MotoGP/Valencia until 2011

[f1manoz]

The MotoGP World Championship will continue to celebrate a Grand Prix at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana - Ricardo Tormo in Valencia for the next seven seasons after an agreement was signed between Dorna Sports, television and commercial rights holders to the series, and the government of the autonomous region of Valencia, the Generalitat Valenciana.

In a special ceremony at the Palace of the Generalitat Valenciana on Friday afternoon, Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Francisco Camps, put pen to paper on an extension to their current deal, which began when the purpose-built circuit was inaugurated by the first MotoGP race there in 1999.

A Grand Prix has been held successfully every season since then and Valencia has become one of the most eagerly anticipated dates on the calendar. This October the Ricardo Tormo circuit hosted the final round of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship and attracted the highest attendance of the season, with a capacity race-day crowd of 122,034 boosting the overall attendance for the Gran Premio Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana to an incredible 211,468

No surprises here as the track is good and the crowd is always massive. I hope to go one day as it's not too far way from where I am.

[bestfit]

The track has produced some great battles, especially in the smaller capacity classes.
Good to see it staying long term.

[SALEEN S7R]

Good to hear, although not a favourite track of mine layout wise I will admit it does provide some excellent racing.

[Speedworx]

Valencia is a great bike track. I don't think I've seen a dull race there yet.

[gomick]

jerez & barcelona will probably get the same deals....

[SALEEN S7R]

Lets hope so Gomick, Catalunya is a fantastic track.

[luke]

I've also heard a rumor that the 4th Spainish race Estoril, may be dropped in the future.
Is that true?

[SALEEN S7R]

It might well be true, many series are dropping Estoril from their calenders in recent years, mainly due to poor facilties compared to other venues. The circuit is great dont get me wrong, but have u seen the facilties for both the spectators and comptitors? Hardly cutting edge im afraid.

[chunder]

Have to say I find Valencia uninspiring, is not a great t6arck to pass on and the riders are pretty split about it too, they do so many laps there testing.
In my opinion the best Spanish track is not in the line up and that is Jarama, and why because it has gradient and has not been designed on a laptop by some bloke trying to get as much as he can into the smallest space possible.

[gomick]

havent seen jarama for years - i luv jerez with that big crowd on the hill over the back section before pit lane entrance

[Alex Toropov]

Originally Posted by luke

I've also heard a rumor that the 4th Spainish race Estoril, may be dropped in the future.
Is that true?

Estoril track in Spain? really?!

i'm not too sure, but Toby Moody said something about new contract during Portuguese GP coverage this year. something like that some people from local goverment signed new agreement on sunday (before the race) for two years. so it seems Estoril will stay in motogp calender until 2006 at least...

[luke]

MotoGP cruelly labels it as the 4th Spanish race, but clearly it's in Portugal.
well unless......