Thailand Motocross World Championship
This weekend, Thailand will be the first to host the motocross world championship for the first time in the country's history.
The FIM Motocross World Championship kicked off last weekend and is, without a doubt, the best and most exciting motocross series in the world. No less than eighteen races on four continents, with the best drivers and spectacular circuits. This weekend the Grand Prix circus will land for the first time in Thailand at Sriracha (between Bangkok and Pattaya).
Dutch touch
This competition also has a Dutch touch. Jan Postema from Assen, who runs a motocross gym there, guided and trained novice motocross riders in Thailand years ago. Jan has brought the Thai motorsport federation and the Italian Luongo from Youtstream (the Bernie Eclestone of motocross) in contact with each other. Luongo has bought the rights to the motocross world championship. Jan then contacted friend and former international motocross racer Jos Klumper who lives in Hua Hin. The idea was to find a suitable location in Hua Hin where the motocross spectacle could take place. Unfortunately, this did not work out (due to time constraints and infrastructure problems). The choice then fell on the Sri Racha industrial estate between Bangkok and Pattaya. This allows even more tourists to visit the matches.
The other Dutch touch concerns the participation in Thailand of our national talent, motocross rider Jeffrey Herlings, the youngest world champion ever. He is also called the fastest sand driver in the world and now has to defend his world title. Jos once competed against his father, Peter Herlings, in a number of races. Jeffrey already has the points from the first round of the world title, last weekend in Dubai, thanks to a double victory in both rounds.
Promotional video
The video below gives a good idea of what kind of spectacle spectators can expect in Thailand:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/K2CsqBWISGI[/youtube]
Motocross: sensation!
Motocross is one of the most beautiful and toughest sports in the world (Formula 1 is even more physically demanding due to the G forces on the body). Motocross riders used to be considered brainless idiots in a black leather suit toiling through sand and mud, that's a thing these days otherwise. To keep the cross monster of 100 kilos and a power between 50 and 70 hp under control, you must have something in house. It takes enormous fitness and flexibility to sit on this machine for about 45 minutes, to stand and to keep everything under control. Shift, brake, clutch, know where your competitors are and choose the right track. But also maintaining the perfect speed to take the sensational double or triple jumps of 20 to 30 meters in one go. A mistake is therefore mercilessly punished. Arriving incorrectly on a cut or ramp often means a dangerous fall, usually resulting in various bone fractures and, unfortunately, sometimes a spinal cord injury.
Millions of people around the world enjoy this spectacular sport. The Supercross in America is a good example of this, where between 50 and 100 thousand people come to watch. As mentioned, motocross is a wonderful sport where supporters and riders do not fight each other during or after the race. Buses and trains are not destroyed, which costs the citizen a lot of money. It also doesn't take a complete police force to keep the mob under control (sorry football fans, but I don't see it any other way).
Thai Grand Prix
Hereby also a word of thanks to Jan Postema who has invested a lot of time and energy to bring this spectacle to Thailand. It took a lot of effort and energy to make this event a success and what is said to have almost resulted in a divorce due to the many trips to Thailand.
Well Dutch people, if you feel called to encourage our Dutch boys and of course the Thai team, be welcome and come and have a look.
More information:
- The circuit is open on March 8, 9 and 10.
- Pinthong 3 Industrial Estate, Sriracha
- For maps and more information: www.thaimxgp.com
Not all football fans are rabble, Mr. Klumper Jos...perhaps you have never seen the inside of a stadium...in the past, prominent gentlemen also called the common people rabble.
Belgian enthusiasts of the above-mentioned motocross are of course also very welcome to encourage our Belgians.
mr Ronny, it seems to me that you are a Belgian, well I like the Belgians an amable people where I have spent a lot of time I even called my son Joel because I drove a number of races together with Joel Robert and where I very much have respect for them, and the Belgians are of course also welcome to encourage their compatriots and that applies to all countries that have sent their drivers here. For the rest, you should read carefully what I write, by the mob I understand people find it necessary to destroy other people's property out of displeasure because they disagree with the result or are there just to kick a mess and that the community should pay the costs.
What time do the matches start?
It's great to see that here and to be able to encourage our Belgian riders. How many cc do the boys ride?
Final on Sunday?
Seems like 250cc if we talk about 50-70 HP? I'm more of a motorsport guy myself, but I still like to see motocross. Classmate of mine always did it, he now drives NK I think, but this is of a different order 🙂
Just go to google and search for ThaiMXGP 2013 Provisional Programe there you will find all the data of the classes and the times when training takes place, the qualifications etc etc.
Hello bloggers, are there people from Hua Hin who go on Sunday or is there a bus? Would like to go but am disabled and really want to go there.
gr. Harry
Dick: I capitalized your comment, otherwise it will be rejected by the moderator. You may want to do that yourself next time. Small effort.