MXdN returns!
By TMX Archives on 8th Jun 05
It's been a long time coming but Britain is in line to stage the MX des Nations again. It's been a long time coming but Britain is in line to stage the MX des Nations again. We last hosted the event - the biggest race on the world MX calendar - in 1998 at Foxhill and now it seems likely that it will return to these shores in 2006.Next year's des Nats was originally pencilled in for Italy but Giuseppe Luongo of event promoters Youthstream is keen to see it in Britain."The British public have shown time and again their enthusiasm for the sport," explains Luongo, "and it is important at this time that we have a successful event in 2006."Although no venue has been officially announced, Matchams Park - scene of last weekend's first British GP of the season - is hotly tipped."It would be mega to get the event next year," reckons Stephen Sword, currently third in the world MX2 standings and a veteran of the British MXdN team. "Getting GPs back in the country has been great but to get the MX des Nations over here would be awesome. It's long overdue."With the way the Brits are riding at the moment we've definitely got a chance of getting in the top three. Obviously it's a long way off but I'd like to think I'll be in the running for a place on the team - it's every rider's dream to represent their country and to do it on home ground makes it extra special."The other big MXdN news this month is Youthstream's plan to bring the Americans back into the fold by holding the event in the States every two years.Over the past few seasons the US interest in the event has waned - culminating in a no-show in '04 - and Youthstream are keen to see American involvement increased to the level of the '80s when they dominated."If America will not come to us, then we must go to them," admits Luongo. "And if 35 teams from Europe can manage to get to America every two years, then I cannot see why they cannot come to Europe!"