Donington Park has moved swiftly to retain the 2008 FIM Red Bull Motocross of Nations for British fans.
The future of the event in the UK had been under threat with the FIM’s announcement last month that the 2008 event would no longer be taking place at Moneyglass Desmene, Northern Ireland.
The Leicestershire parkland circuit, which successfully hosted the British Motocross Grand Prix last August has stepped in, offering to stage the sport’s most prestigious event, in a change of heart that sees a return of top class ‘dirt-bike’ action to the venue much earlier than had been anticipated.
“We are thrilled by the prospects of hosting this terrific event and will be working closely with the motocross rights holders, Youthstream, to ensure that this is an event that will set the standards by which others are measured,” commented Robert Fearnall, the Circuit Events and Operations Director.
The decision means that the world’s top riders will be performing for their nations on a specially constructed course over the weekend of 27-28 September at Donington Park.
“We received a very positive feedback from our Grand Prix last August, and in real terms that was a pilot event for us to ascertain what motocross was all about, and it is fair to say that in terms of the large investment we made, a better level of attendance was anticipated,” added Mr Fearnall, as he explained the decision taken during the Autumn not to bid for the 2008 British Motocross GP.
“It was always our intention to host more top motocross events when we had made more evaluation of the projects, and now we will be working extremely hard to build a larger fan base for motocross, which is an amazing, thrill-packed spectacular, by taking it to our large road-racing audiences in putting together exhibition races at both the British Motorcycle Grand Prix, and the World Superbike Championship meeting.
“This should take the show to a whole new audience and attract a spectator audience that the event deserves, given the quality of the show it provides.”
The staging of the FIM Red Bull Motocross of Nations makes Donington Park the complete venue for motorcycle action with rounds of the FIM World MotoGP and Superbikes Championships, a round of the buoyant British Superbike Championship plus major festivals for both Classic and Clubmans events.
