On Track Off Road No. 195

tracks but it will be spectacular
thanks to decent soil
and a natural setting that the
public can fill. It won’t be a
Matterley Basin or Maggiora
but it is a concept close to
Switzerland [Frauenfeld-
Gachnang] that could work
well.”
“We’ll do the basic design
here in Spain with the organisation
taking in all the
necessary details - visibility,
comfort for riders, staff, press
– Youthstream will then send
a technical delegate and a
designer to decide together
on the correct jumps, waves
and obstacles.”
Even if there are basic ‘musts’
such as knowledge and thorough
preparation of the soil,
it is absurd to pre-judge intu
Xanadú – Arroyomolinos as
a track before a wheel has
turned or a gate has dropped.
It’s even hard to be too critical
after the first edition when
there has to be a forgivable
margin for getting every
aspect of the event spot-on.
I also rubbish the notion that
a track is any less worthy
because it hasn’t seen the
good old days of two-strokes
and immense crowds standing
behind a piece of tape
not seemingly caring if they
get wiped out or not. 21st
century MXGP might seem
abhorrent to some but I’m
willing to bet the kids and
youngsters that travel to Intu
on 18-19 of April will be just
as spellbound by what they
see compared to any other
generation or location in the
past. I don’t think you can
get too snobby about a track
that appears and disappears
either. If a fantastic circuit is
established and prospers then
brilliant, but if someone has
the money to arrive, build and
disband every year to escape
the money pit of a permanent
fixation and still puts on a
decent show then fine. Intu
has a three-year contract for
MXGP and the circuit will stay
in place and only be used for
the Grand Prix.
“We haven’t had any strict
rider guidance for the design
but Jorge has seen it and approves,”
reveals Muñoz. “He
told us that too many jumps
mean that riders cannot make
differences in lap-times and
it affects the racing. He also
said that wave sections are
good for allowing riders to
make time but are also very
tiring. We know we have to
look after the ground. It will
be hard-packed but there will
also be enough bumps.”
Intu does lack a reputation,
and the novelty factor can
swing either way in terms of
enticing the curious or dissuading
the sceptical. That’s
why it will require good direction
and strong collaboration
when it comes to its construction.
In a way the mystery is exciting
and there is optimism.
When it comes to survival
rather than looking at the
dirt, look at the dime. If the
bills can be paid - and some
roots laid – then this will
signify the difference between
Intu being a one-stop 2020
budget chop and something
that could become a bright
beacon for the sport, just like
Prado.