Update: Youthstream has switched around rounds 2 and 3 for the 2018 MXGP calendar. So Round 2 is now MXGP of Europe (Valkenswaard), which was Round 3. And MXGP of La Comunitat Valenciana (Redsand) moves from Round 2 to Round 3. Support class racing has also switched with these changes. The 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar below reflects the changes.
The updated 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship scheduled has been released with some important and noteworthy changes.
Two countries miss out from the initial provisional calendar.
As reported earlier, there will be no trip to North America for the series with the 2018 Motocross of Nations confirmed for USA’s Red Bud in Buchanan, Michigan. That means the Gatorback round has been dropped.
Leon, Mexico is the second venue to be axed from the provisional announcement.
Despite Youthstream cutting these two, the championship still swells to 20 rounds spread across 16 countries across seven months.
The opening round is still set for the rider’s favourite track ā that’s the spectacular Neuquen in Argentina. And nothing changes at the end of the series with historic Imola hosting Round 20 on September 30.
Some changes to the schedule have had a knock effect to national championships. Notably, the ACU British motocross championship has been hit. The ACU has (again) changed their schedule.
There are now three March rounds squeezed into the MXGP championship: Patagonia in Argentina as I’ve already mentioned gets Round 1 on March 4; MXGP of La Comunitat Valenciana (can we all agree to call this the Spanish GP), held at Red Sand, which has been moved one week earlier to March 18; Valkenswaard, which takes the March 25 spot but was originally scheduled for mid-April.
Don’t Miss: 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship schedule
Moving into the spot vacated by Valkenswaard’s previously announced slot is the MXGP of Portugal with Agueda the venue on April 15.
Next up is the MXGP of Russia, which interestingly moves from the weekend of April 29 to the following Monday and Tuesday (April 30 and May 1), which are apparently national holidays in Russia.
The GP set to be held in Italy in June has been shifted a week and is still a TBA for the venue.
Indonesia now has a doubleheader with the MXGP of Indonesia on July 1 and then the MXGP of Asia the following weekend at Semarang.
MXGP of Sweden and MXGP of Switzerland swap dates followed by the final big change of the 2018 MXGP calendar with the MXGP of Turkey at Afyon on September 2.
A quick note on the support races, the European racers are faced with a trip to Russia again. While the British GP has a trio of additional races to look forward to with the EMX250, EMX300 and the Veteran World Cup. That should be a great weekend.
If any of our youth riders want to race in the Junior World Motocross Championship they have a long and expensive trip with Horsham in Australia slated for the event.
