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MXMattii
10/24/2017 7:56am
10/24/2017 7:56am
Edited Date/Time
10/25/2017 10:25am
The title says it all. Sources are telling me that it is very likely that there will be no Team Belgium at the MXON in the USA if there won't be any financial support from Youthstream. The local government body is broke, FMB-BMB and Joel Smets has resigned as team coach because he smells that a shit storm is coming. Making this trip with only private sponsors will be hard and very unlikely. Also I don't see teams make any afford after 19/20 GP's.
“After 11 beautiful years, with Team Belgium MXoN, I are proud to say goodbye to our job as team managers of the Belgian team. When I entered the footsteps of my legendary name mate Joel Robert 11 years ago, it was perfect in my idea of a so-called conversion. I had a half-time job and therefore had some time off to keep up with things I thought during my career: could not be better, including a professional (top sports) youth training for mx and Team Belgium MXoN.
“However, my professional situation has changed drastically from ‘I’ve got a hand free’ to ‘my hands more than full’ throughout those years. In addition, an active teenage daughter and son who occasionally ask for some attention! Furthermore, my wife does not mind when I’m home for a day.
“Finally, I dreamt of government support as one of the overarching and professionally structured federations, as in most other sports and in our neighboring countries. In the ideal world, both of the above-mentioned projects should be sent from that federation … the realization that after more than 10 years, that ideal world is still not tomorrow, I feel sad and undermine my faith in a flourishing future for mx in Belgium.”
It would be more of an incentive to participate if there were some proceeds to develop the sport back home.
"Glory" doesn't quite cut it when the event is a windfall for Giuseppe and no one else.
The Shop
In all seriousness... shame they are not gonna make it. I love the MXoN and always hope to see the best go at it from bith sides of the pond.
Less races for both SX and MX with more weekends off lets guys riders recover, doesn't burn them out ( potentially lengthening some of their careers), also gives mechanics some more weekends off and lets the teams get financially a bit more comfortable.
MXON needs to be every other year, stop with the greed and make the guys care about it. If its only every other year the guys know they might only get 1 or 2 chances at it in their primes and might make more of an effort to attend. Having the event every year is just based on greed from the promoter not wanting to lose out on a money maker of a weekend. Its not like he is profit sharing from the gate and sponsors for that weekend, he is putting himself before the sport.
The sport is bleeding its self dry from within, the guys at the top need to look up and realize the horizon is not looking great unless they change it.
It might be time for youthstream to realise that Motocross is a niche sport and if they want it to become a mainstream sport it might be wise to invest before it fades away.
At this point, less than 1 month after the last MXoN , it is far too early to say they dont go.
Pit Row
The other countries need to look at this fund raising option as well.
Yes Youthstream need to help out as well not just selected nations but all who qualified the previous year maybe.
Just that Joel Smets is standing down from a position he has filled so well, for 11 years, so he could better do his job ( for KTM) and have more time for his family and himself. A Great of our sport.
The Belgium Federation may well have some difficulties - many sporting organisations do. Hell, just after the Australian ISDE Teams dominated the event, the majority of funding for Motorcycle Sport was pulled, to waste, as usual, on our , largely, non achieving Olympics Team. Classic - gain World success, and the Tools in power ignore it, and waste public funds on no hopers.....
I doubt it will ever happen, but, if the major, long term participant Nations, if not All of the Nation's, all got together and nailed that Prick Luongo to the wall with a Genuine threat to not attend, unless adequate funding was given to All teams to attend, well, it would be a good thing.
That Pig is making a fortune from the MXDN, And the GPs. He needs to take care of the Golden Goose, and not fist rape it for the eggs as he has now for years and years.
As for every second year - fuck that - it's a view inevitably expressed the last few years by US fans with their losing streak, and it's just pathetic. I'm sure "you'll" win next year.
There were both the Motocross Des Nations and the Trophy Des Nations for decades, and countries attended. I'm surprised that avaricious mongrel, Luongo, hasn't thought of re-introducing the seperate 250 and MXGP events. Not that I am advocating it.
I would say, “Houston, we have a problem”. Seems ominous.
1) Youthstream wants GP motocross to be like F1.
2) Motocross will never be like F1.
Result: It's all burning to the ground, really slowly, and we are nearing the bottom floor.
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