In a move to modernize how it validates and verifies racing motorcycle designs, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has joined forces with Hexagon. The multi-year agreement is helping the FIM improve and standardize technical homologation and compliance processes using measurement equipment from Hexagon‘s manufacturing intelligence business area for the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
All WorldSBK motorcycles need to follow strict rules that ensure these bikes are built to design guidelines and fine tolerances in conformity with FIM’s technical regulations, which stipulate tight limits on adaptation from the production bikes on which the race bikes are based.
For the 2026 season, the FIM is using Hexagon’s Absolute Arm seven-axis portable measuring arm and Absolute Scanner AS1 laser scanner for homologation and compliance checks on WorldSBK motorcycles. FIM technical assessors use the equipment to measure motorcycle dimensions and components against regulated tolerances, verifying compliance with FIM’s technical rules, which limit how far race bikes can deviate from the road-legal production models they’re based on. The tools allow for faster, more precise checks than previous methods and FIM is rolling out the new process at its Technical Laboratory in Mies, Switzerland, as well as at manufacturer sites and trackside during races.
“We have an urgent and growing need to use the best measurement technology to improve how we test and control bikes. Deciding on conformity or non-conformity using traditional methods was extremely time consuming and, for some parts – especially aerodynamic surfaces with complex geometries – it was simply impossible,” said Dominique Hebrard, FIM CTI technical director.
“Using the Hexagon measurement arm with its AS1 laser scanner delivers the accuracy, speed, ease of use and portability we need to check all dimensions, including the conformity of a motorcycle’s complete aerodynamic package and individual parts, to very specific tolerances – whether we’re at our technical HQ, visiting a manufacturer or trackside during an FIM event,” Hebrard continued, “Using the same equipment everywhere brings consistent, reliable results and helps build the trust that the manufacturers place in our processes.”
The Absolute Arm with AS1 scanner enables the quick creation of detailed point cloud models of complete motorcycles and individual parts. FIM inspectors can now easily scan and compare real-world measurement data against each manufacturer’s homologated CAD and tolerances, using Hexagon’s Inspire metrology software, ensuring repeatable measurements and digital traceability from every check.
“This partnership builds on Hexagon’s extensive metrology experience in high-performance motorsport, supporting race teams and technical regulators around the world to digitalize their vehicle development and testing processes,” added Stephan Amann, business enablement director in Hexagon’s Portable Metrology Division.
“It’s exciting to see that digitalization is not just helping FIM in its work – the proliferation of accurate 3D models is also helping the motorcycle manufacturers to quickly build more competitive bikes without falling foul of FIM’s technical regulations. It’s helping professionalize the whole digital engineering process from design to manufacturing, testing and homologation, whilst ensuring a fair competition on FIM events,” Amann concluded.
FIM began rolling out the new homologation process at its FIM Technical Laboratory at FIM HQ in Mies, Switzerland, and from factory to factory during the rigorous WorldSBK pre-season testing. As the 2026 season gathers momentum, FIM assessors will take the Hexagon portable measurement solution to make spot checks throughout the remaining four rounds. On-site assessors can quickly deploy the portable measurement arm in any pit to accurately measure a variety of components, from small high-precision engine parts to full frames and chassis, and the complete aerodynamic package.
In the coming months, FIM will also use the arm and scanner to homologate several upgraded 2026 race bikes and begin FIM homologation of motorcycles for the 2027 season.
After fully rolling out its new WorldSBK homologation process together with the manufacturers, FIM will look to expand the use of the Hexagon portable measurement solution to other circuit racing championships under its jurisdiction, such as the Endurance World Championship (EWC) and Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP).
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