This ever-popular Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix at Jerez takes place in April or May In 2011 the fixture takes place on 1-3 April - normally it's in March - so the first weekend of April will see the usual massive influx of moto fans from all over Spain to the famous race circuit.
It's just one of many major sporting events held in Andalucia every year - including golf, tennis and cycling.
The circuit opened in 1985 to host the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix, which moved to Catalonia in 1992 due to Jerez relatively remote location. But the Jerez circuit has become a mecca for motorcycle events, including MotoGP and motocross, hosting more than 70 events. In fact, it is one of the most popular MotoGP venues, pulling hundreds of thousands of people to the annual main event.
Motorbike racing is generally very popular in Spain - top Spanish MotoGP rider, Dani Pedrosa, who has ridden for Honda in the Championship since 2006, is a national celebrity.
The Spanish MotoGP is an annual race, part of the motorcycle racing GP World Championship, which includes 18 events around the world, with seven other European countries also hosting (Portugal, France, UK, Netherlands, Italy and Germany and the Czech Republic). It was started in 1949 and is the oldest motorsports championship in the world. Every year, 2.2 million people watch MotoGP events. The Spanish Moto GP is the second race of the season, and the first of the main European leg; there are also ones in Catalunia and Valencia, which is the last of the season.
There are four manufacturers which take part: Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki. As well as the MotoGP, there are two further categories of motorcycle race: 125cc and Moto2 (formerly 250cc).
Jerez Moto GP Training
Many people arrive at the Circuito de Jerez early on the Friday, so bear in mind that the traffic can be extremely heavy that morning, with long queues. Some people choose to stay in nearby Jerez, although accommodation there is limited, so some prefer Seville, almost 100km away up the E5 motorway, which has a much wider range of hotels available. Others camp near the racetrack, where an atmosphere of camaraderie makes the event highly enjoyable for motorsports fans who arrive from all over Spain in convoys on their bikes, bringing their stoves and coolboxes, so they can cook, eat and drink in comfort.
The Schedule is as follows:
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Friday 1 April |
Saturday 2 April |
Sunday 3 April |
For more information about the Spanish MotoGP and the Circuito de Jerez, click here and here.
Min: 15C