Present Day
Hawkstone Park was to have a new lease of life however, as it staged its first pre-season International event in 1999. Held every March, the International event sees some of the world's top riders competing at the circuit, gaining race speed prior to the full Grand Prix season. The event is seen as the "curtain-opener" to the British Motocross season, with crowds of over 10,000 regularly attending the International events.
Hawkstone Park also stages several amateur and historic race meetings every season along with a round of the ACU British Motocross Championship. The venue has also staged the British Trials Grand Prix, utilising the steep, rocky woodland surrounding the circuit as opposed to the motocross track itself.
In the past, the circuit has also been used for enduro events, utilising the motocross circuit and the woodland surrounding much of the circuit to created an extended lap of several miles.
The circuit is seen as one of the toughest motocross circuits in the UK, with many fans calling for it to return to the MX1 Motocross Grand Prix schedule. However, this is unlikely to happen, due to the high costs in staging a Grand Prix event, along with the relatively remote location and infrastructure in the local area. Despite this, Grand Prix motocross will returned to the circuit in 2009, with the circuit hosting the opening round of the MX3 Motocross Grand Prix series. The Grand Prix event also featured the opening round of the European MX2 championship. Victory in the MX3 class went to Frenchman Julien Vanni, with fellow French rider Christophe Charlier winning the MX2 event. Despite the racing being described as some of the most exciting to take place at Hawkstone Park for some years, disappointing crowds meant the event made a financial loss, and is uncear whether the Grand Prix will be staged at the circuit in 2010.
Read more about this topic: Hawkstone Park Motocross Circuit
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