12/15/99
The other day, when surfing through the best Moto-Cross web pages of the old and the new millennium as well as of the entire universe, www.mxlarge.com, I found an interesting article by it's guru, Bernd Dietrich on triple GPs. See also news page on this site on Kurt Nicoll's (11/17/99)comments during an interview. Well, I have made up my mind too!!!

Please note that the following is my opinion and neither my club's, nor the Luxembourgish federation's and not even my mother in law's position. Well I do not like the idea of triple GPs too much..... What do you think? Drop me an E-Mail and I'll will publish your input!!!! And remember this is the site of one of the 3x GPs and of a club with 50 years organizing experience...........:

It will become more expensive to organize! Additional 2 classes need to get paid to fill the grid and not to forget the prize money for the finishers.

All right, a lot of the infrastructure costs stay the same (Medical Staff, PR, VIP, Track preparation ,etc....), but is there a chance to get more money from sponsoring or TV? No, TV money is for the promoters anyway, even if the event is broadcasted live to the entire world. The GP circuit has its series sponsors, some with exclusive rights. No money to get there either. Then, which is a love-making pain in the butt for a small country, the promoters have the right to claim their part of the sponsoring cake from any cash coming from an international company. Now show me in tiny Luxembourg company not doing international business, but in the position to substantially fund a world championship event?

Maybe all the people working around a track are volunteers, but they are still paid money and with the 125 GP on Saturday, you will also need to pay all these guys an extra day. Knowing that we in Folkendange have some 400 men and women working on race day, I could show you some not very scientific but fascinating calculations.

Ticket Fees? Will be up of course! As I am told for the 2000 triple GPs tickets shall be in the range of 1400LUF, 70DEM, 230FRF, etc.... Becomes a lot of money to take a long the ladyboss-wife and a bunch of kids to a GP, buy French Fries even without mayonnaise, a six pack of beer and a few cokes, plus parking, plus petrol, etc...  Take the road GP circus, where are the 100000 spectator events, may be except Assen these days? These races are very well marketed but the race tracks are deserted. Money makes the world go round, but the Bike fan is usually not a rich man.

Schedule will become very tight on Sunday not allowing e.g. watering, breaks (remember we have volunteer marshals and helpers, do they have a right to lunch?)

There will be too much practice with only 40 riders allowed to try to qualify.....

When I take in consideration the fact that there will be a triple race in Spa-Francorchamps in 2000 and that the race track of Zolder proudly announces triple GPs on its webpage starting 2002, here's my guess: FIM and/or Action Group want to become MX GPs highly professional events, that's why they are seeking the infrastructure (Paddocks, VIP areas, etc... ) of permanent road circuits. On the long the small organizers will die or be happy to be allowed to organize European Championship Events. On the long, MX GPs will become smaller F1 or Bike GPs clones with many bucks involved and less spectators.

If this is what we want, let's go for it, but I do not like the idea. And you know what, I hope I am wrong. As said before give me your ideas and send me an E-Mail with your opinion.

For the time being: Merry XMAS and happy NEW YEAR to all of you!!!
 
 

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