Raise a Brno glass to toast the future

Explorers Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus would have loved every minute of it; traversing the globe in nine frantic months. It is that time of the year, next season’s MotoGP™ calendar has been revealed. 22 Grands Prix in 18 countries and five separate continents. It is time for those intrepid MotoGP™ travellers to check those 2025 birthdays, wedding anniversaries, summer holiday dates before returning home at the end of this season in five races time. It will be a busy winter of planning for both teams and families working out how to fit everything into those nine months.

When the World Championship was launched 75 years ago in 1949 there were just six Grands Prix on the schedule and all in Europe. Even when I started my MotoGP™ travels in 1980 there were only eight premier class Grand Prix scheduled and, once again, all in Europe. It was a World Championship in name but only the likes of America, Argentina, Canada, Venezuela, and Japan had hosted a Grand Prix outside Europe in those 31 years since the start, but that was soon to change.

The return of the magnificent Brno circuit to next year’s schedule is the highlight for me. Close behind is the return of Grand Prix racing to Hungary and Argentina. Brno is right up there with the likes of Assen and the Sachsenring as a legendary Grand Prix venue, that formed the very foundations which built the Championship to where it is today.

The road circuit that circumnavigated the city, racing through villages, forests and cornfields, were witnessed by massive crowds enjoying a brief taste of life beyond the Iron Curtain. When the road circuit was deemed too dangerous, they showed us plans of an undulating purpose-built circuit overlooking the city. We never believed it would be built but it was, and staged its first Czechoslovakian Grand Prix in 1987. Seven years earlier I made my only visit to the road circuit and what an eye-opener it was for a very gullible reporter. Grand Prix veteran Chas Mortimer offered me advice before I set out. Do not argue with the border police when they take your car apart and keep you waiting two hours. Do not change any money at the border because you get a better rate in the paddock. Do not expect milk in your tea at the hotel and if you want a set of those magnificent Brno crystal wine glasses the only man to speak to is World Sidecar Champion George O’Dell. Finally, spend all the Czech money you have because no other country will accept it. Grand Prix winner Chas was right on all counts. The 500cc bikes had already stopped racing on the road circuit, and the highlight was the penultimate round of the 350cc Championship between Toni Mang and Jon Ekerold. Mang won the race with Ekerold limping home in 10th with mechanical problems. They went into the final round at the legendary Nürburgring road circuit on equal points. Ekerold clinched the title with one of the greatest-ever rides in the 75-year history of Grand Prix racing. It was a fitting end to World Championship racing on the German road circuit.

My first Grand Prix adventure outside Europe was to Argentina in 1982. What a trip! A Che Guevara-style motorcycle ride from Buenos Aires to the Andes and back, followed by a fantastic race won by Kenny Roberts from Barry Sheene and Freddie Spencer. When we returned home on Monday morning, we learned war was about to be declared between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands dispute. We just got out in time.

Our two visits to the Hungaroring on the outskirts of Budapest provided two historic races. In 1990 five five-time World Champion Mick Doohan won the first of his 54 500cc Grand Prix victories. Two years later Eddie Lawson won the last of his 31 500cc Grand Prix victories, to give that majestic Italian Cagiva machine its very first World Championship win.

From six to 22 Grands Prix venues in 75 years. MotoGP™ will never stop exploring the world. I toast the future with one of those Brno crystal glasses still sparkling after 44 years.

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