By Roddy Brooks
June 24 2005

The English Motocross Grand Prix on the Isle of Wight is on course for success after the venue passed a series of stringent inspections. A site meeting at the Gore Basin circuit near Arreton was attended by the GP’s clerk of the course, Frank Dixon; event promoter 4E Promotions; and local authority officials and health and safety providers. The venue came through the inspection with flying colours, as fire officers, first aid providers and local authority officials all gave it the thumbs up.

The meeting was also attended by the 4E staff who will be providing and running the event facilities, designing and maintaining the GP race track, and also providing on-course watering. Dixon, from the event’s sanctioning body the Auto Cycle Union, declared himself happy with the inspection.
“Everything looked fine and we all felt reassured after a successful meeting,” said Dixon. “It looks like it will be another successful GP from the point of view of the facilities at the venue,” he added.

All events on the Isle of Wight with over 5,000 spectators have to have a special licence under the Isle of Wight Act, and there were no problems in this area. Local highway authorities were also happy with the plans to install a bridge for spectators to gain access from the car parking areas to the race track. The farmer at the venue was also on hand to explain that the fields to be used for the GP had been ploughed and re-seeded, so would be in prime condition in time for the event in August.

The GP will be run on the weekend of 27th and 28th August, when the world’s best MX1 and MX2 riders will be in action. But the wide range of entertainment for spectators will begin on Friday, 26th August, when the live music tent will see bands start performing at 3pm. A total of 17 live music acts will be performing throughout the weekend, and there will also be specific entertainment for younger spectators, more details of which will be released shortly.

GP tickets are available through 4E Promotions on 01444-880110, or online at the event website, www.iowmxgp.com. If fans book via the website they can obtain a discount on every ticket they purchase. Admission prices are as follows: adults £30 (advance ticket via website £25), children under 14 £15 (advance ticket via website £12), children under six free.

Wightlink, the Isle of Wight Ferries company, are sponsoring the GP and are offering discounted ferry crossings to fans attending the races. For more information on ferries please visit www.wightlink.co.uk, or call 0870 528 7744 and state that you are travelling to the GP, to obtain discounted ferry rates.