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News Thursday 01st April 2010 By Geoff Meyer
The World Motocross Championship turned another corner yesterday when news leaked out that a round of the FIM World Motocross Champion would be held at the famous Glen Helen circuit in America.
Probably the best known Motocross circuit in America it was with huge emotion as it became clear that Glen Helen was now a Grand Prix facility.
It was back in the early 1990’s that Glen Helen ran a 500cc Grand Prix under the promotion of Roger De Coster and now nearly 20 years later the Grand Prix riders return to California.
We dec ided to contact a handful of people inside the Grand Prix circle and ask them their opinion on the news. We spoke to Dave Thorpe, Sylvain Geboers, Josh Coppins and Stefan Everts.
Stefan Everts Red Bull KTM team manager and 10 times World Motocross Champion
We are very excited about this; it is great for the sport and the riders. Also for Red Bull it is a good step and something they are supporting. For KTM it is the chance to go to America and show our new models, and show our riders. I think Glen Helen is a really good circuit and it’s really a good move for us, very positive for the sport.
We will do everything we can to make this a really special event. Of course we also would like that Tommy Searle and Mike Alessi race this race. Alessi has been out and all the extra riding he can do is good for him. KTM support this event 100% and are excited to go.
For me I remember racing the USGP and it was always a big deal, America is a big market and to race there was always a pleasure. I also think with the event being on the West coast there are more fans than on the East Coast, so the chance of a good support from the spectators is possible.
Sylvain Geboers team owner of the Rockstar/Teka Suzuki team
I look forward to it, I support a Grand Prix in the US, and it is needed. I think it is exciting to go back to the US, that must be above any negatives. The news comes quickly, we all have our budgets decided and for some of the teams it is a problem. For those teams that have an American sponsor it shouldn’t be a problem. We are happy there is a Grand Prix in America, for the sport it is a necessity to have a Grand Prix in the US. It comes so quickly, and unprepared, so suddenly out of the corner, at a moment when we are starting the Grand Prix season.
No doubt Suzuki in America will help us, we are an official team and we are in the area of Suzuki, just as Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha are in that area and will support the teams. I have no clue if there is an event on the same day, and what type of support we will get.
Whatever is possible I will have, our cooperation with Roger is very good and he will support it 100%, there is no doubt about that. It is no problem for our team to go there. Both Rockstar and Teka are happy to have a Grand Prix there.
Nobody knows what will happen, what I do know is that because it is so early in the season all the teams will go, otherwise they can forget being World Champion.
Dave Thorpe CCM team manager and three times World 500cc Champion.
I’ve had contact with the directors at CCM and they are very positive about it, obviously we had a budget, I want to talk to Giuseppe this weekend about that. If you look at the schedule we have to come back to France the weekend after America, so that is tough. We can’t call Roger up and say give us some Suzuki’s. I mean we have plenty of bikes, so that isn’t a problem. CCM have welcomed the chance to go to America really.
Obviously it is nice for the team and the company to be seen in America, but I was bitterly disappointed that the British GP dropped off that date, but with it being now put into the calendar later in the year, and then I am okay with that. As always Giuseppe will have a plan.
I did Carlsbad, I did Glen Helen, and also Hollister Hills, I even won a race there. From a riders point of view it’s good to race there and go and show what they can do. As always there is always the politics and this is going to be a big event, well organized.
Josh Coppins Aprilia Factory rider
It’s great, bloody good, wicked track. I am wrapped. I mean I always wanted to race at Glen Helen, and to now have the Grand Prix there it is great news. We do a World Championship and we need to race all around the World. I know some teams will have difficulty with the budget, but for Aprilia they are excited to have their bikes shown in another market. For our team and myself it is a win, win.
California is the biggest market in the World, so it’s the place to be. You are like me, you are there for the sport and Giuseppe has pulled something out of the bag and what the AMA Nationals has lost is Grand Prix’s gain.
I mean Red Bull being involved and I am sure they are trying to get James Stewart involved, then maybe Red Bull push to have the Honda team there, if that happens then maybe Monster say lets also get our riders there, anything is possible. Maybe all of a sudden everyone will be there.
Interview Thursday 01st April 2010 By Geoff Meyer
Jonathan Beasley is one man who has put his heart and soul into Motocross, and Grand Prix Motocross has been one of his biggest passions. As a young man Beasley got the chance to see multiple World Motocross Champion Roger De Coster race.
Back in the 1970’s and 80’s De Coster was one of the coolest and most flamboyant riders around and he was pure Grand Prix. Beasley is the owner of the Budds Creek circuit in Maryland and has run a couple of USGP’s in the 1990's and the 2007 Motocross of Nations.
When I got the news yesterday that there was going to be a United States Grand Prix at the Glen Helen circuit in California I just had to call Jonathan Beasley up and talk to him.
MXlarge: Jonathan, this is really big news for the sport isn’t it?
Beasley: Can you believe that, man. Wow, as a Motocross fan this is great. I mean when I ran my Grand Prix it wasn’t at a good time of the year and the interest on the East coast isn’t the same as in Southern California. I think Glen Helen is the perfect place to run a Grand Prix. Glen Helen was in the right place at the right time.
MXlarge; Jonathan, you are into this sport because you love it, just like me and so many others. Everyone here in Europe and around the World is excited about it and I know there is no bigger supporter to the Grand Prix’s than you. What do you think about it all.
Beasley: I am happy there is a Grand Prix in America again. I wish Glen Helen the best of luck in promoting and putting on the event. I think location wise, if a GP can work in America, it can work there. The location, the connection with the factory teams, the staff and the envoriment, it can work for sure.
MXlarge: I thought your 2007 MXoN event was the best Motocross event I had ever been to, but then two years later in Italy it was again the best Motocross race I have ever been to, as far as magnitude. Youthstream know how to put on races with help from people like yourself. My guess is that Glen Helen and Youthstream will want to put in a huge race.
Beasley: I think these two parties working together, it has to be a success. Mainly because of the timing, being early in the GP season. The GP’s I had at Budds Creek was always middle of the summer. Having a Motocross race in Califormia at that time of the year, and also the fact the race was expected to happen there anyway (the AMA National was meant to be run at Glen Helen on May 30, but was cancelled). It’s also right after the first AMA National, so maybe some of the AMA guys want to use it as a final test before the next round of the Nationals.
MXlarge: I was thinking even if the top AMA guys don’t want to race, maybe it’s possible to hold some practice sessions during the GP weekend so they can ride the circuit and test their bikes. That would be a great way to prepare also and attract more fans. Is that maybe possible?
Beasley: I can’t see that happening with the logistics with the paddock. I think you might get two or three AMA guys who might want to race. What we used to do was give the AMA factory teams track sponsorship in return for using their riders. I think that might be a good idea for Glen Helen to do.
MXlarge: Jonathan, when you ran your Grand Prix in 1999 it wasn’t a big success spectator wise, what will be different for Glen Helen?
Beasley: I am not in Southern California and Motocross is big in that area. Glen Helen has a big name Worldwide, and it’s also got the next Motocross of Nations in three or four years.
MXlarge: A Grand Prix in California, with possible support from James Stewart or some other AMA riders, it could be huge. If you get James there, it’s going to be a killer weekend.
Beasley: In my opinion James will ride because of his involvement with Red Bull. I think with James if his arm is healed that would be a given that he will race.
MXlarge: Would you go to watch this race?
Beasley: I have a race scheduled that weekend, but you know I have a good team around me, and they could run the race for me. I’ve only ever missed a race at my track because of a death in the family, but I really love Grand Prix Motocross. I haven’t missed a USGP in a long time. I would like to be there on May 30.
MXlarge: KTM want their American based riders to race. Former World MX2 Champion Tyla Rattray told me that he wants to race if Mitch Payton lets him. That is all good news.
Beasley: Geoff, this race will be a success, I think it’s great that it is going to happen.
The World Motocross Championship turned another corner yesterday when news leaked out that a round of the FIM World Motocross Champion would be held at the famous Glen Helen circuit in America.
Probably the best known Motocross circuit in America it was with huge emotion as it became clear that Glen Helen was now a Grand Prix facility.
It was back in the early 1990’s that Glen Helen ran a 500cc Grand Prix under the promotion of Roger De Coster and now nearly 20 years later the Grand Prix riders return to California.
We dec ided to contact a handful of people inside the Grand Prix circle and ask them their opinion on the news. We spoke to Dave Thorpe, Sylvain Geboers, Josh Coppins and Stefan Everts.
Stefan Everts Red Bull KTM team manager and 10 times World Motocross Champion
We are very excited about this; it is great for the sport and the riders. Also for Red Bull it is a good step and something they are supporting. For KTM it is the chance to go to America and show our new models, and show our riders. I think Glen Helen is a really good circuit and it’s really a good move for us, very positive for the sport.
We will do everything we can to make this a really special event. Of course we also would like that Tommy Searle and Mike Alessi race this race. Alessi has been out and all the extra riding he can do is good for him. KTM support this event 100% and are excited to go.
For me I remember racing the USGP and it was always a big deal, America is a big market and to race there was always a pleasure. I also think with the event being on the West coast there are more fans than on the East Coast, so the chance of a good support from the spectators is possible.
Sylvain Geboers team owner of the Rockstar/Teka Suzuki team
I look forward to it, I support a Grand Prix in the US, and it is needed. I think it is exciting to go back to the US, that must be above any negatives. The news comes quickly, we all have our budgets decided and for some of the teams it is a problem. For those teams that have an American sponsor it shouldn’t be a problem. We are happy there is a Grand Prix in America, for the sport it is a necessity to have a Grand Prix in the US. It comes so quickly, and unprepared, so suddenly out of the corner, at a moment when we are starting the Grand Prix season.
No doubt Suzuki in America will help us, we are an official team and we are in the area of Suzuki, just as Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha are in that area and will support the teams. I have no clue if there is an event on the same day, and what type of support we will get.
Whatever is possible I will have, our cooperation with Roger is very good and he will support it 100%, there is no doubt about that. It is no problem for our team to go there. Both Rockstar and Teka are happy to have a Grand Prix there.
Nobody knows what will happen, what I do know is that because it is so early in the season all the teams will go, otherwise they can forget being World Champion.
Dave Thorpe CCM team manager and three times World 500cc Champion.
I’ve had contact with the directors at CCM and they are very positive about it, obviously we had a budget, I want to talk to Giuseppe this weekend about that. If you look at the schedule we have to come back to France the weekend after America, so that is tough. We can’t call Roger up and say give us some Suzuki’s. I mean we have plenty of bikes, so that isn’t a problem. CCM have welcomed the chance to go to America really.
Obviously it is nice for the team and the company to be seen in America, but I was bitterly disappointed that the British GP dropped off that date, but with it being now put into the calendar later in the year, and then I am okay with that. As always Giuseppe will have a plan.
I did Carlsbad, I did Glen Helen, and also Hollister Hills, I even won a race there. From a riders point of view it’s good to race there and go and show what they can do. As always there is always the politics and this is going to be a big event, well organized.
Josh Coppins Aprilia Factory rider
It’s great, bloody good, wicked track. I am wrapped. I mean I always wanted to race at Glen Helen, and to now have the Grand Prix there it is great news. We do a World Championship and we need to race all around the World. I know some teams will have difficulty with the budget, but for Aprilia they are excited to have their bikes shown in another market. For our team and myself it is a win, win.
California is the biggest market in the World, so it’s the place to be. You are like me, you are there for the sport and Giuseppe has pulled something out of the bag and what the AMA Nationals has lost is Grand Prix’s gain.
I mean Red Bull being involved and I am sure they are trying to get James Stewart involved, then maybe Red Bull push to have the Honda team there, if that happens then maybe Monster say lets also get our riders there, anything is possible. Maybe all of a sudden everyone will be there.
Interview Thursday 01st April 2010 By Geoff Meyer
Jonathan Beasley is one man who has put his heart and soul into Motocross, and Grand Prix Motocross has been one of his biggest passions. As a young man Beasley got the chance to see multiple World Motocross Champion Roger De Coster race.
Back in the 1970’s and 80’s De Coster was one of the coolest and most flamboyant riders around and he was pure Grand Prix. Beasley is the owner of the Budds Creek circuit in Maryland and has run a couple of USGP’s in the 1990's and the 2007 Motocross of Nations.
When I got the news yesterday that there was going to be a United States Grand Prix at the Glen Helen circuit in California I just had to call Jonathan Beasley up and talk to him.
MXlarge: Jonathan, this is really big news for the sport isn’t it?
Beasley: Can you believe that, man. Wow, as a Motocross fan this is great. I mean when I ran my Grand Prix it wasn’t at a good time of the year and the interest on the East coast isn’t the same as in Southern California. I think Glen Helen is the perfect place to run a Grand Prix. Glen Helen was in the right place at the right time.
MXlarge; Jonathan, you are into this sport because you love it, just like me and so many others. Everyone here in Europe and around the World is excited about it and I know there is no bigger supporter to the Grand Prix’s than you. What do you think about it all.
Beasley: I am happy there is a Grand Prix in America again. I wish Glen Helen the best of luck in promoting and putting on the event. I think location wise, if a GP can work in America, it can work there. The location, the connection with the factory teams, the staff and the envoriment, it can work for sure.
MXlarge: I thought your 2007 MXoN event was the best Motocross event I had ever been to, but then two years later in Italy it was again the best Motocross race I have ever been to, as far as magnitude. Youthstream know how to put on races with help from people like yourself. My guess is that Glen Helen and Youthstream will want to put in a huge race.
Beasley: I think these two parties working together, it has to be a success. Mainly because of the timing, being early in the GP season. The GP’s I had at Budds Creek was always middle of the summer. Having a Motocross race in Califormia at that time of the year, and also the fact the race was expected to happen there anyway (the AMA National was meant to be run at Glen Helen on May 30, but was cancelled). It’s also right after the first AMA National, so maybe some of the AMA guys want to use it as a final test before the next round of the Nationals.
MXlarge: I was thinking even if the top AMA guys don’t want to race, maybe it’s possible to hold some practice sessions during the GP weekend so they can ride the circuit and test their bikes. That would be a great way to prepare also and attract more fans. Is that maybe possible?
Beasley: I can’t see that happening with the logistics with the paddock. I think you might get two or three AMA guys who might want to race. What we used to do was give the AMA factory teams track sponsorship in return for using their riders. I think that might be a good idea for Glen Helen to do.
MXlarge: Jonathan, when you ran your Grand Prix in 1999 it wasn’t a big success spectator wise, what will be different for Glen Helen?
Beasley: I am not in Southern California and Motocross is big in that area. Glen Helen has a big name Worldwide, and it’s also got the next Motocross of Nations in three or four years.
MXlarge: A Grand Prix in California, with possible support from James Stewart or some other AMA riders, it could be huge. If you get James there, it’s going to be a killer weekend.
Beasley: In my opinion James will ride because of his involvement with Red Bull. I think with James if his arm is healed that would be a given that he will race.
MXlarge: Would you go to watch this race?
Beasley: I have a race scheduled that weekend, but you know I have a good team around me, and they could run the race for me. I’ve only ever missed a race at my track because of a death in the family, but I really love Grand Prix Motocross. I haven’t missed a USGP in a long time. I would like to be there on May 30.
MXlarge: KTM want their American based riders to race. Former World MX2 Champion Tyla Rattray told me that he wants to race if Mitch Payton lets him. That is all good news.
Beasley: Geoff, this race will be a success, I think it’s great that it is going to happen.
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