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.

92,707 Responses

  2. Приобрести диплом о высшем образовании. Производство документа занимает немного времени, а цена при этом невысокая. В результате вы сможете сохранить бюджет и найти хорошую работу вашей мечты. Купить диплом возможно через сайт компании. – linksshortcut.com/josephgillis56

    Reply

  3. Добро пожаловать в мир футбольных дерби! В этой статье…

    Хочу выделить материал про Хроники и тактика футбольных дерби.

    Смотрите сами:

    https://tottenham-army.ru

    Футбол объединяет и разделяет, и дерби — яркое тому подтверждение…

    Reply

  5. I am not sure where you are getting your information, but good
    topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for great information I was looking for this info for my mission.

    Reply

  7. An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been doing a little research on this.
    And he in fact bought me dinner because I stumbled upon it for him…
    lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this matter
    here on your website.

    Reply

  9. Приобрести диплом о высшем образовании. Изготовление диплома занимает гораздо меньше времени, а стоимость – невысокая. В результате вы имеете возможность сохранить деньги и время и получить отличную работу мечты. Заказать диплом можно через официальный сайт компании. – linkparasuabio.com.br/jeffersong

    Reply

  10. Мы изготавливаем дипломы любой профессии по невысоким тарифам. Важно, чтобы дипломы были доступны для большинства граждан. Быстро и просто заказать диплом любого университета pricelesslib.com/author/colleenmonroe

    Reply

  12. Приобрести диплом об образовании. Производство документа занимает гораздо меньше времени, а цена – доступна каждому. В результате вы имеете возможность сохранить деньги и время и найти хорошую работу вашей мечты. Приобрести диплом на заказ вы можете используя официальный сайт компании. – bestnasos.ru/forum/user/5545

    Reply

  13. Hey there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you
    using for this website? I’m getting fed up of
    Wordpress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform.
    I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

    Reply

  14. Приобрести диплом любого ВУЗа. Изготовление диплома занимает немного времени, а цена – доступна каждому. В результате вы имеете возможность сохранить бюджет и найти работу мечты. Купить диплом на заказ можно через сайт компании. – vetshonoredhere.com/kupit-diplom-s-garantiej-podlinnosti-11-2

    Reply

  15. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as
    long as I provide credit and sources back to your blog?
    My website is in the very same area of interest as
    yours and my users would genuinely benefit from
    a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you.
    Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Thanks on your marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it,
      you’re a great author. I will remember to bookmark
      your blog and will come back in the future. I want to encourage you to continue your
      great posts, have a nice day!

      Reply

  25. Мы изготавливаем дипломы любой профессии по выгодным ценам. Для нас важно, чтобы документы были доступны для большого количества наших граждан. Заказать диплом о высшем образовании rossensor.ru/forum/?PAGE_NAME=profile_view&UID=44556

    Reply

  26. Мы предлагаем дипломы психологов, юристов, экономистов и любых других профессий по выгодным тарифам. Важно, чтобы дипломы были доступными для большинства граждан. Приобрести диплом ВУЗа profalink.com/julieairey

    Reply

  31. Howdy! This blog post could not be written much better!
    Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate!

    He continually kept talking about this. I most certainly will send this information to him.
    Pretty sure he will have a great read. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  36. Thanks a lot for sharing this with all people you really recognise
    what you’re speaking approximately! Bookmarked.
    Please additionally visit my web site =). We can have a hyperlink
    exchange contract among us

    Reply

  42. Howdy, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar
    one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam
    responses? If so how do you stop it, any plugin or anything you can advise?

    I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any support is very
    much appreciated.

    Reply

  45. I don’t even know how I ended up right here, however I assumed this
    submit was once great. I don’t know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger in case you
    are not already. Cheers!

    Reply

  48. Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your website in internet explorer, may check this?
    IE still is the market leader and a big element of other people will leave out your fantastic writing because of this problem.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to fixthisy Cancel reply

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