Image: Jeff Crow.

Australia’s premier motocross series will continue to deliver significant economic benefits and widespread exposure for the Sunshine Coast over the next three years, after the Sunshine Coast council recently extended its partnership with the MX Nationals.

Two rounds of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals championship, to be staged at Conondale and Coolum, will be held in the Sunshine Coast region from 2016 through to the 2018 season.

Sunshine Coast Council CEO Michael Whittaker looks forward to seeing the championship return to the Sunshine Coast for the next three years, providing a list of benefits for the surrounding areas.

“The world is coming to the Sunshine Coast in 2016,” said Whittaker. “With an unprecedented 60 council-sponsored major and regional events being staged in our region, that will attract around 150,000 national and international guests and generate 100 million dollars in economic activity. It’s fantastic that the MX Nationals can be added to our unprecedented schedule of events, not only for this year but the next three years.

“The Sunshine Coast has enjoyed a very successful history of hosting this event over the past two decades and council has been a partner since 2013. It’s a real vote of confidence for our region to continue to host two rounds of this high profile ten round series that is staged across five states.

“The two Sunshine Coast rounds at Conondale and Coolum in July and August are estimated to attract more than 1000 out-of-region participants as well as family, friends and support personnel.

“The two events also attract lovers of motocross from outside the region who want to watch the best of the best of their sport in action. This will provide a terrific tourism and business boost, particularly to our Hinterland communities during the Conondale event on 7 July.”

Series promotor, Kevin Williams, is excited to secure a three-year deal and continue the partnership with the Sunshine Coast.

“We are entering our 20th year in business, and the MX Nationals has been visiting the Sunshine Coast since 1998,” said Williams. “So the destination has been a great part of the success of the championship over the years.

“When we are spending time racing down in the south freezing in the cold weather, we constantly have the Sunshine Coast in the back of our minds and always look forward to taking the series back to our official MX Nationals holiday destination every year.

“In addition to visiting Queensland with the MX Nationals, we are very proud to be able to showcase the Sunshine Coast’s beauty to the rest of the world, via live streaming and comprehensive media coverage of the series.”

The 2016 Motul MX Nationals will kick off on 3 April at Horsham in Victoria before reaching its final destination on the Sunshine Coast for round 10.