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/723849
IN THE WIND P44 LOOKING BACK ON THE MXGP OF AMERICAS E ric Peronnard is well known for his involvement with several prominent motorcycle events including the creation or co-creation of the U.S. Open of Supercross (now evolved into the Monster Cup), EnduroCross, MinoMotoSX, JuniorMotoX, Tennessee Knockout, Red Bull Straight Rhythm and manage- ment of X Games two-wheel mo- torsports. He also had a hand in bringing the MXGP to Charlotte when Speedway Motorsports Inc. (the owners of Charlotte Motor Speedway) hired him as a consultant to create a world- class motorcycle event. We chatted with Peronnard a bit about how the MXGP of Americas came about and got his thoughts on how it all went down at one of NASCAR's holi- est sites. So Eric, tell us how the Charlotte MXGP happened? Twenty months ago I got a call from the Charlotte Motor Speed- way (CMS) executive team ask- ing me if I could help them get involved in the motocross busi- ness. I was really excited right away, said yes, and I started to teach my new clients about the motocross business. They want- ed to do something big and we ended up concluding it would be an AMA Supercross, an AMA National MX or an MXGP. We went traveling together exploring options with several meetings and within a few months the choice was made to promote an MXGP. Why an MXGP? For multiple reasons but the global footprint of MXGP was very attractive to the CMS team. How easy or difficult was it to make that happen? It was looking quite simple at first but unfortunately we ended up having to fight multiple battles to get this project to hap- pen and wasted a lot of precious time. Surprisingly to CMS and me, we realized this project was not always welcomed by some people. That said, we de- cided to take the high road and plowed forward! So how did things turnout? We selected great people to work with, worked very hard and the result was amazing! How do you feel about it? Quite ecstatic to be honest! Better than we ever dreamed and with the edge of a hurri- cane dumping inches of water on us the day before the event, I feel like the team performed unbelievably well, almost a miracle. The sport of motocross had a great weekend and the nearly 15,000 fans were treated to world-class racing and the excitement of seeing their local hero Cooper Webb [a North Carolina native] win the GP! And Eli Tomac was also spectacular. On Sunday, we had a ride day to allow fans to experience an MXGP track and had several hundred riders lined up. I am so proud to have been part of a project that brought more fans to motocross from the NASCAR world with a fantastic U.S. GP. So, will we see an MXGP in Charlotte in 2017? Honestly, I hope so; wish to be back next year. CN Eric Peronnard had a hand in bringing the MXGP of Americas to life at Charlotte.