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Infront are greedy. $6.5 mil.to host a MXGP is insane.
Considering that the Hidden Valley motorsports complex already has the infrastructure in place to hold events with tens of thousands of people, and the motocross track hasn’t even been built, then the only reasonable conclusion I can come to is that the financial burden ls because of Infront’s demands.
Who woulda thought
Why the f…k is it in NT anyway.
Should be at Manjimup or a mxgp standard track.
Not Broadford either went to both rounds there and raced there for years its a shithole
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Yeah im still absolutely gobsmacked why the NT, the weather is going to be horrible, plus the crime is out of control up that way, take it to an established track already, plenty of places could have a MXGP like the ones mentioned above.
But your right infront charging a ridiculous amount to host a round and the riders get how much out of it.
I've read over many, many years that Luongo The Drongo charges Big Bucks for the priviledge of holding one of His races, but this amount seems , shall we say, incredible.
Perhaps this $6.5m is the cost for the 10(?) years contract, and the press have just discovered that number? I could see how that might be a good source of 'outrage' to be stoked by the press. "That Much For a Dirt Bike Event" - that sort of outrage generating thing? Gov's will spend plenty of money on 'Normal' sports, but those" 'orrible Dirt Bikes", well, that's not the done thing .........
Or, the NT Gov has been stupid enough to pay that outrageous amount for 1 year?
Buggered if I know.
I'm glad I've so far, just bought the $150 3 day tickets, and Not the various 'VIP' options, that's for sure.
As, from the get go, I've had some serious concerns about this going ahead, and, if it does, for it to survive for any length of time.
Manjimup will not get enough bodies to it , to pay for the event - it's Not 1992, boys and girls. Perth has grown, but it's still half a World away from the main population of OZ. Though, we could see a re-appearance of the idiocy that was promoted at the Brit MXdN a few years ago, where a Promoter put forward having the MXdN at a bloody Trotting Track down by the Swan River, FFS!
To have a chance at economic success, as I've said all along, it needs to be right in what is near to the Center of Sydney, or, one of the other Main cities that has a few Million inhabitants. Not in bum f**k nowhere, which is where most any MX track is here in OZ. Well, by the thinking of the General Public, which is who We need to get to a GP, for it to make enough money to pay Luongos fees, and pay for the set up and running of the event.
Apart from the location Hidden valley has great facilities, and its close to a major city.
It has a lot going for it, except it is expensive for Aussie fans.
I won't be attending as it would have cost $3,000 for the weekend.
I could see the GP in Europe or an AMA round for a bit more money.
It’s close to the NT’s major city, but Darwin, with a population of less than 150k, is not a major city by even Australian standards.
Unfortunately for the event to be successful, it needed to be on the east coast somewhere, near to the bulk of the population and the core of Australian moto. But I hope they prove me wrong.
i looked into it, but it was cheaper for me to go to the Indonesian round,, getting to Darwin is not cheap
Should of been at ride park VIC.
I've just had a look on Google Earth where Dawin is located, why the hell would anyone want to host a GP so far away from the rest of Australia?
So they can feed Infront to the Crocs.
😂 not a bad idea
The northern territory state government is paying infronts bill
Ride Park melb would work close to the airport and the track prep is next level. They need to tone down the jumps a bit as its a bit over the top at the moment.
My mate used to ride every weekend but now goes elsewhere because he doesnt need to jump 100fts as an old fart
This triggered a memory haha it’s been like 10 years since I made the trip to ride park but the weekend we went they had built this absolutely enormous jump in the centre out of a right hander. A basically vertical jump face that you couldn’t see the top of, you clicked 3rd out of the turn and just hoped no one was rolling it. There were a couple of multi bike pileups on the downside that day it was so sketchy. They knocked it down after that.
Not going to happen, the Victorian Government won't pay for it, they are broke!
Well, I've gone looking for the story on NT News, but, it's hidden behind a Pay Wall.
Now, I could pay a measly $4 AUD for a 4 week trial, but, I'm wary of being caught out - as I have been before - to have it go to the $260 a year charges..... I'm not that interested in NT goings on.
I'd really like to see if it is, as I suggested, just a Media "Shock / Horror" story to get the 'Karens' all upset, at a sport, other than the usual sports. getting funding Over a Fair Few Years.
Look, decades ago the s**t hit the fan among so many, with the building of the Eastern Creek GP circuit - now Sydney Motorsports Park.
The typical dickheads that were against anything other than ball sports being supported, came out in droves, and, added the usual ( and, that Is something hard to argue against) "We Could Build Schools And Hospitals For That Money". Yes, yes you could, but, a part of Community Health and Well Being, is the provision of Sporting Facilities to The Community. And, Motorsports, had had No investment for decades, if any, in our State.
During the commotion, an, at that time, extremely high profile, National Radio Personality ( who was a Motorcyclist) , actually went to bat for the Complex - highlighting the need for such a thing, plus the lack of help given to a Valid Sport, and, he put into the light the HUGE costs of so many 'conventional' facilities, that are provided with little controversy. He highlighted a big . Multi - and I mean MULTI - field Footy / Cricket and Netball facility across the river from where I live. Now, that's absolutely 'chockers' on some weekends, but it mostly stands empty. Well, the Skatepark we finally got built there, decades after my Skateboard days, Is the one section there that has near day on day ( and night) usage. We never got the wonderful slope there, that we fought so hard for, to have as a classic, Down Hill BMX track, that would also be perfect for Dual Slalom / 4X and Dirt Jumps .......
And, to complete my raving about monies spent on Sports Facilities, my State Government is now contributing near on a couple of Hundred Million $$$$$$ to the 'upgrading ' of an entirely adequate, existing, Football Stadium, that is the home ground to a Team that's basically owned by a Leagues Club across the road ( The Biggest, and, Most Profitable in Australia, it's said) . WTF? - they've the money to pay for the f***ing thing themselves, as they milk the community through their Gambling Halls.
Back to Eastern Creek / SMP - it was also argued against as it being a potential White Elephant. Well, the place is booked All The Time, for so many Motorsports ( and other 'things'). I recently went to St George MC Clubs Night races there, and, while the full circuit was being used for the Bikes, I saw from above the pits, the skid pan and the drifting track in constant use, and, the Drag Strip being used just across from it. Cripes, a mate of mine and I, organized a few Track Days decades ago, and it cost us a motza to run, even then - it's now used for such things, damned near every day, and night, up to the 10.30 curfew.
As an aside, I'm eagerly waiting for the ASBK round there next month - it's a Night Race, and they are fantastic!
Sorry about the ranting. If the GP - is somehow - a success, and this $6.5 Million "blowout' is just the cost of 10 years of the event, well, great. But , I have my doubts that it will be / will survive. And that, will be a serious blow to the sport in Australia.
Pit Row
We'd all pay to watch that!
As a West Aussie I hate that just about everything is East coast based but I agree with you. I'm not going to Darwin but would be there with bells on if it was another location.
I dunno if you’ve been there lately, it’s not what it used to be unfortunately
CLP Government redirect $6.5m extra into Motocross World Championships project
The price of a key motorsports project set to bring an international competition to the NT later this year has blown out by millions of dollars.
Nathaniel Chambers
2 min read
10 Comments
A project to bring a new permanent track to Hidden Valley has blown out by millions of dollars. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
Motorsport
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A motorsports project that is set to bring the Motocross World Championships to the Northern Territory has blown out by millions of dollars.
The MXGP will return to Australia for the first time in 24 years after the former NT Labor Government signed a deal to host the event from September 2025-2029, with an option to extend.
At that time $1.65m was invested into building a permanent track for the event at Hidden Valley, on top of a $3m investment into the wider Hidden Valley masterplan.
However, those plans have hit a road bump with the real cost now estimated to be $8.15m, five times the original cost.
The CLP has redirected $6.5m from the National Basketball League deal, which had not been signed, to fund the MXGP project.
Major Events Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said proper planning had not been under taken on the original estimates and felt they had been backed into a corner.
“The real cost is $8.15 million, five times the original estimate, with no contingencies in place. And that’s just to build it,” she said.
“Delivering the actual event is another cost entirely.
“We were left with two choices: back out and waste millions withdrawing from a signed multi-year agreement or push ahead and find the money — money that could have funded more police, teachers, and nurses.”
A project to bring a new permanent track to Hidden Valley has blown out by millions of dollars. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
The tight deadline for the September event means further financial risks if wet season construction delays occur.
Ms Boothby said the costs compounded on the $100m blowout of the $165m Tiger Brennan Overpass project, as well as $730,000 needed for access requirements to the existing mud and quad racing tracks at Hidden Valley.
A secondary emergency access will need to be built so the Darwin Supercars can proceed, which is scheduled for completion in June, the same month the event will be held.
“If there are any construction delays that prevent the emergency access from being completed on time, this puts the Supercars event at risk,” Ms Boothby said.
“To top it off, we’re still not sure if this track can even be used by the community between MXGP events, which is another unknown thanks to Labor’s poor planning and reckless decision making.
“Going forward, what the CLP Government won’t do is maintain the status quo of living beyond our means like the past eight years without action, certainty and security.”
An opposition spokesman said Labor had made the Territory “the Australian home” for the championships and the CLP needed to stop the blame game.
“Territorians love their motorsport, and it was Territory Labor that made Darwin the Australian home of the FIM Motocross World Championship,” they said.
“This world-class event will rival the scale of LIV Golf in Adelaide, bringing 14,000 fans and 2000 support crew and a $21 million boost to Territory each year - filling our hotels, dining in our restaurants, and supporting local businesses.
“The CLP Government needs to stop the blame game and empty press releases - it’s time to deliver this event for all Territorians to enjoy.”
This is the best I could do for you Bearuno.
Thanks jock !
The story seems a bit 'wishy washy' - but, that's how things tend to be.
I detect the usual Party against Party blame game / BS, and, for that, 'numbers' may have been thrown together, conveniently .
I would say that something going to the 8.15million 'build mark' from 1.65 is a bit strange, it looks like some sums from various other 'things' are being brought into it.
But, hell, a recent Road Diversion and Park Upgrade only a K and a bit from me, to what was a lovely, open space Park and straight road with River Views, has, last I looked - and it's been a while so I'd say there's a fair few Million more subsequently added to it - clocked up to something like 123 Million $$$, from the initial $33 million - which was, originally, a "How The F**k Can It Cost That Much" sum. That project got pretty bloody 'fancy' in scope, pretty bloody quickly !
As I said, I've got basic tickets, and, as I'm scheduled to be in China for the 2 weeks before it, with my perhaps going to the Shanghai MXGP on the 14th ( if that actually goes on) I should be able to get from China to Darwin ( on my employers dime) , and not Sydney. Though, I might get stranded in Bloody Darwin, afterwards ....... 🥵 I've got an old mate to visit who's only around 700 / 800ks away from Darwin, so, I'll have something to do, after the potential stranding, at least. I'll 'wing' it, if I end up there, I guess.
The moral of this story is don't plan sporting events where governments/politics have to be involved.
Haha
That is not the moral....
The morals are:
pay attention in math class, it might be important....
And screw infront ....
…..that’s the governments costs!
In the real world it would have cost about $600,000
Honestly they are dreaming if they thought they could build a world class MX track and facility for $1.65M. That’s where the “blowout” has come from.
1. Even as an Aussie who has been to Darwin many times (for work), when this was announced I just thought. “Not for me”. I drove 2000km each way to watch the 500cc World Champs last time. Darwin - that’s a “No” from me.
2. The Northern Territory News isn’t worth reading - so keep that in mind.
3. The NT government sold a port to the Chinese. The $ earned were spent in about a week. The Chinese still control the port. Don’t expect too much of the government.
skypig : "The Northern Territory News isn’t worth reading - so keep that in mind."
I have in the back of my mind, that the NT News is the NT Paper / Web site that is regularly shown as putting out all manner of BS and Idiocy on the ABCs Media Watch program, and, many other outlets.
"The NT government sold a port to the Chinese. The $ earned were spent in about a week. The Chinese still control the port. "
I expect, one day the Chinese will claim sovereignty of 'their' Port facilities, and move on in......... and, I'm only half joking. They are all upset about the expanding US / AUS base being "too near their port facilities".
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