The 2017 British GP at Matterley Basin will be dropped, as the venue will host the Motocross of Nations on either September 24 or October 1, says the event’s promoter Steve Dixon. Dixon was always planning to bring the event back to Matterley in 2018 but Glen Helen pulling out for 2017 means he’s going to do it a year early.

“Great news about getting the Nations back to Matterley. Since Glen Helen withdrew at the weekend, it’s been manic to put things in place to do the race a year early,” he said. “This means no British GP in 2017 as we wanted to make improvements for the Nations so it will leave a legacy for the 2018 and future GPs to be held at Matterley.

“We learn a lot each year and both Winchester and Youthstream are fully behind this great venue. No fixed date or prices yet but it will be September 24 or October 1. We will work on every area to make a first class event and you will have the best riders on the best prepped and viewing track. Let’s just hope the Brits bring their A game and bring home the bacon!”

Last time the track held the Nations, there was traffic chaos entering and leaving the circuit. But years of running major events there means Dixon’s team say they now have a plan to make the event run as smoothly as possible.