MXGP saga rumbles on
By TMX Archives on 26th May 10
THE on/off will there/ won't there be a British MXGP in 2010 is back on the agenda and the answer is no!
BACK to an old favourite week, the British MXGP!
Will there or won't there be a British motocross Grand Prix in 2010? It wasn't me asking the question in T+MX last week, it was actually the ACU, or at least it was our semi-tame mole in Rugby asking that question on page 4. And to sum-up, Mr Mole thoughtfully answered his own query by telling us that ‘barring a miracle' the answer is NO!
Not much more to be said really then is there? Well, actually, there's quite a lot, but I do seriously wonder if anyone really cares anymore.
Time was when we ALL cared, when the British 500 (or 250 – yes, there were two separate Grand Prix) GP was staged at a top class British track, when no-one gave a monkey's whether there was hard-standing for the artics (mainly because there weren't any artics) or a VIP suite, or a triple decker grandstand in the pits where ‘crew' can shout and wave like the rest of us, plus hang-out messages on their wipe-clean boards.
All the above was for the future. What there was though was wall-to-wall fans lining the track, in their tens of thousands. They weren't being ripped-off because all they were paying for was what they had gone to see – motocross racing!
Yes, I know, its all been said before. But that doesn't make it any less true! I'm not knocking what Mr Youthstream has done for motocross, although it is certainly questionable; he rocks-up with his well-organised team and puts on his well-organised show. It's on television – and that's what counts.
The problem is, as it stands the absolute bottom line is that ‘we' can't afford it. As even the ACU admitted last week it costs around £500,000 to stage an MXGP under the Youthstream system. That translates to around 300,000 Euro for the right to stage the GP – i.e paid to Youthstream, and a further £200,000 actually putting the event on.
The question is, once again, can we afford it?
The only answer, going back to every British MXGP held in the modern era is an obvious no. Not one private promoter has managed to make the sums add-up and believe me there have been some pretty robust legal battles following what were actually good events, blighted by only one problem.
People did not turn-up in the required numbers to pay the bills. The British MXGP has been on borrowed time for years, kept going only by the blind faith and naked enthusiasm of those who wanted to put-on the show, regardless of cost or outcome.
I feel we have now run out those rare individuals prepared to bankrupt themselves in order to run a GP ‘for the fans'.
Does the FIM care? I suspect not as it appears to have been happy to accept Youthstream's money – don't forget that Youthstream has paid the FIM handsomely for taking the running of the GPs off its hands.
It now strikes me as rather ironic that our own ACU is preparing to throw its hat in the ring to stage the British MXGP in 2011. At least that is what our friend Mr Mole was suggesting last week. Ironic that as a member of the FIM the ACU is now faced with shelling out 300,000 big ones to a private promoter for the privelege of running its own GP!
Have to be careful here though as it will be ACU Events, who will presumably be applying to run the GP. Whatever, by the ACU mole's own admission we already know that the likely cost is in the region of half a million pounds. Yes, I know that ACU Events is separate to the ACU – but I also understand that it can, if it requires, seek access to certain ACU funds. Does the average ACU member or club or centre official want their managing body to risk that sort of cash?
That's not for me to say, that's for ACU clubs and members to ponder. Meanwhile we await the ACU Events announcement with eager anticipation. A well-financed, well-run British MXGP would indeed be something to shout from the rooftops. But surely not at any price?
One final point to ponder. The early-season Hawkstone International is an excellent event in my book. A classic track, just enough foreign talent on show to draw a decent crowd and no distractions from the racing.
No three-day fun-fair, just turn-up, enjoy the races and go home. How hard would it be to put together a Euro series based on similar events on existing excellent established circuits in France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland etc? Think of your own favourite Continental tracks, or British ones. Farleigh, Canada Heights, etc, etc. No-one would be forced to pay for any feature they don't need. Don't want artics? Don't have them! The only cash required would be to pay the riders good prize money and, believe me, faced with the prospect of a good pay day they'd soon find a big Sprinter to turn-up in and slash the size of their team!
What this would be tantamount to is of course the old-style World Championship – it makes you wonder...