MXGP Opener in Argentina = flat track?!

How many of the legendary GP tracks do they still race at vs. these parking lot tracks?

About 50/50 

El pollo lame la pista de carreras(Chicken Licks Raceway)

🤣

As an Aussie I was stoked to finally see a round for next year after such a long time. Plenty of great tracks in Oz but they're making a parking lot track at a car racing circuit. I admittedly don't know all the info but from what I can tell, it's not a permanent track? (Hopefully someone here can correct me or inform better). I understand the reasons behind having the round in NT but damn I really hope they don't mess this up, such a waste if it's a joke track 

The shit show that is MXGP no wonder most riders want to leave.

Just like in beautiful mountainous Switzerland, they plunk a lousy track down in a random flat spot.

When Roggenburg, a classic track still hosts events:

That's horrendous 

The track layout makes no diffrence anymore, its all about being close to a large populated area so  they can draw paying spectators

From what I've read, it will be a permanent track at The Hidden Valley circuit, which is, apparently, only around 11ks from the center of Darwin.

I saw an interview with a NT / Darwin Big Wig, that said they've a sloped section there they are intending to build the track on, and it would remain as part of the Motorsports Complex. Which, I would think, would be a great  boon to the MX racing community up there.

I've never been to Hidden Valley, and only Darwin itself, years ago before it existed. So, I have no idea if it's all true - a sloped build area, or if it will remain for Locals use.

I'm a bit unhappy with it being so far away from Anything - hell, it appears it will be more expensive, overall, for me, and most Australians,  to go to the Darwin MXGP than it is for me to go to the 2 Indonesian GPs that I've gone to a fair few times now. 

But, it's a 'model' that so many sports have had for years now - 'selling' an event to a local Govt, or Business Group, - whoever will stump up the money, basically. 

I wish we could have got it in Sydney - Eastern Creek / Sydney Motorsports Park would have been perfect - on the South side, the Hill and natural spectating bowl, a great MX track could be made,   with the existing great facilities there, in the near geographical center of Sydney, with SO Much else to see and do . And,  so easy for locals, and any Interstate or OS visitor's to get to, as well as the Teams. Properly Promoted, it could have been a real success, to have here in OZ for many years to come. Despite the years that the Darwin event is supposedly committed to, if it's Not a financial success for the City / State, it will disappear, well before the contracted time, and then it Will be another few decades before it Ever gets back to OZ.

As an aside, I think the Indo GPs next year, go back to the one 'pop up' track on an old airstrip, and that Great  one in Sumbawa , on the Island of West Nusa Tenggara. , after last years 'double header' at the the Airstrip. That, Sumbawa, is a  fantastic track, but, the usual d**kheads, who could not have not watched it there, will regard it as a flat, parking lot track....

I've bought some 3 day tickets for the Darwin MXGP already, if only to support it, as that time of year I'm usually working OS. If I can actually get to it, I might just include a bit of typical NT Tourism - you know, Kakadu etc. 

SMX is same same. 

It’s real motocross or bust. I don’t need pro racing/traveling circus as much as they need me.

Looks excellent.

Being a GP rider must suck when looking at fly away races when visiting the USA. 🤔

MXGP of Patagonia was one of the best tracks on the whole calendar, so why not replace it with a shitty flat man made piece of crap? Good job MXGP, once again.

Has to be more to the story.

I heard the land was sold for real estate. 

Well, the bloke that designed the track they've used since 2015 , is designing this one.

So, I choose to hope that he / they can make something of the plot of land they have.

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but, I'll stay open to the hopefully, better side of the equation.

After all, this site is full of people that seem to worship Flat,  Little tracks built in Stadiums, Super Speedways and Dragstrips.

The land where the GP was held was sold to make vacation homes, sad, because it was one of the best motocross tracks in the world and a fan and rider favorite, not only that, despite being on a remote location, a lot of spectators used to go, it was one of the most attended GPs of the Year.

I think that if Luongo is willing to invest (something that he won't do) you can build a good racetrack in a flat área, look at Fox Raceway, its the worst track on the AMA Calendar but it isn't that bad.

Farewell Patagonia Race track, you will be missed.

That track was beautiful and made for amazing racing. The come from the back from Herlings in 2018 is a race I go back to from time to time. 

Well there’s one thing off my bucket list

Apparently Patagonia has been flattened and being developed on already 😩

So is SX. The purists in me would love to see sx go away(or be adapted to larger venues) and outdoors be expanded. 

I know it will never happen but I can dream. 

That is so fucking sad. What the hell is wrong with this world. Hey this looks nice, let’s build a bunch of homes on it. Destroy nature for $$$. So tired of it.

Another black eye for MXGP.

A black for our sport. This shit is happening everywhere in the world. Damn that track looked amazing 

What surprises me is that so many GP organizers opt for these shitty locations. 

Infront obviously are the ones deciding on the deal, but the local promoter is the one coming with the bid including the location. I mean i asume the local promoters are MX fans, and if you are why do you want to organize a GP on tracks like Spain, Switzerland, this flat argentina location? 
 

Is this an uphill section? Hard to tell in the pic but looks to have potential.

Looks like it..