MxLarge Story
Giuseppe Luongo interview Part I – 2011 calendar and USGP
Interview Friday 02nd July 2010 By Geoff Meyer
Youthsteam President Giuseppe Luongo is probably the single most powerful man in World Motocross. Back in 2004 Luongo returned to the Motocross scene after a few years on the sidelines and straight away started with a new plan to change the way we looked at the sport.
As we stand in 2010 the FIM World Motocross Championship has grown to another type of event, bigger crowds, more countries involved, great depth in both MX1 and MX2, plus major sponsors such as Teka, Monster Energy, Red Bull and Rockstar Energy Drinks. This year’s GP series has seen huge crowds at many of the rounds, and the racing in both MX1 and MX2 has been incredible. Trips to Brazil and America, plus another top to America for the MXoN in September means success with a capital S.
2011 will see more of the same, although this time the series will start in May in Australia and end in October in Italy. Two USGP’s, Brazil is again on the calendar and so much enthusiasm from Asia and New Zealand for 2012. All looks bright on the Motocross front.
We decided to sit down with Mr. Luongo and ask him about the 2011 calendar and also about the recently held United States Grand Prix. Here is part one of the interview. Part two will be on Monday.
MXlarge: Mr. Luongo, the calendar for 2011 looks really nice. Can you tell me how Australia came into negotiation for a round?
Luongo: In Australia we got into negotiations with Kevin Williams and also the federation. The idea for the moment is to do it in Broadford and in the future it is maybe possible to have another venue. We will work very hard in partnership together because Australia is one of the biggest Motocross countries in the World and also the market there is good. We have a lot of work to do and we will work hard and with Kevin Williams I am sure we will make something good.
MXlarge: Where you involved in the Australian Grand Prix the last time we visited there?
Luongo: I ran the first one in Broadford, my company did it the first time and then Dorna did it the following year.
MXlarge: Is it possible that the Australian government will give support to the event?
Luongo: I think we have to work really hard to have the government support and for this it takes time. I believe there will be support from the government, because with all the media coverage and also the income that the race generates, we will have around 2000 to 3000 people who come from overseas to see this race. Tickets sales, hotels, rental cars, the race creates a lot of revenue. It is important to have the government support this race and also good for the country of Australia.
MXlarge: There seemed to be some confusion from an inexperienced journalist in America that tried to make some confusion with the provisional calendar. Obviously he doesn’t realize the interest from circuits in some of the countries. Can you make it clear to him?
Luongo: We have the possibility for two venues in Holland. First it’s a provisional calendar and second I like to have the stupid people talking. In Holland we have two races, we have Valkenswaard and we have Lierop, both want to continue and we want both to continue, they are both good organizations. Now we have the problem we have too many races, we have the problem that the others don’t have, we have too many venues, for the moment it is difficult to decide. Maybe we make a rotating system (one year Lierop, one year Valkenswaard). In our World you have people who are jealous; they just waste their time to create rubbish talk.
MXlarge: What I have noticed this year is the three Grand Prix’s in France, Holland and Germany we had really big spectator turnouts. I thought maybe that was because of the amazing battle in the MX2 class between riders from these countries. What is your opinion?
Luongo: I think, the rider is very important, but you see in these countries we have always had big crowds, but I believe the sport is growing and the interest in growing. Every year they go home and they bring an extra friend the next year. I have to remind you that in Teutschenthal a few years ago after Pit Beirer stopped racing and Germany didn’t really have a top rider, we still had a good crowd. Now we have an extremely good crowd, but I think if you look at the major spots where Motocross is big each year we have bigger crowds. To create this it is important to try and have the same facility, and it is important that the people can have a nice time on the Friday and Saturday night, it is a lot of things that make a Grand Prix a success.
MXlarge: The USGP at Glen Helen, what were the positive and negative things from the event?
Luongo: Personally, I only see the good things, because as you know our nice competitor there, they said we didn’t have a good crowd, but we didn’t wait for that the first year, they also said that a majority of the American riders were not there, but we were not waiting for a majority of the American riders, because we know we made the race in 60 days and the first 15 days we pretty much used for negotiations, then maybe 45 days to get ready. We made this race to make our business card, to show our way of working, we made this race to show that you can wash the bikes in the paddock and there isn’t any mud, we made this race to show our signal area with its double story where the teams can invite their guests, we made this race to have a race in America and have Worldwide television, we made this race together with Glen Helen to see if it is possible and it is possible to have a great race.
MXlarge: Obviously there were positive comments from the AMA riders who attended the event. How did you find the comments about the race?
Luongo: What is important for me is the statement Alessi said in the press conference. For me what is important is what the different fans said about the race on the internet, I mean the fans that attended the race, while some (who didn’t attend the race) tried to talk negative about us. The fans that were there said it was great racing and well organized. For these things I am happy, but for other things I am a little angry. The people who just waste their time trying to be negative and to try and destroy the hard work we do, these are the jealous people. Glen Helen was a big success and it was needed to make the race and show the World (via live television and on the internet). Sure it was better if we had two or three thousand extra people, but Bud and I were the ones who had to pay the bill and we know that next year the bill will be less and I think in two or three years we will have 25,000 to 30,000 spectators.
Stanley Leroux Design
