Reshuffle!
By TMX Archives on 15th Mar 05
The FIM world championship MX calendar has a reputation for undergoing more reshuffles than a pack of used playing cards.The latest list still has the UK down for three GPs in '05 although the dates and venues have changed from those originally The FIM world championship MX calendar has a reputation for undergoing more reshuffles than a pack of used playing cards.The latest list still has the UK down for three GPs in '05 although the dates and venues have changed from those originally announced. The Isle of Wight GP at Gore Basin stays on the calendar but the GP scheduled for Donington Park has been dropped and in its place a round at Matchams MotoX World has been pencilled in.The Matchams race will take place on June 5 - the date originally set aside for the Isle of Wight GP which has moved back to August 28, the date originally set aside for the German GP that's been moved forward a week to August 21, the date originally set aside for Donington. Still with us?Meanwhile, on the other side of the Irish Sea, the venue for the GP of Ireland on September 17 has been confirmed as Desertmartin - not Ballykelly as originally anticipated.Apart from the latest reshuffle, the big news is that two of the main players in domestic MX team management - Steve Dixon and Mark Chamberlain - have decided to throw their weight behind the British efforts with Steve getting involved at Matchams and Mark at Gore Basin.Steve has hooked up with Matchams operator Kevin Hoare and the pair secured a deal with GP promoters Youthstream in record time. "We spoke to Youthstream on the Friday, signed a contract the following Monday and I got confirmation on the Tuesday," explains Steve.The deal is for five years - although it doesn't tie them just to Matchams. "I think we can make it work with the people around us," he adds. "Our aim is to run a good GP this year and then build on it in 2006."The Isle of Wight GP will be run by 4E Promotions Ltd after RTT Racing, which staged the '04 event there, withdrew."Everyone knows what a great track we have," says Mark, "especially with Johnny Douglas Hamilton again lending his expert touch. And this factor is our major advantage and the reason why 4E is pushing ahead so strongly with this project."And the date change makes sense for us. Firstly it is a Bank Holiday weekend and secondly it gives us the time needed to make sure we are moving forward from last year."We have a couple of people helping us from the ashes of the '04 GP such as Johnny and Julie Coyne and we expect everything to run smoothly with their expertise. There were some off-track issues last year that can and will be improved to make it an even more enjoyable weekend for all."