Español
English
Français
Subtotal: 
+34 931 845 712
Location: Cheste, Spain
Length: 4.005 km
Laps: 30
Race length: 120.150 km
Record: 1:32.582 Casey Stoner, 2008
Circuit Ricardo Tormo is officially named Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo. It is located in the municipality of Cheste in Valencia, Spain. The circuit is named after the Spanish MotoGP racer Ricardo Tormo, who died of leukemia in 1998. It is known for hosting the annual MotoGP of Valencia and being a popular Formula 1 test venue during the winter.
The circuit was built in 1999 and designed as a stadium so spectators can see a large part of the action on track from almost all grandstands.
The circuit is a very demanding one in terms of technical and maneuver skills. It has a long start straight which is followed by a series of corners. The 5 right-hand turns and 9 left-hand turns follow each other up very quickly. In combination with elevation changes and sharp braking points, turns 1 to 14 define Circuit Ricardo Tormo as one of the most demanding circuits on the MotoGP calendar. It has achieved many awards over the years including 3 IRTA Best Grand Prix awards in the MotoGP World Championship of 2003, 2004 and 2006.
The Valencia MotoGP is traditionally the last race of the season and because Valencia is the fireworks capital of the world, this last race is often extensively celebrated.
Grandstands
The grandstands of Circuit Ricardo Tormo surround the track well. From almost all stands much of the circuit can be seen as it is built as a stadium. The Boxes grandstand is located at the start straight. The Orange grandstand is the only other stand at the start straight with a view over the first corner. The Yellow stand provides a view over the small straight between the first and second turn. The Blue, Green and Red grandstands provide a view over the curvy part that makes Circuit Ricardo Tormo to what it is: one of the most demanding MotoGP circuits. The Blue stand is situated alongside Turn 2 to 6; the Green stand is located alongside Turn 7 to 12 and the Red stand is located alongside Turns 8 and 13.
Area
The municipality of Cheste is located in the province of Valencia. As Cheste is a very small town with just over 8000 inhabitants approximately, there is no tourism and therefore no touristic facilities. For sightseeing, the nearby city of Valencia is very suitable.
The historical city of Valencia is Spain’s third largest city and has about 740.000 inhabitants. In general, Valencia is well known for the beautiful Old Town and other tourist attractions.
Probably the most famous attraction is the City of Arts and Sciences. This is a science complex located in the dried up river bed of the river Turia. It consists of 5 areas: the Opera House and Arts Centre, IMAX theatre and Planetarium, Walkway and Garden, Science Museum and the largest aquarium of Europe; Oceanarium Park.
Valencia is also known for its lively center and sparkling nightlife. You can also enjoy the old architecture and experience the history of Valencia in the Old Town. The most majestic buildings you can visit there are the church Iglesia de los Santos Juanes, Mercado de Colon and the railway station Estacion del Norte.
If you are looking for relaxation outside the city, you can relax on one of the white sandy beaches near the Mediterranean Sea. On these beaches you can find some of the best restaurants.
Madrid
With a population of approximately 3.4 million, Madrid is the largest city in Spain. Its metropolitan area is the third largest in the European Union after London and Paris. Though it does not have as much landmarks as other touristic cities, the city is an attraction itself with its many streets that are surrounded by beautiful architecture.
Most tourists stay around Puerta del Sol as this is not only the center of Madrid, but also of Spain. This square holds a marker on the pavement in front of the Ayuntamiento (Council) building, which is the spot from which all road distances in Spain are measured (Kilometer Zero). From Puerta del Sol it is only a two-minute walk to Plaza Mayor, where many restaurants and shops are located.
A real must-see in Madrid is the Palacio Real (Royal Palace). As the Royal Family does not reside at this palace, it is open for tourists; usually through participation in a private tour with a licensed English-speaking tour guide. In Madrid it is also possible to combine tours; the most popular one is a visit to the Royal Palace along with a visit to the Prado Museum. The latter one is one of the world’s greatest galleries and has a higher concentration of masterpieces than any other museum in the world.
Barcelona
As one of the world's leading tourist, economic and cultural center, Barcelona offers many sightseeing attractions. Its influences in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. While many tourist attractions can be visited, Barcelona is also very popular for its small streets filled with shops and restaurants. Almost all of these streets (the most visited ones) start at the La Rambla, which is the most popular street in Barcelona that has many artists and small terraces. It leads from the city’s center point Plaça Catalunya to the beach. At the end of La Rambla, the Columbus Monument can be visited. Beyond the Columbus Monument is the pier of Port Vell. This was formerly the port of Barcelona, but today a modern leisure zone with bars, restaurants, a shopping center, the Barcelona Aquarium and an IMAX cinema.
Located within the labyrinth of the small shopping streets are many squares with restaurants and bars. One of those squares holds the gothic church Santa Maria del Pi as one of the many popular churches and cathedrals that can be visited. The most popular one is the Sagrada Familia. Built by Antoni Gaudí, this is the international symbol of Barcelona. Other of Gaudí's popular artworks are Parc Guell, Casa Batllo, Palau Gìell, Casa Milá and more.
A very interesting building is the Museum "Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau". This building used to be a fully functioning hospital until June 2009, and was constructed between 1901 and 1930. After its restoration, it became a museum and cultural center. Tours are given several times a day. Barcelona also holds many other interesting museums.
