VOL. 52 ISSUE 46 NOVEMBER 17, 2015 P19
is based in Charlotte), includ-
ing the team's own Coy Gibbs,
team manager Jeremy Albrecht,
riders Phil Nicoletti and 250 East
Supercross contender Marshal
Welton, and Monster Energy
spokesman Jeremy McGrath.
The four-line drag strip makes
it possible to squeeze in a mile-
long MXGP track. Grandstands
are located close to the track.
Giuseppe Luongo said, "It's
a pleasure and honor to work
together with Speedway Moto-
sports, Inc. and to bring MXGP
to this outstanding venue. The
area of the zMAX Dragway is
perfect to build a spectacular
racetrack where the best mo-
tocross riders in the world can
race in front of thousands of
spectators who will be seated
comfortably in the grandstands."
"At Speedway Motorsports,
Inc., we are always committed
to bringing world-class events to
our facilities, and there is no big-
ger motocross event in the world
than the Monster Energy MXGP
of the Americas," said Smith.
The Charlotte MXGP will be
unique in many ways, not just
that fact that it will be held on
a drag strip. It will also be held
at night, on a Saturday night
(typical GPs are held Sunday
afternoons), with qualifiers being
held the night before on Friday
evening. Grandstands flank each
side of the strip for easy and
comfortable viewing; each side
can hold 15,000 spectators.
There is no doubt the Monster
Energy MXGP of the Americas
will have a supercross vibe.
"It's going to be an amazing
race course and an amazing
weekend," said McGrath. "The
course is going to be tough and
tight."
"Originally, we were planning
to be in the speedway," Peron-
nard said, "but there were a lot
of things that were too big in a
speedway to start [a new race],
maybe we'll end up in the speed-
way one day, but right now, I
think the drag strip is better
suited for what we're doing. It's a
more condensed and controlled
venue, and I'm really excited."
But why at night? "Because
of the temperature, and I think
it will be a better show at night,
nobody argued it and thought
it was a better idea [to have the
race at night]," said Peronnard.
"It's going to be September,
so we'll be racing in 80-degree
temperatures rather than the
90s. Plus, it looks good here at
night."
The race will take place
over the Labor Day Weekend,
September 2-3, right after the
conclusion of the Pro Motocross
Championship, but it's too early
to know exactly which top Ameri-
can riders will compete, though
you can count on the entire
AutoTrader.com/Toyota/JGRMX
Yamaha Team to be there, as
well as Chad Reed.
Tickets for the Monster
Energy MXGP of the Americas
begin at $59 for a weekend,
which includes two-day paddock
passes. Special hotel offers
will be available, as well camp-
ing in adjacent lots with ticket
purchase. Visit www.charlot-
temotorspeedway.com/tickets/
mxgp/ for ticket info.
Kit Palmer
The Charlotte MXGP
track will actually be
located at the four-
lane zMAX Dragstrip
adjacent to the
Speedway.
