The organising body for MXGP, Infront Moto Racing, can now share an update to the 2023 racing calendar for the FIM Motocross World Championships.
Unfortunately, the MXGP of Vietnam, originally scheduled for September 16-17, has been cancelled and, using those dates, one of the most historic motocross venues in the world, Maggiora, will now be the hosting venue of the 16th round of the 2023 MXGP series, the MXGP of Italy.
The old-school circuit of Maggiora has a rich history and has been the theatre of many spectacular races since it hosted its first event in 1966.
Showing its importance in motocross, the magnificent Italian track has hosted three Motocross of Nations events over the years, including the legendary MXoN of 1986, when the three-rider team from the United States achieved perfect scores to easily win the event outright that season.
The American threesome (from left) – Rick Johnson, David Bailey and Johnny O’Mara – who were unstoppable at the Motocross of Nations at Maggiora back in 1986. This photo shows the same trio at Maggiora, attending the MXoN there as special guests 30 years later, in 2016. See the video from that event, below. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
The circuit of Maggiora will continue to write motocross history.
Further updates include the cancellation of the Motocross of European Nations scheduled on October 15, as effort will now be put towards next year to find the perfect venue to celebrate this great event.
This is an historic circuit, a venue for many memorable races, but not least of all in 1986.
If we wind back the clock to the Motocross of Nations at Maggiora, in Italy in 1986, we will surely recall the occasion that the Americans made history by finishing 1-2 in all three races at this “Olympic Games of motocross”.
It had not been done before and it hasn’t been done again since.
The American threesome – Rick Johnson, David Bailey and Johnny O’Mara (this trio pictured above at Maggiora, attending the MXoN there 30 years later, in 2016) – were unstoppable that weekend in 1986.
Riding a 125cc Honda, O’Mara even beat the just-crowned 500cc world champ David Thorpe, from Britain, passing him going uphill on the steep and spectacular Maggiora circuit.
© Photos (from the MXoN at Maggiora, Italy, in 2016) by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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