The Auto-Cycle Union Limited

The ACU is the National Governing Body for Motorcycle Sport in Great Britain (not including Northern Ireland). The main objectives of the company are: - to pursue the interests of motorcycling while protecting and promoting the needs of members; - to facilitate British Motorcycle Sport in the most accommodating, de-regulated and user led manner possible; - to encourage, develop and foster the sport of motorcycling in all its forms; - to provide a facility for the dissemination on all matters relating to motorcycling and motorcycle sport and; - to do all such other things as are incidental to or conducive to the attainment of those objectives. REVIEW OF BUSINESS In 2022, the Board were pleased to report that membership levels across all disciplines returned to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. This is evidenced by licencing figures, which were recorded at 21,093 for the year, representing an increase of nearly 2000 licences or 9% over the same period in 2021. The Board are also pleased to report that as part of its efforts to make motorcycle sport more inclusive, competition licences held by women increased by 9% over the previous year to a total of 729. Club affiliations for 2022 were recorded at 490 and despite the cancellation of events due to the joint hottest summer in England since 1884, a total of 1995 event permits were issued, of which 286 were run under basic insurance cover. The effects of extreme weather on the company's activities from climate change will continue to be monitored closely by the Board. After the serious impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and despite three dry and sunny months during the summer, more normal levels of sporting activity were recorded during the year. The ACU successfully completed national championships in all of its major disciplines and significantly, the Isle of Man TT Races resumed after cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The downturn in the economic climate following the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many insurers withdrawing from activities considered to be high risk, with two wheel motorsport being particularly hard hit. As a result, securing the necessary insurance cover for the Union, its Clubs and members has resulted in ACU insurance premiums increasing by approximately £800k, which was consequently reflected in the cost of licences to members. Furthermore, this was only possible by increasing the exposure in terms of self-insurance through the ACUI Company. In recognition that ACU off-road motorcycle sport is almost entirely dependent upon the natural environment, the Board renewed their environmental commitment by issuing a new Sustainability Policy Statement and Environmental Code. The Board continue in their efforts to improve environmental awareness through training of officials and in supporting the development of competition for electric bikes. Internationally, the ACU continued to maintain its long held relationship with FIM by hosting world championship rounds in MotoGP, MXGP, Speedway GP and the inaugural Supercross series. British athletes representing the ACU achieved the following individual success in FIM World Championship competition: Billy Bolt (FIM Super-enduro), Harry Edmundson (FIM Youth Enduro), Jane Daniels (FIM Women's Enduro), Bradley Freeman (FIM E3 Enduro), Emma Bristow (FIM Women's trial) her 8th World Championship!, Harry Hemingway (FIM Trial 3), Sam Sunderland (World Rally Raid) and Todd Ellis / Emmanuelle Clement (FIM Sidecar). In the International Six Day Enduro, the men's national team won the World Team Trophy for the first time since 1953 and the women's national team won the Women's World Team Trophy for the first time. In November, a new members licencing system and club management system provided by Sport80 were introduced to address concerns relating to the obsolescence, technical support and data security arrangements of the previous system. Sport80 were selected as a specialist supplier of sports management systems to over 60 international Sporting Governing Bodies. The configuration of the new system continues to be optimised from member feedback. The Board commenced a strategic review of its structure and business activities entitled 'The Way Forward'. Initial findings were presented in November to delegates of the National Council, the review is ongoing. The ACU at the year ended 31 December 2022 had Net Assets of £3.1 million (2021: £3.1 million)