DOHA: Five-time world champion Eric Geboers feels the new Losail MX track is a step in the right direction after motocross made history under lights in Qatar last night.
The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) yesterday hosted the opening round of the 2013 MX1 Motocross World Championship at the $1.6m circuit that was built from scratch within just three months.
“I think they (QMMF) did a great job. We are ending with more and more facilities like this one. It is an upgrade for the sport in general and for the teams,” Geboers said in an interview.
“We must please the fans with nice accommodation because it is very important that fans can keep coming (to watch the races),” the 51-year-old Belgian added. Geboers is a former motocross champion from Belgium. Nicknamed ‘The Kid’, he was the first person to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc divisions. He retired from international competition after his victory in Namen, Belgium, on August 5, 1990.
When asked about the night race, Geboers said the spectacle made for great television viewing across the globe.
“It is again something new. We will know about it (after the race). There were some doubts about the lights, how it will be. We have this in supercross (in the US) and they know how to manage it,” Geboers said in an interview posted on www.mxlarge.com.
“But this will be a new experience for us. It will give a special effect to the pictures. Something new is always good to get attention from the public, especially from people watching at home on the television,” he added.
When asked about team Suzuki, the promoter in Geboers said: “We had only one mechanic who was sick here, on the way (to Doha). That was the case for the last three days but he is fine.”
On Friday night, Italian motocross giant and MX1 world champion Antonio Cairoli said he was given a heads-up by MotopGP star and friend Valentino Rossi about the facility in Qatar.
“It has been four days for me in Qatar. I have enjoyed my time as (a) tourist,” Cairoli said. “I hope I get to come here more often. I was speaking to Valentino Rossi today. He said he wanted to come and watch the race but he has to travel.
“He told me that the place is nice and that the circuit is very good,” the Italian added.
Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo echoed Cairoli’s sentiments. Youthstream is the body that controls motocross.
“The feedback that I have from the riders is that they feel this is a well settled track despite being new,” Luongo said.
“They know it is a tough track and it requires a great deal of skill to do battle here,” he added. “We have had no problems here because Nasser (bin Khalifa Al Attiyah) has a very professional bunch of people who do a great job,” he said.
The Peninsula
