will take over the chairmanship. In his words of thanks, he quoted the new US President with a grin: ‘Let's make IMBA great again’...

Two Masters of Nations events similar to Kleinhau with all classes at the start are in the pipeline for 2025; this time in Belgium and Holland. The Kleinhau race was the best advertisement for the IMBA spirit, and so there is already great hope that the IMBA will be revived. The message is clear; there must be well-organised, beautiful races that are advertised in advance. However, there will also be individual races, so there are already 2 dates in the calendar for the ladies and those responsible for the associations and the iMBA board hope to be able to present an attractive calendar by 15 January 2025.

The IMBA needs to become better known again so that riders are aware of the IMBA races - and also take part because they are great races...