Matchams flat out for British GP.

June 5, 2005, will see Matchams Park host the biggest event in UK off-road motorcycle racing - the British Motocross Grand Prix.

The event will be the first of a five-year contract signed with world championship promoter Youthstream and Matchams Motocross World have already demonstrated their commitment to producing a first-class meeting worthy of the title.

"We took on the grand prix because, for a short time, it looked as though it might not happen," commented Matchams Motocross World's Kevin Hoare. "We linked up with Steve Dixon from Yamaha and a deal with Youthstream was hammered out. They made an early visit to the track and praised Matchams' potential as a GP venue.

"We are very serious about what we are doing. We will pay all the money upfront to Youthstream which is a substantial outlay; we want to instil confidence that this race will happen and be the best we can possibly make it," he declared.

The 2004 British GP, at the Isle of Wight, was the first world championship round to visit the UK since 2000 and gave motocross hungry fans some fantastic action - it also narrowly missed out on the 'Best Grand Prix of the year' award. Matchams has been charged with bettering this excellent pedigree and is taking the appropriate steps by transforming the track and circuit infrastructure.

A full reconstruction started this month and will continue apace right up until June 4th. The timetable for completion will be tight but the Youthstream and FIM report stated on their visit in early March:

"With their proposed planning and work force behind them this is possible, as the organisers have a very strong team. There will be a considerable improvement on the circuit from what was the old track."

The length of the course will be around 1,500m and a minimum width of approximately 8 metres. The track will consist of tabletops, step-ups, step-downs, single jumps and some new ideas to create two racing lines.

Acclaimed track designer Johnny Douglas Hamilton will be manning the diggers and directing the Matchams crew over the next two months to ensure that his latest creation is up to the standards of his work on the Isle of Wight and Sun City in South Africa.

Matchams Park has good access points and the spectators will have a generous view of the complete track and be able to walk around the whole circuit.

The paddock and immediate surrounding land is fully tarred, flat and fenced which will be an enormous asset to the teams and trucks, and more practical for the public particularly with the unreliable British weather.

The team are also striving to bolster the off-track entertainment. A large trade area will sell kit and accessories while a fun-fair will distract the younger fans.

The camp sites are strategically placed around the site for convenience while the sanitation and general amenities will be of a high standard. Big-screen TVs are also planned.

Matchams is a well-know location familiar to motocross fans. The track originated back in the 1920s and has been an international venue for some fifty years, but visitors to the British Grand Prix might be in for something of a surprise with the planned alterations:

"Youthstream's priorities were for TV and an exciting track for spectators," said Hoare. "With these guidelines the track has been re-designed for good racing. There is huge emphasis on the spectator. They will see a completely different course with bigger jumps and specially built tunnels leading to infields in order to get closer to the track and the action.

"For the grand prix weekend we will have use of the entire Matchams site, some 100 acres, that also has paintballing, karting, oval track racing and clay pigeon shooting. Matchams is ideally located. Both Bournemouth and the New Forest are close and big tourist attractions.

"We have good road access and camping facilities. People won't have to fork-out for the ferry like last year and generally there is a lot to offer; we hope the fans will make a weekend of it," he concluded.

An English Motocross Grand Prix will also be held in 2005, at the Isle of Wight, on August 28.