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Best GP location for Australia in my opinion would be around Sydney, since it's right in the middle of the 3 biggest population centres in Australia and would be easy for most Australian riders wanting to race it to get to. Purpose-built track at Eastern Creek like Bearuno suggested would probably work the best, if not that then Ranch MX near Raymond Terrace is a good track but probably wouldn't have enough space, however I do think they could create more space there fairly easily. If not around Sydney then maybe Willowbank? How much space does Ride Park Vic have? Horsham held the World Junior Championship in I think 2018, but out of the (existing) tracks mentioned is probably the least good
should be a fully sick crowd
Definitely not enough room at Echo Valley, the track has a fence around it now which limits the usable area. Years ago there was a tunnel under the track near the start line, which allowed spectators to access the inside area of the track. Remember there being some big crowds there at the Mr Motocross rounds in the 1980's. Qld Moto Park has everything, room, tracks and undulating ground.
The Shop
Let's not tip toe here though NT has an indigenous crime problem. Darwin needs to look at what has become of Alice Springs. The AUS Jnr MX titles were removed from Alice Springs due it classed as no longer being safe due the Indigenous problem.
*** Good on the NT for supporting blue collar sports. *** I will be going for sure.
Qld don't have the money as they are going to send the state way into the red for the Olympics.
Victoria is only interested in coffee shops.
NSW can't even spell MX and is full of pretentious wankas. (excludes moto fans)
WA I think is still in lockdown
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SA and Tassie i think left the Commonwealth.
Two spots to dream of MXGP going to. Manjimup or Conondale.
Echo Valley, Toowoomba (Toombawomba as Matthes calls it)
When these clowns release the dates, it will be a mad scramble to book a car, flights, and accommodation.
If we're lucky.
They will book for there own requirements first, leaving the dregs.
Willowbank would have the space, but it is flat, MXGP needs elevation changes.
Ride Park Vic has limited space, the main track is too short, it would need to be extended, Broadford would be a better option.
Moto will never be a Willowbank. Tivoli MX club got penciled in to relocate there but the old farts in the car racing world complained about the dust / dirt potential. Willowbank was removed from the conversation. They clearly haven't noticed the gravel traps surrounding their crap track.
If you've been watching the events of the last 18 months or so you'd know that the state governments in Qld, NSW and Vic have no appetite for sinking dead money into the new facilities and exhorbitant hosting fees for one off sporting events.
Anything around the three major cities isn't going to be close to the city anyway. It would be in the surrounding areas or hinterlands which makes accommodation and travel difficult. Existing tracks would need major infrastructure upgrades which I'm guessing are a hell of a lot more expensive than building a track.
Darwin could be a great location - a short drive from an international airport, plenty of accommodation nearby the track, good weather, infrastructure already in place.
I guess it's par for the course - we get a GP after 20+ years and half the people bitch about how and where it could be done better.
Yup, you're right there.
Me, I'm just going to get on with it, and, as the Kids say ; "Deal"
inthebadboycorner has struck on a possible point. Getting accommodation and transport. But, it might not be as bad as We fear, as, it's a Very Big Tourist destination nowadays, and well, I think it's a bit heavily booked all the time. I doubt Moto fans will be much more of a burden, although, We might just break the areas back.
And, in a way, I hope it does do that - The event NEEDs to be a success. That way, we may get to have it here in OZ, at least for a few years.
So, I just want a dead on date, Soon , so I can lock down my solution to it all. I do hope that when they have an actual date in September, it's Not moved around. September is smack bang in my OS earnings months, so I need to have things Very organized. At least Darwin, I would assume, is a good jumping off point towards the places I work - well, I have to check the flight situation.
As for the fear mongering of it being a Lawless town - well yes, there's shit going down Everywhere. I live 100 meters from Multi Million Dollar properties with River views, my place was just assessed as being just over 2million, and I know there's a couple of areas within a 5 / 6 K radius of me that are somewhat ( well, Very Bloody) 'Iffy'. Heck, a fair few years ago, my tiny little suburb between the Mountains and the River, became the Murder Capital of Australia, with 3 different deaths here. Then , back to our relative obscurity.
The Worlds Always been a place with 'risk'. Just be aware, wherever you are.
Because it's being done awfully. Would you be happy if the Aus GP was on Norfolk Island? It would be closer for most Aussies.
I'd rather not have one with the chance they might do one somewhere not ridiculous in the future than what we have now.
Norfolk Island is not Darwin.
I mean they've been holding a round of the V8 Supercars there for years. I doubt the total number of visitors, including teams and spectators, would be more than a V8 round.
I would honestly rather have it on Norfolk Island than Darwin
Have you rode the track Richard?
Well I talked to a mate who attends the V8 Supercars at Hidden Valley every year and I’m feeling much more optimistic about a MXGP there.
He said it’s always very well organised, heaps to do off the track, with a sideshow alley for kids and live music for the adults. Very short trip into town and the cars draw a crowd of about 40k every year. The series has been going there for 25 years, so they must be doing something right.
I remember the tunnel under the finish line jump, complete with a window that was always covered in roost. There was also a pit area in the middle of the track, but that went with the track changes.
The Mr MX and Mountain Man races did attract big crowds in the 80s, but I still think it was less than 10000 people and the place really struggled with those numbers. Fast forward to now and there’s even less room, as well as houses adjacent where it used to be scrub and paddocks.
It’s a shame because the track is awesome.
Pit Row
I worked in the WA outback. People die out there just from their car breaking down. There’s no cell coverage, no traffic, no water no shops no nothing. Just flies and heat. To travel you need at least 4 litres of water per person per day. Fuel, food so much stuff. You can not just jump in a car with a credit card and travel outback Aussie.
this has me feeling a bit more optimistic, i think i was actually thinking of alice springs not darwin when it comes to feeling safe. Now in discussions of taking the camper up. 3461km one way :/
I remember the pits in the middle of the track. It certainly is a great track, I still ride a few club days each year.
Sounds serious and scary. I have been to 49 of 50 states here and I'm almost positive we don't have anything even remotely that isolated. Maybe north Alaska (the only place I haven't been to).
Still don't understand y'all getting a race that far away from the population centers. Is there even a moto scene in that area?
As far as I know there's one track in Darwin, one in Alice Springs and one in Katherine which makes for a total of 3 across the Northern Territory. I can't think of any racers to come out of there. Dirt bikes are pretty popular in Aus though so there's a lot of rural towns with tracks.
There's also the Finke desert race that's held anually near Alice Springs but the race is just held there, don't think there's many local competitors.
Yes back about 10yrs ago.
I'm sure the town of Darwin "Chamber of Commerce " is paying the most to host a GP in the NT AUS if this is actually happening.
If this was fantasy land or if I was King, or better yet if MXGP wants the sport to go or thrive I'd have a GP in New Zealand and two GPs in Australia to make it cost effective.
Same with the United States. Have a east coast GP and a West coast GP that combines with the AMA Nationals and then have a GP in Canada. How great would that be? It will never happen. Hopefully the Aussies get a GP
The Darwin "Chamber of Commerce" is not paying, the state government is paying.
There's an interview with Luongo's nepo son on MX GeeOffs site about this event.
https://www.mxlarge.com/index.php?p=news/david-luongo-interview-austral…
So, he said probably 2nd week of September - I hope the actual date comes out soon.
This just popped up on Facebook:
Post a reply to: Australia has a round of MXGP in 2025.