Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128175
"I hate the FIM, I hate everybody who let this happen, and I even hate myselt" . The MX Des Aster I'm sure you guys have received a few letters concerning the Motocross des Nations disaster. I am writing you this letter with hopes that it will expose the wrong doings by those associated with this year's event. Back in May, the moto industry received the unbelievable news that the 2002 Motocross des Nations was going to be held in Southern California. I am an avid moto enthusiast and work at a dealership in Northern California. We were stoked by the news and confirmed the event with Competition Park by phone. I immediately purchased 14 tickets over the competitionpark.com website, as instructed by Competition Park themselves, totaling almost $500. Over the ensuing couple months, there were several rumors floating around concerning the event. These rumors were apparently put to rest by a press release from promoter Malcolm McCassy that aired on the cycle news. com web site September 18. McCassy is quoted as saying, "We are aware of the negative press" and "these letters have no legal basis" and finally that "these issues should not affect the running of the Motocross des Nations." Case closed right? Wrong. Three days later an update on cyclenews.com stated that the event had been canceled. I began looking for information regarding refunds and, little to my surprise, have had no luck in doing so. Visiting the Competition Park website, or calling 909/654-2126, has confirmed the fact that the event is canceled. It will not, however, provide any information on refunds despite the fact that the facility is operating under normal business conditions. While I am extremely grateful to Glen Helen Raceway and the U.S. Open for doing what they can to help out their peers, they are not responsible for righting this situation. Mr. McCassy and Competition Park should be held accountable for their actions. They sold tickets and collected revenues for an event that will not take place. It's impossible to guess how many people might have missed the news or left early on a road trip from who knows where. This is the last thing this industry needed, and these are the last people we need in this sport. This is a sad day for the motocross industry. Marty HackWorth OakJey,CA The MX Des Aster II I hate the FIM, I hate everybody who let this happen, and I even hate myself. But I'll get over it. I have a new, works, ultra-trick stock RM and I'm going riding. I'm going to have my own sold-out race, at my own legendary track, in my own quad-in, quad -out world, and Ricky and James are invited. Anyone else who thinks they can keep pace, but really can't, can come too, and of course I'm going to win. Ah, what a great day it is after all. :Jeff'Evans Agourct CA The MX Des Aster III FIM and Dorna - you people are a disgrace. How could you be so blind and greedy as to let the most important motocross race in the world turn into this mess. Now I understand why all the Europeans want to race in the U.S. - they know the AMA (and not you) run the only real motocross series. Hopefully, you haven't ruined the Motocross des Nations forever. I say, in the future, let the AMA promote the event - and the race will have a fighting chance. The MX Des Aster V I am completely miffed about the Motocross des Nations fiasco. I hope the rest of the world does not blame the United States for the complete botch job of the event. When I saw the first picture of the location, I could not believe that the FIM, with the help of Dorna, approved the desolate, flat, dust-bowl location. Not only has Competition Park never hosted a National-caliber event, but they did not even have a track layout with ample facilities. I understand that the FIM delegates viewed lofty plans, much like people that have purchased swamp land after viewing nice brochures. Also, did the FIM ever look at alternate U.S. National tracks (Glen Helen?) before making their educated decision? When the deal started to unravel, several promoters offered their facilities only to get ignored by the FIM. What I don't understand is that the FIM waited until well after the competing teams had no way of changing their travel plans, without huge personal monetary losses, to announce a new venue, in a different George White VIa the fnffHnet country, at the worst possible time.. Moving the event to Glen Helen would have been the perfect solution, no Okay, pinch me - did fjust read a positive letter about the AMA? .. Editor matter what the cost to the FIM and The MX Des Aster IV To take such a sacred and cherished event as the Motocross des Nations and turn it into a farce is the best thing that could have happened to teach everyone a valuable lesson. Dorna's greed and the extortion that they impose upon my fellow promoters around the world needs to be reexamined. If Namur, Belguim - home of the famous Citadel Circuit which has run a championship Grand Prix since 1947 - could not afford to do an event in 2002, the world sanctioning body should wake up and smell the pre-mix. I would like to personally thank Dorna, the FIM and (Colonel Flag's) Competition Park for the worldwide humiliation they have subjected to the United States of America. Who do we contact about refunds for our advance tickets? Jonathan Beasley Dorna. The teams would have not had to make a single change in their preparation and plans. I tried to stay positive about having the event in the U.S. in hopes that it would turn out to be a great race, but I feel that we were doomed by powers that we have no control over. I definitely will not miss the bike and moto-format changes. Maybe the FIM will go to a promoter-friendly zeromoto race format next year. My money is on the Glen Helen World Cup of Motocross. Doug Holt Nashvfffe, TN The MX Des Aster VI I can't believe they canceled the Motocross des Nations. We bought tickets. We even bought airline tickets to travel to California. At least they could have moved it to Glen Helen. Our young girls were so excited to be skipping school to see this. What a major disappointment! Beasley is the promoter of the Budds Creek AMA Motocross National... Editor John Bavarskas (Voices, Issue #39, September 25) should be weeping at the general media, not Cycle News. John, sorry that they didn't put RC on the cover one more time, but lest I remind everyone that Cycle News is still the only publication on the planet that you not only read about motocross, but every other motorcycle sport as well. (Riding a motorcycle is a pastime, hobby or transportation. Racing is sport!) The outrage should be directed at the general media, who as usual, totally missed the whole story as if it never happened. If RC were some over-hyped, overweight, way overpaid ball-sports hero, he would be a household name by now. As it is, he soldiers along in relative obscurity. Not to mention all of his fellow racers. As racers, we know how physically and mentally challenging it is to race (no matter what the discipline), but the general public just thinks it's still just a big circus put on by crazies over the edge of sanity. The only thing insane is how little motorcycle racers (road race, motocross, and especially my heroes - the dirt track racers) get paid for in purses for the relative danger level involved. Until the general public gets the fact that racers are athletes, motorcycle sport will continue to be shunned by the mainstream media. It sure would be neat to see how our racers would stack up to the "other" sports guys in one of those made-forTY cross competitions. Congratulations, Ricky, you have raised the bC!r higher than anyone thought possible, and I personally wish that the rest of America could celebrate with you but they still just don't get it. RC, you're a household name in my house. Carol Oedewaldt VIa the fnffNnet G U ..... Alex Rossborough Cleveland. OH nevvs OCTOBER 9, 2002 9