Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo has been working hard to improve the sport for the riders, the fans and the media. In a game changing trip recently, the Italian made a recent trip to America, to visit some circuits that might be used for future Monster Energy Motocross of Nations events and also to continue to build the relationship with AMA supercross promoters Feld and AMA motocross promoters, MXSports.

There is no doubt the sport is in a great place at the moment when these three major entities are working together for the betterment of the sport, with some big events included in the calendar in the coming years. 

We caught up with Mr. Luongo last weekend in Spain and from our chat with the always open and friendly Infront man, there are some exciting times ahead and the Atlanta crossing was well worth the trip.

MXLarge: David, first, can you explain how this trip was organized and how it came about?

Luongo: Well, we always keep a constant contact for years now, with MXsports, the Coombs family and Feld and we talk every month, or every two months. I wanted to make this trip, to visit them in person and also to visit a supercross race. They suggested Indianapolis as it fits in the schedule with Argentina and Spain. So, it was a good time for me to go there and I also had the chance to visit the AMA offices, because that is also in the same area. I also visited the MXsports office in Morgantown. It was a very interesting trip. You know, we haven’t had this type of collaboration in the last 40 years, and I really felt part of the family over there. It is something we can find ideas together and have more projects and it was nice for us.

MXLarge: As you said, the relationship now between Infront, MXSports and Feld is better than ever and that is fantastic to make things happen in the sport that we all want. I remember you dad saying you are best to deal with it, because you are younger and can maybe relate more with the changes needed and you can relate more to the situation. More collaboration and hopefully seeing all the best riders in the World fighting against each other. We all want to see races with the AMA guys vs the GP riders. Obviously, you talked about the MXoN in USA, but any talk about a USGP or maybe our riders racing in the Supermotocross rounds?

Luongo: Yes, it is something that is on the table. We said, if we do this event, it is the dream of every single motocross fan, with the three major and professional promoters in the World, but it has to be a perfect race. So, we prefer to spend time on this and do it well, rather than start something in a hurry, for next year and do it too quickly. We want it to be a perfect event, not something rushed together. It is definitely something that we talked about last week, we want to make it happen on both sides, so it might take months or years, but it is for sure one of the projects.

MXlarge: For the Nations in 2025, the talk is that it might be at Ironman. Can you give any indication where the event might happen in 2025?

Luongo: It is in that area. I visited two tracks and, we will talk more in the coming months. I cannot say much more than that for the time being. Ironman was next door to Indianapolis, so it was one of the two.

MXlarge: I kept a track of your trip on social media and also the live coverage from the Indy supercross and I saw where you visited the museum, and the old bike of Donny Schmit was in the museum, and it was from the team your dad ran back in the day. Can you remember those days as a kid?

Luongo: Yes, I totally remember that as the bike was from the team of my dad. My second bike was actually an 80cc Suzuki, which was the replica of this bike. I spent like six years on this bike, around the forest and on the track. It was nice to see this bike from my dad’s team in the 1990, in the AMA Hall Of Fame Museum.

MXlarge: The cultures in America and Europe are so different, even more different than supercross and motocross. It seems everyone there welcomed you with open arms and everyone wanted to meet you. I saw many interviews you did, and it really looked like a good time. How did you compare it to the Grand Prix culture.

Luongo: Like you said, it was a supercross event, so everything is very concentrated over two days, with the paddock that was rather empty on the Friday and then very crowded for three or four hours on the Saturday, so everything is very compact. The organization of the event, the rhythm is very good, how it is run. For what I saw, the stadium was very full, and this area is very concentrated on motocross, with Redbud in the area, Ironman and then you have the Indy cars and road racing, so, it’s a big motorsport area. It was really nice, because I saw many people who were at the Nations in Redbud, also the organizers of Redbud, so it was really nice. It was a great time with the motocross industry. I also got to meet many team managers of the supercross teams, and I also got to catch up with the Lawrence brothers. I have to say, it is a different way of presenting the races and I need to go to an Outdoor, but it was a great weekend.

MXLarge: How did it go talking with the American teams about the Motocross of Nations?

Luongo: It was more an introduction point to meet them personally, because I have never spoken to them directly. It was one more step to make contact with them and make new relationships. To meet new people and I was really surprised and happy for these meetings. I also met the Pulp MX show on the Friday night and that was fun. It was a really good trip.

MXLarge: Just to be clear, the MXoN goes to America next year, but what about after 2025?

Luongo: Yes, next year, 2025 in America, I really want to make it every three years in America and then between those, two really good European tracks. I really want to have this type of schedule, that it is a good relationship between America and Europe for this event, because this event needs to be in both places. Maybe even somewhere outside of Europe. We have 2026 in France and then we are working on 2027. When you have 100,000 people on a weekend, you need a facility that can deal with that. We need the good access arriving at the circuit and leaving and we need good WIFI, a facility that can make it a good experience for everyone. We need the airport close; hotels need to be in the area. There are three or four tracks in Europe that can do that, and we also want other countries, outside Europe involved in the near future.

MXlarge: What are the chances of seeing MXGP riders racing something like the Supermotocross championship in the near future, rather than a USGP?

Luongo: I don’t think so, because the supermotocross is in conflict with the MXGP schedule and the MXGP riders are paid to be World championship riders. Most probably an early event, in May or June, which is more probable, rather than SMX in September.

MXLarge: Last question. We have rounds in Argentina, Indonesia, China, I am hearing there will be more motorcycle events run in the middle east in 2025, and now I am hearing from friends in Australia, that there will be an Australian Grand Prix in the near future. Is that something you can talk about?

Luongo: We have many talks with the middle east for the last four years and we really want to go there. We want to make the best event possible, and I am confident we will be back there soon. Since COVID, we have a lot of talks with countries outside of Europe. At least two in South America another in Asia, and also, we talk to people in your country.

MXLarge: Somebody in Australia told me it might be in Darwin?

Luongo: It wasn’t me (laughing). You know Geoff, I know you want to have a trip back home to your country and we also want this, because we have negotiated for a long time with people in Australia. Australia really should be on the calendar, it something that is missing on the calendar and we are still in talks with people there. We are pushing as much as possible to go to Australia. That is all I can say for now. The calendar will not be more than 20 races, which is for sure, we cannot go over 20 rounds.