With the news confirmed that Foxhills will host the British round of MXGP in 2026, excitement -and curiosity – has quickly gathered across the UK motocross community. The venue has a rich history, spectacular natural terrain and, in recent years, plenty of debate around whether it could once again stage a world-class Grand Prix. Behind the bid is promoter Paul Cook, a lifelong motocross enthusiast who has spent years pushing to bring MXGP back to Foxhills – and now finally has the green light to make it happen.
We caught up with Cook as he talks openly about the journey to secure the event, the work already underway, what fans and riders can expect, and why he believes Foxhills can help reignite the atmosphere of a British Grand Prix. From paddock upgrades to track revisions – and making the event more family-friendly – Cook explains the vision for 2026 and beyond.
GateDrop: Paul, before we get into things, can you introduce yourself and tell me what your role is at Foxhills?
Cook: I’m the promoter of the 2026 Motocross Grand Prix at Foxhills next year. My history has always involved Motocross. I was linked with Chris Warren and Ronnie Field at the Langrish Motocross Club to run the Ken Hall event and we’ve run that for many years. So now I am involved in running the Motocross World Championship in 2026.
GateDrop: The news dropped before Christmas – Foxhills will host the British MXGP in 2026! Amazing news, you must be happy to get it all done?
Cook: I was very excited when we got it done and everything was over the line. I’ve been chasing this for about four or five years now. I’ve been speaking to Daniele (Rizzi) at Infront Moto Racing, because they were tied up with Steve (Dixon) at Matterley Basin which I totally get. They had said to me in the past they were going to stick with Matterley for a while but I’m really happy that they’ve now decided to come to Foxhills to try something different.
GateDrop: Just how much work has gone into getting the agreement with FIM + Infront Moto Racing to run the GP at Foxhills for 2026?
Cook: I went to the Motocross des Nations in America at Ironman. Myself and Mark Chamberlain had a few meetings with Daniele and Infront Moto Racing about the track and everything. It was all really positive. It was just me really and them putting things in place to get it over the line, changing the contract that suits both of us, because it was a big task and there were a lot of ideas. But I knew in America that I was going to sign, we just waited to tie a few things up, which all came together in November. I must really thank everyone at Infront Moto Racing as this is something they also really wanted and without them it wouldn’t be happening.
GateDrop: At this stage, is it a one year contract or will we see the British GP at Foxhills longer term?
Cook: It’s a two year contract straight off. We’re also happy with going to the date in July. We could have made May work, but if we were to have a really bad winter, we couldn’t do what we wanted on the track and I didn’t want that. So when they asked if we would be happy to go to July… I said yeah, we’ll be happy with it. I know July could obviously be a drier month but we’re putting another lake in, a bigger lake than the other lake we have. It means we’ll have plenty of water on site just for that event in July.
GateDrop: The date initially was supposed to be in May but it’ll now be in July. I see this as a good thing as it gives you an extra couple of months to work on things to get everything ready for the GP?
Cook: Yes and what we’re trying to push for in 2026, is we really want to see the families back at the Grand Prix. This is why we’ve changed the location up a bit, the pits will be in the same place. We have got family camping in separate area we’ve done a percentage on the ticket sales for families as well. We have VIP camping and VIP parking. Our VIP hospitality is over looking the valley with a really good view. We’re looking at a big screen to show the American outdoor national on the Saturday night.
GateDrop: It looks like Foxhills is actually up for sale, but I am assuming this isn’t something we should be worried about? Otherwise the agreement with FIM + Infront would never have been made?
Cook: To be honest with you, I’ve got a contract a few more years yet on that lease. So we all know that Foxhills and the land surrounding it up for sale is tied up in an estate. We’ve got a contract with Fairhurst Estate for a few more years yet. I wouldn’t put all my money into something which I think won’t go ahead and that’s where we’re at with that.
GateDrop: It’s early days, but will there be many changes made to the track layout?
Cook: The hills are the hills but we will be making them more spectacular. Through the valley we’re going to move the finish line, that’s all being moved over to the other side to suit Infront as well, to make it work for them. The start gate is still going to be over that side were it is now but we’ve got to put pit lane in as well, so that we’ve still got two ideas how it’s going to go. I think were it will be, will be decided in the next few weeks to tie it down properly. There’s going to be other changes to the track as well.
GateDrop: I know British fans are a bit worried about track conditions at the moment, but are you planning to do any work on the track? I am assuming you wouldn’t have took it on if you weren’t confident of making it happen!
Cook: The track is a hard pack track and will putting lots of water down prior to the weekend but you can’t guarantee the British weather. The youth riders haven’t seen the races from the older days – the Tortelli’s, Everts, Malin and Nunn back in the 80s and 90s the atmosphere is special. It was good racing and I think Infront in their own way are going back to some of the older tracks as well next year, and even for 2027 they’re bringing a few older ones back onto the calendar. I think the riders are going to like this more, the older type of tracks.
GateDrop: Another area for concern is the paddock in case it rains, will there be anything done there to make the paddock better for MXGP?
Cook: I’ve had meetings with Foxy who parks all the vans at the GP’s. I know what he wants, he wants roads in there, I know why he wants the roads, he said not a problem with me. When they came over and looked at it at the end of November, they were actually surprised at how big of a flat area we have got. They were quite impressed how flat it is but obviously it’s not all hard standing, but we will put trackways in for the trucks to come in, park on and get out.
GateDrop: A revamped Foxhills could be great for the sport in the UK – could we see another event there maybe next year as well as MXGP – like a British Championship? That would be great for the British riders!
Cook: Yeah, I do get that. I’m not against British Championships, I like running British Championships, it’s another event, you know, it’s part of Motocross and we’re on a big track and we’ve always ran big events. It’s what I’d like to see there but whether it’s for 2026, I don’t know.
GateDrop: Matterley Basin was a great track but you really needed thousands of people there for the atmosphere – I feel like Foxhills atmosphere should be electric all being well?
Cook: Yeah, I agree, Matterley is a good circuit and has good access in and out. Sometimes things need a change. But the French have got it sussed, they go to Saint-Jean-d’Angély one year and then they’ll go to Ernee. They mix it up every year but you need something to mix up. Listen, going back to Matterley Basin in the future would be good as well, because they’d be hungry for it again. I think you just need to change things around a bit.
GateDrop: Last year we didn’t get too many British wildcards in the GP classes – how much are you hoping that this year we see more do it? The fact there’s no EMX250 should mean more MX2 GP wildcards – you would think!
Cook: What we’ve done in all fairness with Infront Moto Racing and Daniele, we’ve been talking about this and prices. The early bird discount ticket we have extended, instead of stopping at the end of January, when everyone’s struggling after Christmas, it’s going on until the end of February, so you might have half a chance of getting your early bird ticket to afford in there. But then also for the riders, it used to be £1,000 to do a wildcard entry at a Grand Prix, now it’s £300, which is a lot different, I hope this will attract a lot of British riders to their home event especially the EMX125 class.
GateDrop: What’s the plans between now and July before we see MXGP return to the iconic Foxhills track?
Cook: We’ve got to go up there, I’ve got to flatten and remove all the scaffold of what’s there. Where the new start area is going to go we’re going to level everything on the top area. The new lake that we’re going to get in as well, so we gather the water over the rainy months, and then just put all the stuff around the track in what we can do while it’s wet. Then when it comes into early spring we’re going to get on the track and go to work. I have been talking to Mike and Tom church from MJ CHURCH who are Motocross mad which is good for any help they can give. I still need help, it’s a lot of outlay to cover so you still need sponsors.
GateDrop: The last thing from me, Brits can be very negative but I would just like to thank you for putting in the effort into running a British MXGP – it can be thankless task but it’s nice to see someone else step up, apart from Steve Dixon – so thank you! Are you looking forward to it?
Cook: Yes, they are negative sometimes – we’re British . But I am having a go at it because I don’t think there would have been a British GP in 2026 otherwise. I actually get a big buzz out of running something which people enjoy, sometimes we get it wrong we know that, and you always learn. You know I’ve had an itch for about five years now and I finally got to scratch it, so I just want to do it now. I was always talking to Chris Warren about it and I owe it to him to do it, I really wish he could have seen it happen. I would really like to see the crowds back at a British MXGP, it’s the spectators that makes an event. I’m proper buzzed about doing it.
For more information on Foxhills MXGP, you can view the website, here.
You can also follow the official Instagram page, here.
