Tell me about the failed 02 MXdesNations at Competition Park

7/23/2018 7:39pm Edited Date/Time 5/23/2022 7:25pm
Would love to hear your personal experiences regarding the nonevent.

Did anybody get refunds?

Did the Tribal Council really do something shiesty?

Did the promoter make unfulfilled promises to the tribe and or fans?

Do you have any tickets, shirts, passes etc. from the event to this day?

Did the FIM pull the plug prematurely?

Was the event truly ever going to happen?

I would especially like to hear any inside knowledge or verified truthes about what really happened because with all the finger pointing taking place between the promoter and Tribal Council i never really felt like I heard the whole truth.

Please discuss.
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aeffertz
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7/23/2018 7:44pm
There is a really good thread on here with people sharing their first hand experiences and some members on here even have event memorabilia and tickets. I'll see if I can't dig it up.
7/23/2018 8:06pm Edited Date/Time 7/23/2018 8:06pm
This certainly brings back memories. I lived in San Diego at the time... looked forward to going to this event.

From what I remember, the people responsible for preparing the track didn't have their shit together, didn't secure proper licenses, so the Indian tribe literally locked them out of the facility.
Tonynz
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7/23/2018 8:09pm Edited Date/Time 7/23/2018 8:30pm
We had tickets for it, got a message from a friend when were on a stop over in Honolulu on the way over to say it was cancelled. I put the tickets in a safe place when I got home but can’t find them.
We went to the World Cup of MX, Rick Doughty of Vintage Iron and others organised for riders who had already arrived and for the fans at a Glen Helen.
Mike Metzger was the 3rd rider on the NZ team.
I think If you had a foreign passport you got in for free.


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Bruce372
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7/23/2018 8:45pm
It was pretty tragic, all the tribe people were allowed to ride for free. One guy had a wreck a few days before and sadly passed. The tribe felt it was bad mojo and pulled the plug.
I liked the track a lot.

Comp park Jim was a regular poster on proride st the time
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The Shop

7/23/2018 8:56pm Edited Date/Time 7/23/2018 8:56pm
Bruce372 wrote:
It was pretty tragic, all the tribe people were allowed to ride for free. One guy had a wreck a few days before and sadly passed...
It was pretty tragic, all the tribe people were allowed to ride for free. One guy had a wreck a few days before and sadly passed. The tribe felt it was bad mojo and pulled the plug.
I liked the track a lot.

Comp park Jim was a regular poster on proride st the time
Never heard this. Just a whole host of other rumors. Thanks for sharing.
Frank
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7/23/2018 9:02pm Edited Date/Time 7/24/2018 4:23am
I still have 6 tickets for the event if you want to buy them. I didn't need that $700 anyways. Could have used them at Glen Helen consolation event but elected out so zero refund. Thanks guys. Fucken criminals.
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lostboy819
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7/23/2018 9:13pm Edited Date/Time 7/23/2018 9:14pm
It was never gonna happen, was not even close to being ready and they could have used another 3 months and still would not have been ready.
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GuyB
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7/23/2018 10:41pm
lostboy819 wrote:
It was never gonna happen, was not even close to being ready and they could have used another 3 months and still would not have been...
It was never gonna happen, was not even close to being ready and they could have used another 3 months and still would not have been ready.
Sounds about right. Never should have been there.
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G-man
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7/23/2018 10:46pm Edited Date/Time 7/23/2018 10:47pm
Malcolm McCasey promised the farm and in reality it was a dirt lot on Indian ground.

It was Sketch City from the get-go.

For chrissakes Goodwin's doodling on a cocktail napkin had far more potential and proved to be right. Woohoo
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robkinuk
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7/24/2018 2:18am
Frank wrote:
I still have 6 tickets for the event if you want to buy them. I didn't need that $700 anyways. Could have used them at Glen...
I still have 6 tickets for the event if you want to buy them. I didn't need that $700 anyways. Could have used them at Glen Helen consolation event but elected out so zero refund. Thanks guys. Fucken criminals.
Wow man 16 years on and still have anger issues?......let it go and get yourself to Red Bud.
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mx_563
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7/24/2018 7:08am
I also heard about the native american kid that had an accident at the track and how that was a key domino in the collapse of the event (in addition to the inadequate preparation of the facility).

I rode a practice day at that track in late 1997, I think the track had barely opened up. Ryan Hughes was there and rode a modded KX80 with an XR100 engine in preparation for Langtown. He was flying! Also signed some autographs in the pits for some kids. Seemed pretty cool.

Now I can't even remember where that track was exactly. Can anyone point me to the location?
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Stuntman949
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7/24/2018 7:40am
Where was this said Competition Park?
7/24/2018 7:42am Edited Date/Time 7/24/2018 7:48am
mx_563 wrote:
I also heard about the native american kid that had an accident at the track and how that was a key domino in the collapse of...
I also heard about the native american kid that had an accident at the track and how that was a key domino in the collapse of the event (in addition to the inadequate preparation of the facility).

I rode a practice day at that track in late 1997, I think the track had barely opened up. Ryan Hughes was there and rode a modded KX80 with an XR100 engine in preparation for Langtown. He was flying! Also signed some autographs in the pits for some kids. Seemed pretty cool.

Now I can't even remember where that track was exactly. Can anyone point me to the location?
33°47'04.6"N 116°55'15.7"W was the "newer" Comp Park (Had the Des Nations & Go Kart Track among two other tracks)
33°49'06.3"N 117°00'02.6"W was the older Comp Park. (I believe the original.. Had a Skate Park, Dirt Oval, and 2-3 Tracks)

I'll have to dig through old film boxes. Both locations were quite fun. Will always remember DV12 riding the main track at the older competition park, or older FMX rider Trevor Vines showing up and signing posters/passing out stickers to the kids.
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Donovan759
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7/24/2018 7:50am Edited Date/Time 7/24/2018 8:09am
Where was this said Competition Park?
I was trying to figure out the same thing and I found this link w/ an interesting article.

https://americansandassociation.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=8239

Edit: Another interesting article.
https://motocrossactionmag.com/sept-17-whos-to-blame-for-the-mxdn-disas…
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MXD
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7/24/2018 8:19am
Here are some old satellite images of the old and new Comp Park from 02-03

Original Comp Park


New Comp Park (MXdN)


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psg119
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7/24/2018 9:08am
Dude I used to love Competition Park!!
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Ramrod
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7/24/2018 9:35am
So a combination of things led to the failure of this race. Good on Glen Helen and those that made that happen for the poor folks that spent money to fly there for the mxdn.

FIM and Dorna should never have awarded that race to them in the first place.
xr70
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7/24/2018 9:50am
The old Comp park was great! We used to ride there every weekend in 2000 -2001.
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AZRider
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7/24/2018 9:52am
Lived in San Diego at the time and used to ride Comp Park during the week at night. The World Cup at Glen Helen was where I saw Chad Reed pass Tim Ferry and knew CR was legit. At the time the only person consistently faster than Captain America Ferry was the GOAT himself. That Australian team was probably one of the best shots at a MXDN podium they ever had and it didn't happen.

Reed, Byrne, and Ando were legit then.
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Robgvx
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7/24/2018 9:55am Edited Date/Time 7/24/2018 10:35am
And who was VP of Dorna when Competition Park got the MXdN?

I’ll give you a clue. He’s Italian.
JJ4
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7/24/2018 10:30am
I always enjoyed riding at the old Comp Park. I rode out at the new Comp Park a few times but it sucked compared to the old one. I attempted to ride what was supposed to be the "MXoN track" but it wasn't prepped or anything. I also remember thinking if that was the layout they were going to use that it would make for a sucky MXoN.
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Falcon
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7/24/2018 10:43am
I made it to the World Cup. Somewhere in my memorabilia collection I have a printed American flag with the riders' signatures on it: Tim Ferry, Kyle Lewis and Sean Hamblin.
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BMSOBx2
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7/24/2018 11:26am
I still have a world cup of motocross shirt I bought at the event.
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Donovan759
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7/24/2018 11:37am
Ramrod wrote:
So a combination of things led to the failure of this race. Good on Glen Helen and those that made that happen for the poor folks...
So a combination of things led to the failure of this race. Good on Glen Helen and those that made that happen for the poor folks that spent money to fly there for the mxdn.

FIM and Dorna should never have awarded that race to them in the first place.
This is from the RacerX vault. I thought it was interesting.


"Meanwhile the 2002 Motocross des Nations was mired in controversy. In a shocker, officials announced the event would take place in the U.S. at Southern California’s Competition Park. The facility would move to a new location on Indian tribe lands and build a world-class track just for the event. But progress was either slow or non-existent, and as the race grew closer, anyone who checked the place out left scratching their heads. Finally an incident broke a few days before the race, one of the tribes men fired a gun, and the whole facility was shut down—and the des Nations cancelled. Team USA members Ricky Carmichael, Mike LaRocco and Mike Brown went home. Fans groaned, but a cool international race called the World Cup of Motocross took place at Glen Helen, just to give fans who had traveled halfway across the world something to see. The American team consisted of Tim Ferry, Kyle Lewis and Sean Hamblin, but they came up short against the Australian team of Chad Reed, Michael Byrne and Craig Anderson.

The actual des Nations were rescheduled back in Europe, but the US couldn't get a team and bikes overseas in such a short order. France railed to the victory in the race."
jeffro503
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7/24/2018 12:26pm
I have an old worn out T-shirt for this race. Since it never happened , they sold the shirts off to discount clothing stores. I found mine in Ross. If I can find it , I'll post a pic.
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MXerDW
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7/24/2018 1:27pm

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Question
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7/24/2018 1:40pm
Ramrod wrote:
So a combination of things led to the failure of this race. Good on Glen Helen and those that made that happen for the poor folks...
So a combination of things led to the failure of this race. Good on Glen Helen and those that made that happen for the poor folks that spent money to fly there for the mxdn.

FIM and Dorna should never have awarded that race to them in the first place.
Donovan759 wrote:
This is from the RacerX vault. I thought it was interesting. "Meanwhile the 2002 Motocross des Nations was mired in controversy. In a shocker, officials announced...
This is from the RacerX vault. I thought it was interesting.


"Meanwhile the 2002 Motocross des Nations was mired in controversy. In a shocker, officials announced the event would take place in the U.S. at Southern California’s Competition Park. The facility would move to a new location on Indian tribe lands and build a world-class track just for the event. But progress was either slow or non-existent, and as the race grew closer, anyone who checked the place out left scratching their heads. Finally an incident broke a few days before the race, one of the tribes men fired a gun, and the whole facility was shut down—and the des Nations cancelled. Team USA members Ricky Carmichael, Mike LaRocco and Mike Brown went home. Fans groaned, but a cool international race called the World Cup of Motocross took place at Glen Helen, just to give fans who had traveled halfway across the world something to see. The American team consisted of Tim Ferry, Kyle Lewis and Sean Hamblin, but they came up short against the Australian team of Chad Reed, Michael Byrne and Craig Anderson.

The actual des Nations were rescheduled back in Europe, but the US couldn't get a team and bikes overseas in such a short order. France railed to the victory in the race."
Intereresting read.

Also, France won in 01 (part of this win was the US not sending a team due to 911), but not in 02 where Italy took it.

http://mxofnations.blogspot.com/2011/09/2002.html
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Tonynz
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7/24/2018 3:51pm
Here is the program.
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Gukamonster
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7/24/2018 5:54pm
The real 2002 Motocross Des Nations was hastily re-arranged at Bellpuig, Spain October 21, 2002. Italy was the only country that sent their full team and won the event (Andrea Bartolini, Alessio Chiodi, Alessandro Puzar). It was the debut of the 1 moto format. Spain's own Javier Garcia Vico won the moto.

https://motocrossactionmag.com/oct-21-the-replacements-motocross-des-na…

RESULTS: MOTOCROSS DES NATION

1. Javier Vico Garcia…Spain
2. Andrea Bartolini…Italy
3. Alessio Chiodi…Italy
4. Jussi Vehvilainen…Finland
5. Peter Iven…Belgium
6. Danny Theybers…Belgium
7. Joaquin Karlsson…Sweden
8. Marco Kovalianen…Finland
9. Alex Puzar…Italy
10. Thierry Bethys…France
11. Antti Pyrohonen…Finland
12. Oscar Lanze…Spain
13. Johnny Lindhe…Sweden
14. Serge Guidetty…France
15. Avo Leok…Estonia

FINAL STANDINGS BY COUNTRY

1. Italy…5 points
2. Belgium…11 points
3. Finland…12 points
4. Spain…13 points
5. Sweden…20 points
wavslide1
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7/24/2018 7:25pm
The real 2002 Motocross Des Nations was hastily re-arranged at Bellpuig, Spain October 21, 2002. Italy was the only country that sent their full team and...
The real 2002 Motocross Des Nations was hastily re-arranged at Bellpuig, Spain October 21, 2002. Italy was the only country that sent their full team and won the event (Andrea Bartolini, Alessio Chiodi, Alessandro Puzar). It was the debut of the 1 moto format. Spain's own Javier Garcia Vico won the moto.

https://motocrossactionmag.com/oct-21-the-replacements-motocross-des-na…

RESULTS: MOTOCROSS DES NATION

1. Javier Vico Garcia…Spain
2. Andrea Bartolini…Italy
3. Alessio Chiodi…Italy
4. Jussi Vehvilainen…Finland
5. Peter Iven…Belgium
6. Danny Theybers…Belgium
7. Joaquin Karlsson…Sweden
8. Marco Kovalianen…Finland
9. Alex Puzar…Italy
10. Thierry Bethys…France
11. Antti Pyrohonen…Finland
12. Oscar Lanze…Spain
13. Johnny Lindhe…Sweden
14. Serge Guidetty…France
15. Avo Leok…Estonia

FINAL STANDINGS BY COUNTRY

1. Italy…5 points
2. Belgium…11 points
3. Finland…12 points
4. Spain…13 points
5. Sweden…20 points
I remember the anticipation, then total let down. Then they had the one off international race at Glen Helen. It was OK.

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