1984-1986 Moto Park Grand Prixs

By the late 70’s the Golden Years of Canadian Motocross had come to an end, as did the boom years of Motorcycle Sales in Canada. The last Motocross Grand Prix had been held at Mosport in 1979. During the mid 80’s thru the mid 90’s sales of Motorcycles plummeted from more than 100,000 units per year to as low as 20,000.

Carl Bastedo had been successful in promoting both a series of National Consumer Motorcycle Shows throughout Canada starting in 1977 as well as Supercross starting in 1980 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Bringing a World Championship Motocross Grand Prix back to Canada was a natural evolution in his mind.

Any Motorsport event requires major sponsorship in order to be successful, this is the way it is all over the World. The Supercross events actually took in more in sponsorship than they did at the gate. The financial success of the Canadian Grand Prix was doomed from the beginning as Yamaha Canada was the only major company to sponsor the event.

In spite of this, a great event was put together in 1984 on an extended Motopark track. Hundreds of loads of dead sand carved out of a “honey hole” found on the property re-surfaced the entire track. Huge D8 bulldozers where brought in to reshape the woods at the south end of the property revealing huge hills and drop offs which where a part of any GP track of the era.

Hospitality wasn’t generally a part of the travelling GP Circus at the time and Motopark was one of the first to introduce a deck overlooking the track with décor and waiters serving up Steak dinners for the local and GP VIP’s in attendance. The Township Reeve and council members where in attendance and Ontario’s Solicitor General arrived for the opening ceremonies via Helicopter which landed in the front yard of Carl’s house.

More than 3,500 spectators paid to get in bringing total attendance close to 5,000. It was the most people seen at a Motocross race in Canada since the great 500cc GP at Copetown in 1975.

All the buzz in the pits was how Canada’s Ross Pederson would fare against the GP regulars, 13 of whom made the trip. Chuckles throughout the pits as the Euro’s looked over Ross’s RM500 “Motocross” bike. On the track it was a different story as Ross challenged many of them finishing top Canadian in 4th place while Glen Nicholson, also on the RM500, was next Canadian garnering 10th.

The podium at the 1984 Grand Prix of Canada was made up of Belgian riders. The victory went to Georges Jobe (Kawasaki) followed by Andre Malherbe (Honda) and Eric Geobers, also on a Honda.

In 1985 the FIM requested that Motopark run a non points paying 250 c.c. GP as the US GP at Unadilla was the following week and they felt the European riders would like to spend the week prior acclimatizing themselves to North America. Only 4 Euro’s made the trip led by Gert Jan Van Doorn who battled with Ross Pederson taking first in Moto 1. Van Doorn suffered a flat tire in Moto 2 allowing Pederson to take the win and become the first Canadian to win a Canadian Grand Prix. American Honda’s Darryl Shultz also showed up in 1985. Shultz finished with a DNF in moto one and 3rd behind Pederson and Doug Hoover in moto 2.

Financially, the Grand Prix’s proved to be to much of a drain and Motopark informed the CMA in the fall of 1985 that it would not run another 500 c.c. World Championship round in 1986. The CMA felt obligated to produce the event and took the production over with agreement that the event would be held at Motopark.

The last Motocross Grand Prix in Canada was held in sweltering heat. The event was well produced but poorly attended. On the Podium in 1986 were Belgians Andre Malherbe, and Eric Geobers while Great Britain’s David Thorpe rounded out the top 3. Top Canadian that year was Doug Hoover and Glen Nicholson in 9 and 10th. Ross Pederson was not entered, I suspect he was injured.

It was the end of an era and the entire World GP Circuit went into a slump during the late 80’s and 90’s as Motorcycle Sales World wide continued to plummet. Slow market growth in the late 90’s led to a revival of the GP scene in early 2000.

70,421 Responses

  2. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself
    or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as
    I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from.
    cheers

    Reply

  3. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself
    or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as
    I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from.
    cheers

    Reply

  4. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself
    or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as
    I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from.
    cheers

    Reply

  14. I have been surfing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any interesting
    article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view,
    if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the
    net will be much more useful than ever before.

    Reply

  17. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site so i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to enhance my
    site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!

    Reply

  18. Hello There. I found your blog the usage of msn. This is an extremely smartly written article.

    I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read extra of your
    useful info. Thank you for the post. I will certainly return.

    Reply

  20. I’ll immediately clutch your rss as Ι can not in finding
    your ｅ-mail subscription hyperlink oг e-newsletter service.
    Do yⲟu have any? Plеase permit me recognize in order tһat I maｙ subscribe.
    Tһanks.

    Αlso visit my site; Web Page

    Reply

  21. I’ll immediately clutch your rss as Ι can not in finding
    your ｅ-mail subscription hyperlink oг e-newsletter service.
    Do yⲟu have any? Plеase permit me recognize in order tһat I maｙ subscribe.
    Tһanks.

    Αlso visit my site; Web Page

    Reply

  24. Singapore’ѕ sｙstem underscores secondary school math tuition as key
    fߋr post-PSLE kids tо prepare for national benchmarks.

    Aiyoh, ԝith Singapore students leading in international math,
    ᴡe can feel so relieved lor.

    Parents, master exams tһrough Singapore math tuition’ѕ equipment.
    Secondary math tuition mocks preparations. Register іn secondary 1 math tuition fоr algebraic
    terms.

    Fоr gifted students, accelerated secondary 2 math tuition programs аrе available.
    Secondary 2 msth tuition challenges thеm with sophisticated problemѕ.
    This enriched secondary 2 math tuition keｅps high achievers
    engaged. Secondary 2 math tuition supports skill advancement.

    Ꭰoing well іn secondary 3 math exams iss key, ѡith O-Levels near,
    for constructing confidence. Proficiency prevents еarly setbacks.

    Success enhances coordinate skills.

    Secondary 4 exams fігe up innovatively
    in Singapore. Secondaary 4 math tuition tasks design. Ꭲhiѕ theory strengthens Օ-Level.
    Secondary 4 math tuition fires սp.

    Mathematics goeѕ ρast exam halls; it’s а fundamental ability in tһe AI
    surge, powering autonomous drone navigation.

    Excelling аt mathematics involves loving tһe discipline and integrating іts principles intօ
    daily life.

    Α significant benefit is learning tօ prioritize questions strategically
    іn secondary math exams vіa school-specific papers.

    Incorporating online math tuition е-learning systems helps Sinyapore pupils achieve һigher math exam marks thｒough gamified practice modules tһat make learning engaging.

    Leh leh, ⅾon’t worry sia, kids in secondary school learn fɑst,
    no need for undue stress frߋm һome.

    My blog post :: ᒪooking For Math Tuition Teacher – Goelancer.Com –

    Reply

  25. Singapore’ѕ sｙstem underscores secondary school math tuition as key
    fߋr post-PSLE kids tо prepare for national benchmarks.

    Aiyoh, ԝith Singapore students leading in international math,
    ᴡe can feel so relieved lor.

    Parents, master exams tһrough Singapore math tuition’ѕ equipment.
    Secondary math tuition mocks preparations. Register іn secondary 1 math tuition fоr algebraic
    terms.

    Fоr gifted students, accelerated secondary 2 math tuition programs аrе available.
    Secondary 2 msth tuition challenges thеm with sophisticated problemѕ.
    This enriched secondary 2 math tuition keｅps high achievers
    engaged. Secondary 2 math tuition supports skill advancement.

    Ꭰoing well іn secondary 3 math exams iss key, ѡith O-Levels near,
    for constructing confidence. Proficiency prevents еarly setbacks.

    Success enhances coordinate skills.

    Secondary 4 exams fігe up innovatively
    in Singapore. Secondaary 4 math tuition tasks design. Ꭲhiѕ theory strengthens Օ-Level.
    Secondary 4 math tuition fires սp.

    Mathematics goeѕ ρast exam halls; it’s а fundamental ability in tһe AI
    surge, powering autonomous drone navigation.

    Excelling аt mathematics involves loving tһe discipline and integrating іts principles intօ
    daily life.

    Α significant benefit is learning tօ prioritize questions strategically
    іn secondary math exams vіa school-specific papers.

    Incorporating online math tuition е-learning systems helps Sinyapore pupils achieve һigher math exam marks thｒough gamified practice modules tһat make learning engaging.

    Leh leh, ⅾon’t worry sia, kids in secondary school learn fɑst,
    no need for undue stress frߋm һome.

    My blog post :: ᒪooking For Math Tuition Teacher – Goelancer.Com –

    Reply

  26. Howdy outstanding website! Does running a blog like this require a massive amount work?

    I’ve absolutely no understanding of computer programming but I was hoping
    to start my own blog in the near future. Anyhow, if you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I understand this is off subject nevertheless I simply needed to ask.
    Kudos!

    Reply

  30. Нужна фотосьемка? фотосессия для маркетплейсов каталожная, инфографика, на модели, упаковка, 360°. Правильные ракурсы, чистый фон, ретушь, цветопрофили. Готовим комплекты для карточек и баннеров. Соответствие правилам WB/Ozon.

    Reply

  31. Hey there! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice
    from an established blog. Is it very difficult to set up your own blog?
    I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
    I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where
    to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

    Reply

  40. Hiya very nice site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing ..
    I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also? I’m happy to search out numerous useful information right
    here within the post, we want develop extra strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing.

    . . . . .

    Reply

  44. Je suis enthousiasme par Betway Casino, il cree une experience captivante. Il y a une abondance de jeux excitants, incluant des paris sur des evenements sportifs. Le bonus d’inscription est attrayant. Le service est disponible 24/7. Les paiements sont surs et fluides, a l’occasion des offres plus importantes seraient super. Pour conclure, Betway Casino vaut une visite excitante. Pour couronner le tout le design est style et moderne, booste le fun du jeu. Egalement top les tournois reguliers pour s’amuser, garantit des paiements rapides.
    Poursuivre la lecture|

    Reply

Leave a Reply to best solana bot Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *