News 9 Oct 2014

MXGP returning to Glen Helen for 2015 season

Southern Californian venue to host MXoN in 2017.

Source: KTM.

Source: KTM.

The MXGP World Championship will feature a round in the United States again next season, with Youthstream clinching an agreement to host events in 2015 and 2016 at Glen Helen Raceway in California.

Following a four-year hiatus, Youthstream president Giuseppe Luongo and Glen Helen boss Bud Feldkamp finalised the deal in Rome last week, which will also see the 2017 FIM Motocross of Nations run at Glen Helen.

The 2015 US MXGP round will be the final round of the season on 20 September, with organisers hopeful of attracting top Americans to take on the GP regulars including Europe-bound Ryan Villopoto.

“Working together with Bud and all his staff at Glen Helen is always such a great pleasure,” Luongo said. “We know each other now since a long time and we have already organised together the US GP in 2010 and 2011. Since that time MXGP has continued to grow and with Ryan Villopoto’s arrival in the MXGP class we believe it’s the perfect moment to return to USA with an event.

“The 2015 and 2016 Monster Energy FIM MXGP of USA will be the perfect preparation for the Monster Energy FIM MXoN in 2017 at Glen Helen. In the context of globalisation it’s very important for MXGP to be in the USA, the biggest market in the world and the country with the most victories in the MXoN.

“American fans will surely enjoy seeing in their home country an event with the presence of the fastest world and American riders, which is so exceptional that it can only be compared to the MXoN.”

Feldkamp is also hopeful that its September date will attract the American Pro Motocross regulars at the end of their season.

“With another opportunity to once again host a USGP and work with Giuseppe, Glen Helen will do something that I don’t think any other motocross track has ever had the privilege of doing in hosting both a US MX national and USGP event in the same year,” Feldkamp said.

“Coordinating these two events with the US MX national occurring in May and then the FIM USGP having its final round in September was crucial to making this a possibility for Glen Helen. It also made it possible for other American based professionals to compete in the final round of the FIM world championship series.

“Then, when you add the fact that there is a chance for Ryan Villopoto, a three-time US MX national champion to become the first US rider in almost 33 years to clinch a world MXGP title and to do so on American soil, this event becomes even more exciting.”

The 2011 GP at Glen Helen was dominated by Clement Desalle and Ken Roczen, who is now the 450 Class Pro Motocross champion in the US.

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