Glen Helen National Canceled

Paul Carruthers | March 25, 2010

It’s true. There won’t be an AMA Motocross National at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California, on May 29, but there will a National in Southern California on September 11, according to MX Sports vice president Davey Coombs.News broke of a breakdown in negotiations between MX Sports, the rights holds of the series, and Glen Helen Raceway on the racetrack’s website yesterday when the track posted the following statement:”Glen Helen Raceway regretfully announces that it will not host round two of AMA 250/450 Nationals on May 29, 2010. There have been long negotiations between MX Sports and Glen Helen Raceway in regards to the event. As a previous host of more than 14 AMA Nationals and three GPs over the last 20 years, Glen Helen has proven to be a world-class venue (and so do the fans who have flooded the gates in large numbers over the years).”From the beginning of the most recent contract negotiations, Glen Helen has asked for the same contractual terms as other tracks on the National circuit received in 2010. Due to the lack of equality in the terms, Glen Helen is unable to move forward with a National at this time.”The National Promoter’s Group (NPG) was formed 15 years ago to set the standard for motocross in America. As a charter member, Glen Helen has stood together with the other promoters for the entire 15-year period. We feel that our contributions to the promotion of the sport were integral to the progress that has been made in motocross. Glen Helen supports all the teams, riders, sponsors and other National promoters 100 percent and we are sorry that the fans who planned to come to Glen Helen to see “Real Motocross” will not get the chance to do it this year.”Glen Helen will still be hosting events every weekend and will give fans, riders and sponsors a venue that they can be proud to be part of. We have a pre-National event on May 16, 2010 with the MTA World MX Championships, which will give fans a first look at the outdoor teams for 2010. A large Pro purse will be included. More details to follow.”When contacted at his office this morning, Coombs said the length of the contract was the main issue.”We were at an impasse over the length of the contract,” Coombs said. “Glen Helen wanted the maximum term of years and when they didn’t get that, they cancelled their event. We are sorry to see Glen Helen go, but we respect Mr. [Bud] Feldkamp’s decision not to continue with the series.”But Coombs promises that Southern California motocross fans won’t be left without a race.”Yes there will be a replacement venue, but the date was postponed to September 11 to allow us to find a suitable venue in Southern California,” Coombs said this morning. “Change is never easy and we’re sorry to see Glen Helen go, but we will move forward with our improvements in the series in general.”It’s no secret that MX Sports is trying to upgrade the series and its facilities and are looking for improvements from tracks they feel aren’t currently up to par – thus some promoters were offered longer contracts than others, sources close to the scene told Cycle News. And Glen Helen was one of the tracks with a shorter contract on the table. Feldkamp asked for the maximum term that four other tracks received and didn’t get it, prompting him to cancel his National.