Wasn't that a weekend!
By John Dickinson on 26th Oct 07
This week, Editor JD reviews the mega weekend of top televised sport that we all somehow had to cram in as well as being out and about getting stuck into Weston, The Scott or whatever live' event you were committed to...
WHAT an awesome weekend of sport we've just had via the wonders of television (with apologies to those of you who claim not to watch the dreaded box) with MotoGP, Rugby World Cup (it was a try!) – and Formula 1 as well I believe – just for starters!
And that was before we even moved to live off-road sport where we of course had that now annual clash of the Scott Trial and the Weston Beach Race. The first event is steeped in history, the second a relative brash newcomer that has really grabbed media attention. Maybe the clash does not affect too many people in the great scheme of things but there are those who would like to ride or spectate at both events and find it all very annoying. And at this time of year, when there are relatively few headline events, from a professional viewpoint it is very frustrating to have to choose one or other of the events to feature on the front page.
Last year I chose the Scott for front because, while accepting that Weston is by far the larger event, I felt that Dougie Lampkin's comeback win, after an absence of 12 years from the event, was a greater achievement than Knighter's expected Weston win. For my pains I received a rebuke from none other than Sir Jack Burnicle who's opinion was that only T+MX would choose a trials front page over a Weston image. Well, yes we would if we thought it deserved it, as we are Trials and Motocross News after all. This year will probably be different again and the sheer spectacle of Weston may win out. This is just a guess, as at time of writing we have not got down to choosing.
The Scott is an event that has undergone an exciting revival in recent years. It has rocketed in popularity and from being an event on the brink of extinction it now boasts double-ton entries and spectators enough to block the Yorkshire Dales for a week. Not that the Dales were blocked in the slightest, because as a sport we are much too ‘nice' and sufficiently disciplined to let that kind of thing happen.
The Scott is unique and probably this event, more than any other in the calendar, displays the kind of rapport that the sport has with the farming community. Well over 30 landowners and tenants give their blessing for this epic sporting triumph and the course-marking is a challenge in itself. There are signs that the event may even be on the verge of an International breakthrough. Amos Bilbao has competed five times now and this year persuaded fellow Spaniard Jordi Pascuet to join him. Jordi has promised to return next year. And on top of this, many spectators were surprised, and delighted, to see former World Champion Takahisa Fujinami soaking himself in the atmosphere. He loved what he saw and vowed to ride next year – cue another boost in spectator numbers as Fuji is one of the most exciting riders of recent times. The Scott is on the up and up.
Meanwhile, down at Weston, the biggest concentration of off-road racers ever seen in Britain, comprising Quads and Sidecars on Saturday and 999 solos on Sunday, did their thing down on the beach. Blessed with fine weather for a change, it was once again a genuine motorised sandstorm rather than a mud-fest which is a whole bunch better for all concerned.
The non-appearance of both headline stars Stefan Everts and David Knight obviously upset some hardcore fans but in all honesty, the huge bulk of Weston spectators couldn't tell David Knight from Beverley Knight (it is surprisingly easy actually!) as in the main they turn up to enjoy the sheer spectacle. And I'm not knocking that. It is all about putting on a show and if people turn up to watch it is obviously a successful show.
If only the Weston thousands could all be persuaded to turn out for the MXGP, wherever it is held, (see news story this week!) its future would be secure.
The MXGP really ought to be the Blue Riband event of the sport but for various reasons it has been kicked, or to be more accurate, dragged, from pillar to post in this country in recent years and to be honest, the fans need, and deserve, some stability. Here's hoping that RHL can provide just that. We really are running out of options...