Column: Revolution or evolution?
With the most important calendars on the table, we asked former MX Journalist, Etienne Dierckx for his opinion. What does he see in the recent developments?!
“A few weeks ago the FIM announced the second version of the GP calendar. High time for the national federations to sit around the table and draw up their calendar. Not an easy task as the GPs take up almost the entire calendar. The assignment was tough... find the free weekends between the 18 GPs, the MXON and the junior World Championships in Bastogne, which is also important for Belgium. But don't just take the GPs into account, but also ensure that the competitions for the national championships do not coincide with those of the surrounding countries. And preferably also take into account the weekends before and after the overseas GPs. An almost impossible task that undoubtedly caused many sleepless nights for the organizers of the International spring competitions.
Early, earlier, earliest...
The organizers of the spring competitions are forced to organize their international competitions earlier and earlier in the year. While roughly 5 years ago the first GP was organized on April 6, the world championship now starts on March 1. In 2014, three GPs will have already been completed on April 6. So a drama for the spring competitions.
In 2014 the season starts on February 2 in Riola Sardo (Sardinia), Italy and 2 weeks later we get the first international motocross in Valence, France. Seven days later the entire caravan heads to Lacapelle Marival or Hawkstone Park. Another week later, the elite are expected in warm Qatar for the first GP. A fairly normal spring calendar with the only real major shift being the starcross of Mantova. While in the past they always tried to open the international season, Mantova is now forced to move to March 16, after the first 2 GPs. Hopefully Sabine Hagedoorn will provide a mild winter because motocross and rain/snow usually don't go together this early in the year. Just ask the organizers of Hawkstone, who literally saw their spring competition fall into the water this year.
Spring calendar 2014
02/02: Italian Championship Riola Sardo
09/02: Italian Championship Noto/Enduropale du Touquet
16/02: Italian Championship Montevarchi/International MX Valence
23/02: International mx Lacapelle Marival/International mx Hawkstone Park
01/03: GP Qatar (Saturday)
02/03: French Elite Championship Ernée
09/03: GP Thailand/French Elite Championship Sommières/International MX Gemert?
16/03: ONK Emmen/Starcross Mantova
23/03: ONK Mill/French Elite Championship Gueugnon
30/03: GP Brazil
06/04: Belgian Masters Mons/French Elite Championship Romagné
Revolution or evolution?
Striking in the above calendar are the 2 first tests of the French elite championship. The FFM has consciously chosen to hold their first competitions on the weekends of the GPs of Qatar and Thailand. Will this be a problem for the French championship? Not at all, because in France there are a large number of good pilots who consciously ignore the entire world championship and resolutely opt for the races in France supplemented with an occasional GP. Riders such as Aranda, Soubeyras, Leonce, Rombaut, Clermont, Potisek, Pourcel, Aubin, Izoird,... ensure that one can still speak of a full-fledged championship. France is following the evolution that has been going on in England for some time. For a number of years, competitions of the British Masters and the Red Bull Pro Nationals have been successfully programmed there on weekends when there are also GPs. And there too, a complete secondary circuit has emerged with riders such as Anderson, Aubin, Krestinov, Lenoir, Barr, Dougan, Whatley, MacKenzie... All riders who could hold their own in the GPs, but who apparently have more left at the end of the season from a season in your own country.
And what about Belgium and the Netherlands?
The calendar of the BK can be called quite traditional. Unfortunately, the Keiheuvel classic is missing. Due to the lack of space on the international calendar around August 15, an alternative had to be found. The news about this will undoubtedly follow. It is also to be seen whether the riders are eager to participate on May 1 in Wachtebeke, as they are expected 2 days later for the Dutch GP in Valkenswaard.
In the Netherlands they are completely changing course. They start on March 16 in Emmen and 3 months later (June 6) the ONK is already over with the competition in Oldebroek. So no more competitions during the summer or autumn. We'll have to wait and see whether this provides new impetus for the ONK, but the reactions from a number of riders were already positive. At BMB and KNMV they have taken into account that the dates of their championship matches do not coincide.... so a plus.
But shouldn't people in the Low Countries also take the step of organizing championship races during the weekends of the overseas GPs? It would certainly simplify the layout of the calendar and perhaps even offer some new opportunities. Sylvain Geboers recently said in an interview that the mentality of the organizers of the national competitions had to change. Relying on your own strengths and trying to be successful with national riders... just as they are now trying to do in England and France.”
Undoubtedly to be continued…
Text: Etienne Dierckx
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