Suphan Buri for the first time ever in the history of the FIM Motocross World Championship will host the MXGP of Thailand. As a token of appreciation of the event and to create some hype, the province of Suphan Buri put together an enormous and impressive welcoming ceremony for the riders and media.
Suphan Buri is a rural province widely recognized for its agriculture such as rice growing which is what inspired the province to host their welcoming at the Living and Soul of Thailand Farmers Learning Centre.
Many of the biggest MXGP and MX2 championship contenders, such as Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre, Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle and Petar Petrov, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl, Thomas Covington and Max Anstie, RedBull KTM Factory racing’s Pauls Jonass, Wilvo Standing Construct Yamaha Official MX2 Team Aleksandr Tonkov and Alvin Ostlund, Kemea Yamaha Official MX Team’s Benoit Paturel, Brent Van doninck and Valentin Guillod, Wilvo Virus Performance KTM’s Shaun Simpson, Honda Gariboldi’s Jorge Zaragoza, TM Factory Racing Team’s Samuele Bernardini and Tip Top MP32 Racing Team’s Milko Potisek, turned up to the attraction interested in experiencing the special Thai culture.
Upon arrival the riders were gifted a traditional Thai farmers shirt which they all put on for the event. They then went on to sign a bunch of Thai MXGP memorabilia such as a helmet and apparel that was presented by a group of beautiful Thai hostesses. The riders then went on a tour through the learning center, which was a traditional group of wooden buildings set up as a market where they were able to indulge in all of the traditional Thai sweets and cuisine such as Coconut Rice Cakes, Egg floss and Pad Thai.
After the culinary experience, the boys gathered before a portrait of His Majesty the King Bhumiphol Adulyadej where they were welcomed by the Governor of Suphan Buri Province Mr. Supeepat Chongpanish and gifted with a Pha Kao Maa, which is a traditional Thai Farming accessory. They then donned on some thigh-high wellington boots and went out into the paddy fields and shown how to plant and cultivate their own rice.
Wrapping up the amazing event, a massive orchestra in traditional Thai attire put on a breath taking performance as the riders took a seat at a table to watch the final presentation. On an alluring stage, the presentation was opened with an elegant Thai dance before the people responsible for making the MXGP of Thailand possible took to the microphone to say a few words. The Provincial Administrative Organization representative Mr. Boonchu Jansuwan and the Governor of Suphan Buri Province Mr. Supeepat Chongpanish expressed their excitement and thanks to everyone for travelling to Suphan Buri for this great event while Youthstream’s CEO Mr. Daniele Rizzi shared his thanks and enthusiasm on behalf of MXGP.
The marvelous welcoming, which was an outstanding experience for all involved was closed with an amazing firework and confetti display and followed by a buffet dinner. Demonstrations of Sword Fighting, Muay Thai and Rum Tong wound out the evening where all media, both international and national were pumped with the exclusive opportunity to get some unique images of MXGP’s talented athletes embracing the Thai culture.
All the photos of the MXGP of Thailand will be available here