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.

34,259 Responses

  2. Мы изготавливаем дипломы психологов, юристов, экономистов и прочих профессий по выгодным ценам. Заказ документа, подтверждающего окончание института, – это выгодное решение. Купить диплом о высшем образовании: incomash.com/employer/diplomirovans

    Reply

  10. Добро пожаловать в Клубника Казино – место, где ваши азартные мечты
    становятся реальностью. Здесь вас ждут лучшие игры, выгодные предложения и уникальные возможности для победы.

    Наши игроки могут быть уверены в полной безопасности данных и честности игры, что делает процесс игры комфортным и надежным.

    Почему стоит выбрать клуб Клубника?
    Присоединившись к Клубника Казино, вы получаете доступ
    к щедрым бонусам, бесплатным вращениям и регулярным акциям, которые значительно повысит ваши шансы на успех.
    Кроме того, мы обеспечиваем быстрые выплаты и 24/7 поддержку,
    чтобы ваше время в казино было исключительно комфортным.

    Когда лучше всего присоединиться к Клубника Казино?
    Не теряйте времени, начните прямо сейчас и получите бонусы, которые ускорят
    ваш путь к победам. В Клубника Казино
    вас ждут:

    Щедрые бонусы для новичков и регулярные фриспины.

    Примите участие в турнирах
    с большими призами и увеличьте свои шансы на удачу.

    Каждый месяц мы добавляем новые игры,
    чтобы ваш опыт в казино был всегда увлекательным.

    Присоединяйтесь к Клубника Казино
    и станьте частью захватывающего мира выигрышей!.

    Reply

  32. I am not certain the place you’re getting
    your information, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or working out more.
    Thank you for excellent information I used to be searching for
    this information for my mission.

    Reply

  33. Приобрести диплом ВУЗа по выгодной стоимости можно, обращаясь к проверенной специализированной компании. Заказать документ о получении высшего образования можно в нашей компании. orikdok-5v-gorode-nalchik-7.ru

    Reply

  42. Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet the simplest thing to
    be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they
    just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal.
    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

    Reply

  46. Мы готовы предложить дипломы любых профессий по приятным тарифам. Заказ документа, который подтверждает обучение в университете, – это грамотное решение. Купить диплом о высшем образовании: silich.ru/forum/member.phpu=4810

    Reply

Leave a Reply to imperatorskiy_farfor_gjpa Cancel reply

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