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/128322
- Briefly... FIM Motocross president Wolfgang Srb told Cycle News that he had recently made a visit to China and the site of the 2005 Grand Prix of China. Srb held a seminar and mentioned the interest in China is huge. "I talked to the people there," Srb said. "You must understand that the Motorcycle Federation there is the government. They had the backing to run this event, and I looked at the facilitywhere the race would be held. It needs some work to get it to Grand Prix standards, but that is not a problem. The track is situated about 30 kilometers from Beijing, so it's very easy to get to . We are looking at making an Asian route, with a japanese round and China round close together. That way we can do both in a short time, and just one trip. UnfortunateIt ly at this stage Srb feels an Australian Grand Prix is very possibly not going to happen . '~t this moment we are looking for somebody to get involved," Srb said. "Of course It would be nice to go to Australia. We enjoyed the Grand Prix there, but the contact we had is not longer interested in fun- ning a Grand Prix." The CAS Honda team in Europe has worked out a sponsorship deal with SoBe. The deal is for this year, with an even more interesting deal already signed for 2005 . This sponsorship deal is great for Grand Prix motocross, asoutside sponsors are hard to find in the European-based series . KTM factory riders Ben Townley and Marc de Reuver had thought about racing some rounds of the AHA Outdoor Nationals, although after finding out they can't race the KTM four-stroke in the I25cc class, the two European-based riders will remain at home in 2004. "I wanted to do Unadillaand Budds Creek," Townley said. "However, once I found out I can't race the four-stroke in the class, then I decided not to go. I don't want to mess around changing bikes through the season, so I will have to wait until next [year]." Townley has mentioned that he will only head to America in 2005 if he is World I25cc Champion, and going by the early season rounds, don't be surprised to see the New Zealander joiningAustralian jay Marmont and Holland's de Reuver on the Red Bull KTM team in America next year. Some of the veteran riders are on the injured list from the MX I class. Brian jorgensen, Gordon Crockard and Paul Cooper all missed the MXI race in Holland. YoungItalian Antonio Cairoli grabbed the holeshot in yet another MX2 mota in the opening race of the weekend . So quick is the lightweight Italianthat he had a bikelength lead after just five meters from the start gate in the opening mota. Cairoli, who is IByears old and rides for the de Carll Yamaha team out of Italy, is actually paying to race for the team . Having never raced Grand Prix motocross before, the young Italiancould only get a ride if he paid for it. It is rumored he is paying 50,000 euros [about $60 ,000] for the ride . No doubt after his brilliant perfonmances of late, he won't be paying to ride in 2005.