Thailand to host its first MotoCross GP next year
After more than a decade of involvement in the Thai motocross scene, former rider Philippe Rahmani has finally realised his dream of introducing the first ever MotoCross World Championship race here next year.
Rahmani, now overseas developer for Youth Stream Dreams Factory, sanctioned by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) to organise the MotoCross World Championship, signed a three-year-deal with Thongchai Wongsawan, president of the Federation of the Motor Sports Clubs of Thailand, to stage the event.
The date of the first race has yet to be announced, but the venue will be at the Pinthong Industrial Estate No 3 in Sri Racha, Chon Buri.
“When people arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, they are within an hour’s highway drive of Sri Racha,’’ said Rahmani.
Along with easy access comes the exotic ambience, which Rahmani reckons will make the Thailand stop unique among the other 15 championship races, most of which take place in Europe. “It’s very green for people in Europe. We’ve never seen tapioca fields, coconut or papaya trees along a track,” he said.
At 1.75 kilometres long and eight metres wide, the planned circuit will be designed to meet FIM requirements and must be completed four months ahead of competition. As the European series normally kicks off in April, Rahmani is planning for the Sri Racha leg to be the season opener in March next year, to avoid the heat of April.
Thailand’s event will feature two classes, the MX1 450cc four-stroke and MX2 250cc four-stroke, each racing two heats.
Rahmani also wants to bring the FIM World Motorcross of Nations – the so-called Olympics of Motorcross – to Thailand in 2017.
“It would be very big. There would be some 60,000 people arriving for this event where competitors ride for their countries,’’ he said.
Thongchai, also the Motorcycle Sport Association (MSAT) president, hoped to make the event more than just a competition by combining sports and entertainment together.
“It’s not only the riders who are looking forward to the Thailand race but also the fans. We will have a food festival, a racing clinic and a rock concert one day before the race so people can come and stay overnight. We want to make it “Sportentertainment”,’’ Thongchai said.
To watch the interview, visit www.nationmultimedia.com/video/6726.
