The noise emitted by off-road machines, which has increased dramatically in the four-stroke era - prompting a backlash from the publ♏ic and resulting in the loss of ♎many off-road facilities - could finally be nearing a solution.

Like an alcoholic told by doctors about the damage drink is doing to him, but who keeps going to the bar𝕴, the manufacturers have produced machines with unnecessary levels of noise - especially for amateur racing - year after year. But since these motorcycles have been built to rules set by the main racing organisations, led by the FIM, blame is shared by all parties.

Decibel limits have steadily been reduced, but with the old method of noise measurement producing inconsistent 'real world' results - and widely open to abuse - little progress has been made on the ༒biggest issue (along with rising machine costs) facing modern off-road motorcycling.

Two years a⛎go, unable to ignore the growing call for action on the subject, the FIM announced an i🧸nitiative to reduce the sound levels of off-road motorcycles.

With the support of manufacturers and promoters, 💦a new sound test method called "2 metre max" was devised and extensi💟vely tested.

This new sound 🍌test is carried out with a sound meter positioned at the rear of the motorcycle, at a distance of two metres and an angle of 45? from the silencer. Th🍬e engine is tested at maximum rpm.

In wꦕhat is being labelled as a turning point in the war against destructive noise, the "2 metre max" rule will now come into effect for✱ the 2010 FIM Motocross, Enduro and Track Racing World Championships.

The FIM states t🐻hat the 'noise levels permitted will be an important first step in the reduction of sound levels, with an average reduction between 3 and 6 dB/A, compared to the current situation, dependin🃏g on the discipline.'

For Motocross and Track Racing, the maximum noise level admitted at a distance of 100 metres will be🍨 of 81 dB/A, and in Enduro the maximum noise level admitted at a distance of 100 metres will be 78 dB/A.

"A major step has been made with the implementation o🌱f this new method, thanks to an excellent cooperation between manufacturers and promoters, not to mention the strong impulse given by the Danish federation," sai♌d Jean-Pierre Mougin, FIM deputy president and chairman of the Committee for the reduction of sound levels.

"This is important for the survival of all FIM off-road disciplines. The FIM had to react effectively. 2010 will constitut☂e a first step in the fight against noise nuisances and the results will define the future actions."