The iconic circuit near Wanborough is hosting the FIM Motocross World Championship this weekend, with Sunday’s race programme still to come.
The return marks a significant moment for Foxhills, which became one of Britain’s best-known motocross venues during the 1980s and 1990s before the British Grand Prix moved elsewhere. After more than two decades away, the championship has returned to the Swindon venue.
The official event programme describes the weekend as “the comeback of a British motorsport icon”, with the world’s leading riders once again competing on one of motocross’ most celebrated natural circuits.
Event promoter Paul Cook said bringing the championship back to Foxhills had been a long-term ambition.
“For years and years it’s not been here, and when you’ve got iconic tracks, the riders sometimes need a change,” he told Swindon24.
“They’ve been going to bigger man-built tracks, but this is so natural, and you can add the modern-day stuff with the old-school stuff, which makes it very interesting for the riders.”
He said the benefits of hosting the event extended beyond the racing.
“Everyone’s got a big buzz around the pits, everyone locally is involved in it. It brings a lot of local interest to it, which is very good for the area as well.”
Cook said organisers expect between 9,000 and 11,000 spectators across the weekend and confirmed Foxhills has secured a three-year agreement to host the championship.
“We got a three-year contract with it, so everything goes well, we’ll be back here to do it in the next few years.”
He also believes many people living locally are still unaware a world championship event is taking place just outside Swindon.
“It’s just a massive activity, especially for children and kids to get them into the sport,” he said.
“We’ve got balance bikes for youngsters to try out, trade stands, food stalls. It’s just like a festival, but you’ve got people on bikes taking risks every time they go onto the track.”
Members of the Foxhills team described the event as the highest level of the sport.
“It don’t get no bigger than this in motocross. This is as big as it gets,” one organiser said.
“To bring it back here after all these years, it’s amazing for the area, amazing for the people and the fans. It’s going to be a good weekend.”
Mayor of Swindon Neil Hopkins was among those attending on Saturday.
“To have a world event and to have 6,000 people on any given day at any event in Swindon is amazing,” he said.
“I’m really delighted to be invited to be here today.”
Fans have travelled from across the UK and overseas to watch the championship’s return.
Brad, who travelled around 90 minutes to attend, said Foxhills remains one of the best places in the world to watch motocross.
“We haven’t been to a GP here for 20 years. Now it’s back, and they’ve done a fantastic job with it. It looks awesome. It’s going to be good racing.”
He encouraged local residents who have never experienced motocross to attend.
“Any motorsport you go to, you cannot get this close to the track. You feel like you’re actually in the race sometimes. It’s the adrenaline you get when they come through. Anyone’s got to come at least watch it once.”
Saturday’s programme featured practice, qualifying and support races across the MXGP, MX2, EMX125 and Women’s Motocross World Championship classes.
The main championship races take place on Sunday, with MX2 Race 1 beginning at 1.15pm, followed by MXGP Race 1 at 2.15pm. MX2 Race 2 starts at 4.10pm before the final MXGP race at 5.10pm.
Championship leader Lucas Coenen is among the riders competing alongside former world champions Jeffrey Herlings, Tim Gajser and Maxime Renaux, giving motorsport fans another opportunity to watch some of the sport’s biggest names at one of its most historic venues.
