MX world in shock as Molson call it quits!
By TMX Archives on 6th Aug 08
AS reported online at T+MX News website, the motocross world was rocked last week by the shock announcement that the long-standing Molson Kawasaki would close its doors at the end of the current 2008 season. Announced in an official Kawasaki communication just hours after the news was broken to team riders and staff, the team, owned and run by Mike Church and the Church family, confirmed that they were taking the step to disband the team citing changing family priorities as the contributing factor.
Cleary one of the most visible and professional teams in world motocross, Molson grew out of humble beginings supporting Youth motocross to become Kawasaki's official MX2 team in the world championship thanks to it's unrivalled professionalism, hard-work and investment from the Church family, and the closure of the team is a big loss to the motocross community and the professional image of the sport both in the UK and on the world scene.
The move obviously leaves current Molson team members Stephen Sword, Tom Church, Gareth Swanepoel and Gaultier Paulin without a home for the 2009 season, as GP correspondent Alex Hodgkinson reports on the following page, as well as the numerous team personnel, but by making the announcement early Molson have left the team with plenty of time to hopefully find gainful employment elsewhere.
The offical Kawaski statemant read as follows:
AFTER lengthy discussions Kawasaki Motors Europe and the collective Church family - who both own and operate the Molson Kawasaki Racing Team - have mutually agreed to amicably part ways after many beneficial years spent working together. With changing family priorities the Church family feel unable to give the race team the 100 per cent focus and attention they feel it deserves and will cease all racing activities after the 2008 season finishes in September.
Steve Guttridge, the European Race Planning Manager for Kawasaki Motors Europe regrettably confirmed the joint decision: I am very sorry to say that it is a reality that the Molson Kawasaki Racing Team will cease to operate next season. Within the last month it became evident that due to changing personal circumstances within the team's ownership and management it would not be possible to continue in the same situation for 2009.
Kawasaki have over the past 10 years formed a fantastic relationship with the Church family who own the team, based on trust and passion for success with our race machines, the team, their staff, their riders and have always given us 100 per cent commitment and professionalism.
We had big plans for the team to continue as our official Factory supported MX2 team in 2009 and so understandably we are deeply disappointed that this will not be possible. We will maintain our full support to the Molson team until the end of this season and truly believe that they will finish it in style and on top of the podium.
Although obviously feeling great sorrow over the decision and its many implications, Molson Kawasaki team manager Lisa Church feels confident that the correct choice has been made and that most crucially of all the timing is right: Making the decision that the team will stop has been one of the hardest decisions we have ever made but we feel it is the right time and it is the best decision all round. As a family we have been involved in the sport for many years, have seen many changes and experienced many good times. We will of course continue to be involved in and enjoy the sport of motocross, attending the races and supporting the sport we all love so dearly only now in a different way.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who we have worked with over the years - the riders, mechanics and sponsors past and present - for their support towards the team and for helping to create some great memories for us. We are very grateful to Kawasaki for putting so much trust into us and our team and for giving us the opportunity to run their factory MX2 team - it was a great honor for us.
Team owner Mike Church shares his eldest daughter's sentiments after heavily investing financially and emotionally in the team from its very beginnings as a low profile team to the present day.
It was a very difficult decision to make as you can imagine but we discussed it together as a family and made the decision to end the team on a high rather than potentially face difficulties as our family priorities changed and we were perhaps unable to give Kawasaki, the team, our riders and the hardworking team staff our full focus and attention which is what they all deserve.
We've had a very enjoyable and healthy relationship with Kawasaki over the years and I believe it's been mutually beneficial. As a family we are bitterly disappointed we're unable to continue running the team but we do have our reasons and they are genuine ones. We'd like to make it clear that we'll never turn our back on motocross and we'll continue to support our riders and friends in the sport in whatever way we can.