The 123rd Congress of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme-the International Federation for 2 & 3 Wheeler motorsports, started on 16th October 2006 in Salvador, Brazil. There were delegates from 79 National Federations.

The outgoing FIM President Francesco Zerbi gave in his opening address a detailed report on the achievements of the FIM during the eleven years of his presidency.

At the elections for the post of FIM President, amongst the four candidates (Vito Ippolito, Hans-Robert Kreutz, Jean-Pierre Mougin and Jos Vaessen) who took part in the first ballot, no one obtained the necessary majority. As Messrs Ippolito and Vaessen obtained the best results, both took part in the second ballot. Mr Ippolito was elected with 75 votes, against 70 for Mr Vaessen.

Vito Ippolito is Venezuelan. He is 54 years old, married, 3 children. He has been President of the FMV (Venezuelan Federation) since 1992. He was member of the FIM Road Racing Commission from 1984 until 1990. He was FIM Vice-President from 1990 to 1996, and then FIM Deputy President since 1997. He was also President of the ULM (Union Latino-Americana de Motociclismo) from 1984 until 1998. He was manager of the team Venemotos whose rider Carlos Lavado became 250 Grand Prix World Champion in 1983 and 1986.

Vito Ippolito is the first non-European elected President of the FIM since its foundation in 1904.

Mr Jorge Viegas (Portugal) was elected Vice-President