First Look: GP of Mexico
Friday, May 11, 2012 | 11:50 AM
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PrintContributor Gary Vazquez is hanging out at this weekend's FIM GP of Mexico, and caught up with event co-promoter (and multi-time World GP Champion) Sebastian Tortelli to get the vibe on this weekend's race. He also snapped a few pictures as the track is coming together. Check it out here, and stay posted to Racer X Online for results and the GP Race Report once the event is complete.
By Gary Vazquez:
Racer X: Hello Sebastien, what brings you to Guadalajara?
Sebastian Tortelli: What brings me here? The Grand Prix of Mexico! I’ve been working with Nicolas the past three years for this race and this weekend is the big day, that’s what we have been working for.
How are the preparations coming along for the weekend?
The preparations are going good, you can see a lot of tents and things that are not usually here. I think now we have the best track in Mexico by far, I’ve been to a few races here but have never seen anything like this here, we truly have a World Championship track with all the GP riders here. It’s amazing what the changes were from last December when they had a Mexican Championship race here, you can’t do any better than this!
Gary Vazquez photos
What are your attendance expectations for the weekend?
I know Nicolas has done quite a lot of TV and radio coverage that should bring a lot of people. I know the biggest motor race here in Mexico is the World Rally Championship so this GP is the second race after that. I know it’s new in Mexico to have this kind of event and there isn’t a lot of main stream media coverage, they’ve had world championship races in the past but it was a long, long time ago and a couple World Enduro Championship events in recent years but that is different, it’s not the same as this.
I know the first year will be hard because not a lot of people know about it but I know Megacable (cable provider) did an agreement with Youthstream to televise the GP here in Mexico, make it stronger and hopefully they can make it grow for the coming years. We would love to have 30,000 fans in attendance over the weekend but we’ll see how it goes.
Looking at this beautiful track, do you ever feel like getting back on the bike?
I did! I rode it this morning, got a chance to ride the track and it was very cool!
Good luck with the event and thanks for the interview.
Thank you, it will be good and I’m sure the Mexican fans will see a great race.
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Good luck ST. Hope it pans out bro. Should be a blast anyhow, except that MF Longo expects the teams to pay their own expenses to the flyaway meets. He covers the top teams but not the lesser lights, so the strength of the field will leave a lot to be desired.
Hey, maybe that´s the chance you yanks have been waiting for to score a few WC points. LOL.
I imagine the only concessions are going to be taco carts. Maybe some churros for the kids.
look at that p.o.s.! i love g.p. and im from the u.s.a. thats why we dont do g.p. look at the county fair track!
Are me and Chad Reed the only ones that think all those wood posts holding up the fencing and sticking up everywhere are a disaster waiting to happen? I sure as hell wouldn't want to come down on top of one during a crash.
Their attendence can't be any worse then Glen Helen last year.
This is a World Championship venue? I'll agree with FlightlvI0...those wooden posts are the absolute worst! Unless they are attempting to skewer a vampire...they would have to go. The track layout appears to be some sort of modified Supercross layout...except easier.
Looks like Southwick sand to me. Should be some killer whoops by the time practice is over. Have to agree about the stakes and fencing. How are you going to push a bike off the track? I do wish them the best of luck though. Wish I was there too!
I think the wooden posts are temporary. Give these guys some credit, they know what the GP standard is...
Longo will be the death of World GP motocross !
Tortelli has always been a class act, but I don't know why the FIM would hold a race in Mexico. Remember the ISDE? Had to cut it short for the safety of the riders, and not because the course was dangerous...the locals were!
Track is sick.. just came back from it..and the rollers are gonna be nice after practice sessions.. and dont worry about insecurity Gdl is in the safeties state of our country and also is the capital city of it.. cant argue about the other states.. but the fact is that the gp is starting tomorrow.. and we are going to enjoy it.. by the way im gonna be a flag man XD...
The track should be ready, it's not like they had to look far for cheap labor...
For our PC readers, That's a joke guys.
Looks like it is next to a factory, probably owned by an American company.
And I wish any MX event anywhere success.
@Motohead279; Want some late night reading...
Guadalajara has the second strongest economic potential of any major (North American) city, only Chicago scored more highly for sheer economic potential.[8] The same research noted the Guadalajara as the "city of the future" due to its youthful population, low unemployment and large number of recent foreign investment deals, it was also found the third most business friendly city in North America.
Hello Chupacobra, Baby...
@Motohead279 Sorry I forgot my source.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalajara,_Jalisco
VISTAJIM you are wrong, the "factory" you mentioned isnt a factory, its a shopping mall, dont be stupid, you are not the only guys in the world that have shopping malls, and isnt owned by an american company
And this dustbowl will still have better attendance than Glen Helen. Pathetic.
Honestly this is why we who ride, race and love this sport are labeled as an ignorant lowlife community, some people should travel some more before making dumb comments.
ORangel,sorry that was not meant to be derogatory towards Mexico, but rather a jab at greedy American executives that make huge profits off Mexican workers.I am sure that is a nice mall. Again I hope the race is a success.
Free practice and qualifying session was great.. michael leib took the las qualy race.. tomorrow is gonna be better..
fu#king mexico! i have been afew times for golf,tennis tournys,i even raced aCMC event back in the day. i am always amazed how anything gets done! mexico is a shiz hole every time i went always felt lucky to get home. prepare for mayhem and bring your wallet if you want to get anything done!
@Pitbull: Thanks for your kind words. By your comments you obviously have all the answers to (everything) and so I am very sorry to be so stupid to think there was anyway someone like you could possible increase your intelligence quotient.
Please disregard any of my posts in the future as you have really taught me something here today. How can I repay you....
The economy may be bad, the privateers may be suffering, but that hasn’t stop the powers-that-be from charging the riders more to race. And it is the riders that the fans come to see. This approach, especially the idea of making money from the riders, is like concert promoter selling tickets to a Coldplay concert and then charging Coldplay to sing.
It is disheartening for privateers to hear all of the promoters and sanctioning bodies crowing about their record-setting attendance, while the privateers are losing money on a weekly basis–no wonder the Supercross series barely had enough riders to hold heat races over the last few weeks of the season
WHAT ARE THE COSTS
LICENSES: A rider who wants to race the AMA Nationals has to buy a $275 license for the Nationals and Nationals only, this license is not recognized by the Supercross promoters).
The AMA (the one in Ohio, not the one in Florida) charges a rider $300 for an AMA Pro Racing Supercross license. Amazingly, there is actually a $900 FIM Supercross license fee that is also required for the 450 Supercross class, but Feld waives this license fee to any rider who rides three or more events in a season (or one event only). If however, paradoxically, a rider does two events, he is liable for the $900. 250 East/West riders do not need an FIM license.
The entry fee for a Supercross race is $200.
AMA NATIONALS: The entry fee for the AMA Nationals has traditionally been $200 also, but because the riders have to get the IMpact concussion test before they can get their license, the delays have made many AMA National riders miss the license deadline. For late entries, MX Sports is charging Hangtown entries a $50 late fee on top of the $200 entry fee. With the riders having to pay for the $275 license, then the concussion test (around $30), then the $200 entry fee and then the $50 late fee, the start-up cost for Hangtown is around $550. To rub salt in the wounds, MX Sports tacks on a $7.25 convenience fee (making it $562.25). For the convenience of who? Perhaps MX Sports could have waived the late fee, given that this is the first series that the concussion test has been mandated.
When the 80 riders in each class pay their entries the total take to MX Sports is $32,000 a week (not counting the $1160 in convenience fees). Perhaps, as many local promoters do, MX Sports should put all of the Pro rider’s entry fee money into the purse (on top of the posted purse) for that day’s race...they can keep the convenience fee.
Additionally, when a rider gets his AMA National license and entry forms he agrees to “grant to MX Sports and its related or affiliated entities and their respective employees, agents, licensees, successors and assigns (collectively, “Grantees”), permission to photograph, film, videotape or otherwise record my voice, image, or likeness in connection with any Event (collectively, “Appearance”), and to use the Appearance in advertising, publicity, promotional, merchandising and/or other commercial activities of Grantees, and agree that Grantees shall be the exclusive owner of all copyright and other rights in and to all works incorporating any or all of the Appearance, and all allied, ancillary and subsidiary rights relating thereto, and will be able to perpetually use and license to third parties such works in all media currently existing or hereafter created, including, but not limited to, printed materials, television and all electronic media, for any use to which the same or any material therein may hereafter be put, applied or adapted.”
Isn’t this the kind of image licensing that Jeremy McGrath quit Team Honda over?
@hotfart: All due respect amigo but, aren't you a little North of the border posting your complaints (valid as they may be) on a article referencing the FIM MXGP Championship race held in Guadalajara. I suggest you and your "breaking wind" cool down long enough to decide if you are on a thread that someone will take notice and heed your call. Good luck with your quest...
Or have another shot of Mezcal and enjoy the Mexican Gran Prix.
"Rosita, otra serie de mezcal para el caliente enrolló uno. ¡El apuro, el Apuro!"