2008 World Motocross dates
By TMX Archives on 26th Oct 07
IT WAS enough to make grown mens' eyes go watery as the 2008 MX GP calendar was revealed at last weekend's FIM Congress; the British GP is back at Foxhill!
The big day is set for Spring Bank Holiday weekend, May 31/ June 1, with a new Irish GP on the outskirts of Dublin following one week later, in a calendar which will appeal to the teams as there is only one trip outside Europe and a significant rationalisation of travelling costs.
Only six weeks ago Giuseppe Luongo had announced at the GP finale that there would be two GPs in England next year, and many were already tipping Foxhill, last used for world class competition in 2000 when the triple-header was abandoned on Saturday evening after only the 125 class had been run.
At the time, the classic valley venue was heavily criticised by Luongo for its lack of suitable infrastructure, and it will be interesting to see if planning permission for hard standing and permanent buildings are forthcoming before next May.
But fans will be delighted; no other track in the world has ever offered such atmosphere as the valley to the south of Swindon.
Inexplicably gone from the calendar is Donington, which presumably was going to be the other GP on the UK mainland.
Also gone are Japan, an expected move following dwindling crowds over the three years that Sugo has hosted the world series, and there is also no sign of the rumoured GPs in Romania or Brazil.
The Nations at Moneyglass is still ‘‘to be confirmed'', though this is presumably a matter of course as the Ulster venue has to be re-examined in March and May before homologation. But future Irish GPs look to be heading for the Republic at an as yet unnamed venue close to Dublin.
This race is presumably being financed through EU regional aid, as are the GPs in Spain and Portugal as well as the government-backed races in Bulgaria and South Africa.
To the logistical delight of the teams the entire calendar is built up of travel blocks with GPs on consecutive weekends at what will be round trips.
Even after the Irish GP, the teams will not have to return to Britain as the French GP, again at St Jean D'Angely as Ernee declined the race, follows on one week later and the teams will be able to travel directly back to the continent.
Other block travel includes Spain/ Portugal, Italy/ Bulgaria, Germany/ Sweden and Belgium/ Czecho with the finale at Faenza in Italy, one week after Lierop in Holland.
2008 MX1/MX2 Motocross Calendar
April 6 – Valkenswaard, HOLLAND
April 20 – Bellpuig, SPAIN
April 27 – Agueda, PORTUGAL
May 11 – Mantova, ITALY
May 18 – Sevlievo, BULGARIA
June 1 – FOXHILL, GREAT BRITAIN
June 8 – Dublin, IRELAND
June 15 – St Jean D'Angely, FRANCE
June 29 – Teutschenthal, GREMANY
July 6 – Uddevalla, SWEDEN
July 20 – Nelspruit, SOUTH AFRICA
August 3 – Namur, BELGIUM
August 10 – Loket, CZECH REPUBLIC
September 7 – Lierop, HOLLAND
September 14 – Faenza, ITALY
Motocross des Nations
September 28 – Moneyglass, NORTHERN IRELAND (tbc).
THE Womens' World Cup has been upgraded to full world championship status next year as it is expanded to five rounds, including the first overseas race, in South Africa, in July.
An increase of ten, from 40 to 50, entries will be accepted for the rounds on the same programme as the GPs at Mantova, Sevlievo, St Jean D'Angely, Teutschenthal and Lierop. Surprisingly, Uddevalla in Sweden, where the series started three years ago, has been dropped.
The Veterans' championship rounds are also increased in number, to three – at Bellpuig, Foxhill and Namur – but retain their World Cup status.
The unwieldy two class system has been reduced with just a single class, for riders from 41 to 55 years of age, but here also, 50 entries will be accepted.