Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127992
Aspectator's guide to the World Superbike and Grand Prix Series By Paul Carruthers ide trips to places such as Asia, Australia and the United States (World Superbike, anyway) truly make road racing global, but without question the World Championships are won in Europe - at places such as Monza, Donington Park, Jerez and Assen. The 15-race Grand Prix Series just kicked off with its Mal,!ysian and Japanese rounds and it will get down to business when racing resWTIes on May 9 at Jerez in Spain. Ditto for the 13-round World Superbike Series, whidl has visited South Africa and Australia in recent weeks but S sees its European tour of duty begin on May 2 at Donington Park in England. Okay, so we've established the fact that there's a lot of racing to come over the summer months and that most of it will occur on the European continent. So isn't it about time you made plans to take in a few races during that summer vacation? How about the British Grand Prix for the Fourth of July? Memorial Day at Monza? Here's a down-and-dirty guide to where the tracks are located and some basic information to help you get there, get tickets and enjoy the experience. G'IIa Mick L et's begin with the Grand Prix Series. Doohan and Co. will hit Europe for the first time for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on May 9 and they'll tay there until heading to Australia in the beginning of October. AU rounds of the Grand Prix Series feature 500, 250 and 125cc races. Round :3 Circuito de .Jerez .Jerez. Spain Date of Race: May 9 Ticket Information: (34) 956151103 Address: Carretara De Arcos, Km. 10 Apdo. De Correos 1709 Jerez De La Frontera (Cadiz), Spain Last Year's Winners: Alex Criville (5OOce)o Loris Capirossi (2,5Occ) 0 Kazuta Sakata (125cc) The 2.746-mile Circuito de Jerez is located some 60 miles from the town of Sevilla and 150 miles from Malaga. There is an airport in Jerez, just 11 miles from the race track. Any time the Grand Prix Series visits Spain, the crowds are huge and the atmosphere is electric. Round 5 Autodromo Internazionale Del Mugello Mugello. I~aly Date of Race: June 6 Ticket Information: (39) 0558499111 Address: Via Senni 15 . 50038 Scarperia, Firenze, Italy Last Year's Winners: Mick Doohan (5OOcc) • Marcellino Lucchi (25Occ) • Tomomi Manako (125ce) The 3.257-miIe Mugello Circuit sits right in the heart of Tuscany. The track is roughly 19 miles north of Florence and 50 miles south of Bologna, the most international of the two airports. It's worth going to - just to watci1 the rabid Biaggi fans. Round 7 Circuit "an Drenthe Round 4 Paul Ricard Circuit Le Ca.~elle~. Last Year's Winners: Alex Criville (500ccl • Tetsuya Harada (25Occ) • Kazuto Sakata (125cc) The 2.359-mile Paul Ricard Circuit is located in the south of France, only miles from the seaside town of ·Bandol. The nearest airport is in Marseilles, some 25 miles from the circuit. Go for the races, but stay for the beach. Round 6 Circuit de Catalunya Mon~lI!lo. Spain Date of Race: lune 20 Ticket Information: (34) 935719710 Address: Apartado de Correa 27 Mas "La Moreneta" 08160 Montmelo - Barcelona, Spain Last Year's Winners: Mick Doohan (5OOcc) • Valentino Rossi (25Occ)· Tomomi ManaJco (125cc) One of the newer circuits on the schedule, the 2.935-mile Circuit de Catalunya is located in northeastern Spain, not far from the city of Barcelona. Again, like any race in Spain, expect fireworks. Round B Donington Park Donlng~on. Date of Race: June 16 Ticket Information: (31) 592321321 Address: IT Bureau, Post Bus 150 9400 Ad Assen Holland Last Year's Winners: Mick Doobait (500cc) • Valentino Rossi (25Occ) • Marco Melandri (l25cc) With a history that dates back to 1925, the Dutch IT is a festival of Grand Prix racing. The town of Assen js home to some 55,000 inhabitants, but more than double that attend the Dutch IT on an annual basis. The 3.756-mile Circuit van Drenthe is located in north Holland, some 125 miles from Amsterdam and its Schipol Airport. 42 France Date of Race: May 23 Ticket Information: (33) 473918575 Address: Route Nationale 8 Le Camp Du Castellet 83330 Le Beausset, France England Dale of Race: July 4 Ticket Information: (44) 1332850955 Address: Castle Donington Derbyshire, DE74 2RP, England Last Year's Winners: Simon Crafar (500cc)· Loris Capirossi (25Occ) • Kazuto Sakata o25cc) The site of Wayne Rainey's first-ever Grand Prix victory, Donington Park is located 73.miles from London. The 2.5-mile race track is one of the most-liked on the circuit and has been kind to American racers over the years. This year's race will be held on the Fourth of July.