GBXC facts
By TMX Archives on 7th May 08
An open letter from the GBXC organisers, Steve Ireland and Paul Edmondson...
WHAT can we say? First off a very big thank you to the British riding public for supporting this series. We had no idea that after round one, which was supported to a fair standard that round two would take off with interest and support.
The main reason for this, we feel, is the fact that we have invested heavily in television coverage on Sky Sports and also that the world's best rider, David Knight, has made it a priority to become the GBXC champion.
There are a few things we would like to be made known to the riders and the spectators who have got involved with this series.
The first being that contrary to the general opinion we are NOT being paid to put the series on the box, we are paying almost 30,000 for this series to be broadcast on television and after committing to raising the profile of XC racing in the UK in the initial GBXC series press-release, we think we are achieving this.
The broadcast coverage of the first round impressed everybody and the viewing figures on that were astonishing.
David Knight is NOT being paid to ride the series, he is giving something back to the sport in the UK and the swaying factor in this was also the fact that once again those two little letters are involved TV'.
We (Steve and Paul) are very pleased with how it is starting to take shape. However, we are both big enough to realise when we are making and have made silly mistakes and when situations could be improved.
The work that has gone into both of these opening rounds is quite simply amazing and unless the general public had been there in a behind the scenes role, then they would never understand the amount of planning and logistics behind the whole GBXC series.
Admittedly, we were short of manpower at round two, purely because of the sheer length of the circuit and also the huge volume of riders who took part. However, the staff that we did have are simply the best in the UK at what they do and we can't thank them enough.
For round three that there will be more marshals, more ambulances, more personnel available to answer general enquiries and also more recovery vehicles on hand to retrieve any stricken bikes etc. This is all stuff we are man-enough to say we need to improve on and certainly will do so.
Another point we need to make clear is that GBXC is promoting Cross-Country (XC) racing, NOT Enduros.
There is a massive difference between the two and the seasoned Enduro' rider that loves his slow and technical stuff will not find much of that type of going at XC events.
We put out a very honest press-release last week before the event, explaining this fact, yet we still had moans and groans from some riders about it being too fast. Not too dangerous we might add, but too fast.
Some of these comments came from riders who should know better, as the sports ultimate professional, David Knight, said: Yeah it's fast, but it was dead good and what XC racing is like in the States. I loved it!
XC riders have to face all kinds of different conditions and the weather in one instant can change all that. Put up and shut up or don't come XC riding is our opinion on the matter.
The events are run fair and square with no messing around and out of over 1,700 people present last weekend we think maybe a handful went home with a gripe not a bad ratio.
So there you have it, we know where we have to improve, we have been honest and true to our word by bringing in the TV and raising the profile and we will continue to do so.
Get ready for round three in mid-July as that will be an absolute cracker!
In the meantime, look forward to an awesome hour-long round two special on Sky Sports 2, 3 and Xtra in the next 11-days
PA: A big thanks to Gareth Hockey and Fridge' for their help in running at Monmouth. They kept to every promise they made!
Steve and Paul.