MAGGIORA OUT OF MXGP: ITALIAN GP TO GO TO OTTOBIANO

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start2_mxon_i_2016Maggiora has been canceled for the 2017 MXGP series.

The Maggiora round of the 2017 World Motocross Championships on June 25th has been canceled. Youthstream is spinning the cancellation of the Maggiora round of the FIM World Motocross Championships as a good thing. The opening line of their press release starts with, “Youthstream is pleased to announce two of the most well-known Italian venues for motorsports events, Maggiora Park and Ottobiano Motorsport, have merged into a new society: 8M Sport Group S.p.A. dedicated to all Action Sports at both the national and international levels starting the next 24th and 25th June for the MXGP of Italy.” You can’t blame them for putting a pretty face on a devastating event. They had no choice.

cairoli_mxon_i_2016Maggiora was packed to the gills last year for the Motocross des Nations.

In short, Maggiora has the date, but not the track and Ottobiano has the track, but not the date. Thus, Maggiora gives up something and Ottobiano gets something. However, Maggiora had no choice. The track violated Italian environmental laws when it it cleared off some protected nature lands to make more room for track facilities—and the wrath of the Italian government forced them to close down as a result. The saddest part of this is that Maggiora is a historic motocross track — and the location of last year’s Motocross des Nations. Maggiora is a unique, old-school racetrack with lots of personality. Ottobiano is a sandy track, located in Northern Italy, albeit flat, that has been the site of a round of the 2017 Italian National Motocross Championships—and is part of a much large motorsports facility. Ottobiano will be a good GP track, but not as good as Maggiora.

start1_mxon_i_2016This is Maggiora’s start. The Ottobiano Grand Prix will take Maggiora’s date on June 25, 2017.

REVISED 2017 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 25…………………….Qatar (Not renewing for 2018)
Mar. 5………………………Indonesia
Mar. 19…………………….Argentina
Apr. 2………………………Mexico
Apr. 16……………………..Italy
Apr. 23…………………….Holland
May 7………………………Latvia
May 21…………………….Germany
May 28…………………….France
June 11…………………….Russia
June 25……………………Maggiora, Italy (Canceled)
June 25……………………Italy (Ottobiano replacement)
July 2……………………….Portugal
July 9……………………….San Marino (Canceled)
July 23……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 6………………………Belgium
Aug. 13………………….….Switzerland
Aug. 20…………………….Sweden
Sept. 3………………………Charlotte, USA  (Canceled)
Sept. 3………………………TBA (USA replacement yet to be announced)
Sept. 10………………….…Holland
Sept. 17………………….….France

SEE THE OTTOBIANO TRACK IN ACTION EARLIER THIS YEAR

Photos: Massimo Zanzani

 

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