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.

23,256 Responses

  1. Мобильный номер – ваш надежный источник информации о телефонных номерах России. У нас вы сможете быстро узнать, кто звонил, просто введя код региона или номер телефона. Удобный поиск и актуальные данные операторов мобильной связи: https://mobilnomer.ru/

    Reply

  20. Trade online with pocketoption-uk.co.uk – a trusted platform with low entry requirements. Start with as little as £1, access over 100 global assets including GBP/USD, FTSE 100 and crypto. Fast payouts, user-friendly interface, and welcome bonuses for new traders.

    Reply

  23. Hi! Do you қnow if they make any plugins to hеlp ԝitһ SEO?

    I’m trying to get my blog to rank for somｅ targｅted keywords Ьut I’m not sеeing very good results.

    If yoս know of ɑny plеase share. Thanks!

    Reply

  27. Join millions of traders worldwide with the pocket option app ios. Open trades in seconds, track market trends in real time, and access over 100 assets including forex, stocks, crypto, and commodities. Enjoy fast deposits and withdrawals, clear charts, and a beginner-friendly interface. Perfect for both new and experienced traders – trade on the go with confidence

    Reply

  29. Hey people,

    I’ve been exploring the world of online gaming lately, and I’ve gotta say — it’s surprisingly fun. At first, I was super skeptical. I mean, how do you even trust an online platform with your cash, right? But after doing a ton of research (and trying out a few sketchy sites so you won’t have to), I figured out a few things that set apart a legit casino from a risky mess. First off, if you’re new to all this, here’s the golden rule: **regulation is key**. If a casino doesn’t have a proper license (like from the MGA or the UKGC), just close that tab. No bonus is worth the risk of never seeing your funds again. Also — and I know no one wants to — go through the small print. That’s the only way to know what kind of playthrough limits they’ve slapped onto those so-called “amazing” bonuses.

    Now, let me share a site I’ve been hooked on these last few weeks. It’s been a total win. The interface? Super clean. Payouts? Quick — like 24 hours quick. And the game selection? *Massive*. Slots, live dealers, blackjack, even some unique stuff I hadn’t tried before. Check it out here: gra plinko opinie What really won me over was the help desk. I had a tiny issue with a bonus not working, and they got back to me in like no time. Compare that to other sites where you’re just left hanging — yeah, hard pass.

    Also, if you’re into bonuses (and who isn’t?), this place offers some awesome ones. But here’s the trick: don’t just chase bonuses. It’s smarter to get reasonable terms than a huge bonus you’ll never be able to withdraw. I’m not saying you should go and blow your whole paycheck — please don’t. But if you’ve got a little extra spending money and you’re looking for a chill way to spend an evening, online casinos can totally deliver. Just keep your head on, control your bankroll, and don’t treat it like a side hustle. It’s for fun, not for a paycheck. Anyway, just wanted to drop my experience here in case anyone’s interested or trying to find a trustworthy place to play. If you’ve got your own go-to sites or even some casino nightmares, I’m all ears — love talking shop about this stuff.

    Good luck out there, and may the odds be ever in your favor ??

    Reply

  36. Рады приветствовать вас в Анлим Казино, где захватывающие игры и щедрые выигрыши сливаются в идеальную
    комбинацию. Здесь каждый найдет огромное количество
    игр, включая игровые автоматы, рулетку, а
    также принять участие в акциях и выиграть большие бонусы.
    Независимо от уровня опыта,
    мы предложим лучший игровой опыт.

    Наше казино предлагает высококачественные услуги и огромные возможности для выигрыша.
    Присоединяйтесь к игрокам, которые уже выигрывают,
    и получите шанс на большие деньги.
    Вас ждут бонусы и уникальные предложения для увеличения ваших шансов на успех.

    Что делает нас особенными?

    Моментальная регистрация — начните играть в пару кликов.

    Щедрые бонусы для новичков — больший шанс на успешный старт.

    Частые турниры и акции — для
    тех, кто хочет увеличить свои шансы на выигрыш и получить дополнительные
    призы.

    Круглосуточная поддержка — всегда готовы помочь по любым вопросам.

    Мобильная версия — играйте в любимые игры в любое время и в
    любом месте.

    Пришло время выигрывать!
    Присоединяйтесь к Анлим Казино и начните
    выигрывать прямо сейчас. https://unlimclub-jackpot.top/

    Reply

  49. It’s actually a cool and useful piece of information. I’m happy that
    you simply shared this helpful information with us.
    Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

Add a Comment

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