Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AM World Supennoto PrOmoter Giuseppe Luongo With Supermoto on a roll, Giuseppe Luongo plans to straighten out World Motocross STORY AND PHOTOS By MARIO MARINI I n the last 20 years the motocross GP universe has been volatile at best, the victim of continual transformation that has brought mixed results and often caused a lot of confusion to its followers and to the motorcycle industry itself. Detractors argue that it hasn't been the most successful of operations, especially when attempting to achieve its status goals, such as the live TV project. They say that MXGP has lost its core fans, those who would have stayed there no matter what, and those fans haven't been replaced by new fans. In the late '90s, the first steps into the professionalism really helped the World Championships by giving it the shape of a top sport, but the next step went too far - a complete revamp of its format was less valuable to the teams and the fans, and so less popular. Live TV is part of the European culture and a good measure of a sporting event's popularity, and it justified the strong interest of Action Group (the compahy led by Italian manager Giuseppe Luongo) and the FIM, who introduced the one-moto format, with part of the industry supporting it, part remaining skeptical and part absolutely against it. All this happened right when Dorna became interested in the MX universe and made a huge offer (rumored to be more than $20 million) to buy the full package. Motocross was sold, and the new owner, coming from the brilliant successes of the road racing planet, approached it by stimulating its business side rather than taking care of its specific soul. Dorna's plans generated costs that the sport was not capable of supporting. Organizers were sold GPs for galactic fees. Consequently, most of the traditional promoters were dropped (in reality, 38 MAY 21, 2003' I: U c I e n e __ s this had started with Luongo already), and many traditional local fans were lost in the process. GP ticket prices rose to an unaffordable level for the average MX fan and his or her family, who instead elected to stay home and turn on the TV. But then the live TV project didn't work out, and even home fans could not get access to their beloved sport, and attendance suffered greatly. Red alerts coming from every aspect of the industry were ignored until it was almost too late, but now, MXGP may get another chance to shine, as it is getting set to be turned back over to Luongo and his new company YouthStream. With Dorna's business plans washing out, the FIM learned a big lesson and knocked on Luongo's door again, making him an offer that he couldn't refuse. The turnover will happen at the end of this season when Dorna will give MXGP back to Luongo. Under his control, fans should see the return of the two-moto format, and a less frustrating environment, as well. Luongo, who successfully runs FIM Supermoto World Championship already, is up to the task. For Cycle News he accepted an invitation to disclose his plans for the future of MXGP. So I really didn't think I would have been back thinking of motocross, and my focus on the Supermoto was total. I had spent a lot of time in the motocross industry, but a life choice had been made, and I considered that door closed forever. Believe me, I was still thinking like that until a short time ago. Nothing was planned; it's just that things developed that way, you know. The FIM contacted me back about motocross and put some pressure on me to come back there. At the very beginning I wasn't really sure I wanted to do it, as I have a great relationship with Dorna, and I wasn't thinking it would have been appropriate. At the same time I wasn't psychologically prepared. Of course our company (YouthStream) composed of a permanent staff of young members is interested in running more races. So, businesswise, it was an interesting offer. We discussed it and reached an agreement with the FIM, and they did the same with Dorna on the other side, I guess. So soon we'll be back talking and thinking of motocross again because if we'll officially be back from the first day of 2004, we want to be ready and prepared for that. A year ago, at the Dutch Supermoto GP, I told you that you would shortly be back running motocross. You answered that you weren't interested at all. Now the prediction has become reality. How come it happened? I totally confirm you what I told you there. I wasn't interested for real, as I had a clear contract with Dorna from which, in the mutual interest of both parts, I wouldn't have come back into motocross at all. Plus, I had just started this new adventure in the Supermoto World Championship. Other entities looked interested in running motocross, but the FIM. solicited your company directly. What do you think convinced them you where the right guy? There always are more options than just one, and I'm sure the FIM got some offers and meetings with other companies. I do not know anything about those contacts because from getting asked to come back, I didn't want to negotiate or to play with the offers, because I think that motocross just needs a lot of work by people that know it. The reason Q A Q A

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