Date: 26th November 2023
The Circuit de Valencia is located 20km west of the city of Valencia in the village of Cheste. The racetrack is named after the local champion Ricardo Tormo and hosts the crucial end of season Valencia MotoGP race. In 1999, it became the third Spanish venue to host a MotoGP race along with the existing ones at Jerez and Barcelona.
Circuit Ricardo Tormo
There are several possible layouts of the circuit although the Valencia MotoGP events take place on a 4km track that includes five left handed corners, eight right handed corners and a 650m straight. With tight corners on the circuit it is one of the slower Grand Prix races although the riders can still reach around 200mph on the track’s long straight.
The circuit was basically made for the public. It was studied and built so that no matter where you sit you can pretty much see the entire track. It’s a tight, twisty layout which is often used for Formula 1 tests because of these technical characteristics and the mild local climate. In the pit complex there are 48 garages and the circuit’s grandstands can accommodate 150,000 spectators.
Getting to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo
By Train: If you’re staying in Valencia and heading out to the track on raceday you should check whether RENFE are putting on a direct train from Valencia Norte station to Cheste. If there is no such service you’ll need to walk from Valencia Norte station along Calle Bailen to the metro station at Bailen. Then you got on the metro train to Valencia-Saint Isidre (about 4 stops).
You then walk out of the metro station up the steps to Valencia-Saint Isidre (about 3 minutes) and get on the train to Cheste. About 4 stops later you get off at Circuit R Tormo which is actually the stop before Cheste. It’s about a 20 minute walk then to the circuit. You should allow about 2 hours to get back to Valencia Norte after the race.
By Road: If you’re staying in Valencia and plan on riding or driving to the MotoGP then be sure to leave yourself plenty time as there’s only one road from Valencia to the circuit which creates severe traffic congestion as you approach Cheste.
Valencia MotoGP Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online from the official Circuit Ricardo Tormo website. Thanks to the clever positioning of the grandstands, spectators can follow the whole race from all seats without having to rely on the circuit’s TV monitors. A number of motorsport agencies offer weekend packages to the event and online ticket-only sales are widely available from ticket broker websites.
Where to Stay for the Valencia MotoGP
Valencia Hotels: Most racegoers book a hotel in Valencia then travel daily to the track by train.
Circuit de Valencia Camping: A popular accommodation option for many racegoers is the temporary Zona de Acampada which is set up within the grounds of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Advance bookings of pitches is essential.
Beach Camping: For more of a holiday experience you could camp at Camping Puzol Playa on the coast to the north of Valencia then travel the 42km to Chesne along the AP7 which misses most of the heavy raceday traffic.
Other Moto GP Races in Spain
Jerez MotoGP
Jerez hosts the annual Spanish motor cycle grand prix every year when as many as 250,000 spectators converge on the city.
Catalunya MotoGP
The annual Catalunya MotoGP attracts huge crowds to the Circuit de Catalunya at Montmeló north of Barcelona and is one of the highlights of the motorcycling world championship.
