In a move that may come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the history of the most prestigious event in motocross, the FIM announced today that the 2002 Motocross des Nations will be held at Competition Park in San Jacinto, California.
In no way do I mean this as an insult to Competition Park; in fact, it is probably my personal favorite of the local motocross tracks. However, the Motocross des Nations is typically held at outdoor-style circuits, and to European racers the word “outdoor” means natural terrain.
Southern California has a track that fits this description — Glen Helen Raceway Park, site of the opening round of the AMA Outdoor National Motocross series. The track is built partly on a hillside and features severe elevation changes that always make for exciting racing.
This is a sharp contrast to Competition Park, an entirely man-made track located on the flat farmland of San Jacinto. A great track, but not the most obvious choice for FIM officials.
I for one am not going to complain too loudly – Competition Park is an easy 30 minute drive from my door, and when have I ever been able to say that about the MX des Nations before?
