Adventure Bike Rider Forum

A very generous friend is taking me to the final round of MotoGP at Valencia in November as a 40th birthday present.

I wonder whether others have been before and whether you have any recommendations.

For what it's worth, we're flying in Friday night and will see qualifying on Sat and the races on Sun, then fly home Monday. We're planning on staying in Valencia city centre rather than camping at the track.

So, best spot to watch the race? Things to do in Valencia? Anything else?

Thanks in advance.

Dave

You'll see everything apart from one corner no matter where you are on the circuit because it's flat. We watched from the green stand and it's quite convenient for the station as is the blue stand.

Get the train out from the city and I think there's one change, buy train tickets in advance to avoid queuing at the machines. When you leave it's chaos at the station because it's a tiny little one that only gets used when there's racing on and there's only two platforms. Everyone has to wait in the same place and there's only a small canopy to shelter you if it's a hot day. The queues on the roads to the circuit looked horrendous and I'm not sure if there's a bus service out to the circuit that gets sent along a route to avoid the car chaos.

The city centre is great with plenty of bars and restaurants but obviously it will get crowded on the Saturday night. There was some kind of torchlight parade on the Saturday when we went and that made it even busier but if you avoid the procession route you avoid the crush (thumbs)

Be very careful at the circuit because you can queue for 10 minutes to get a beer and when you get there you find it's alcohol free and there seemed to be about 10 outlets selling alcohol free for every one selling proper beer.

If you've got a late afternoon flight home then get yourself over to the circuit for the first test sessions with the riders on next years bikes. I've never seen so many black bikes with no advertising on them as when we went to the test day. The trains won't run to the circuit on Monday but we booked a car, caught the train to the airport then drove the 10 miles or so to the circuit then dropped the hire car off just before we flew home. Free entry to the circuit on race day.

Enjoy the weekend (thumbs)

Unless you're on 'the hill' - which is a big stony bank so far away from the track that you've got a hard job making out which rider is which without watching the huge lorry TV screens they put up - you'll have a stand and seat already allocated.

Looks like there's a good chance the championship could go down to the wire - in which case you're sure of an epic weekend - especially as Jorge could win.

Emf#53 wrote:Unless you're on 'the hill' - which is a big stony bank so far away from the track that you've got a hard job making out which rider is which without watching the huge lorry TV screens they put up - you'll have a stand and seat already allocated.

Looks like there's a good chance the championship could go down to the wire - in which case you're sure of an epic weekend - especially as Jorge could win.

I understand that we have grandstand tickets with individual monitors - all sounds a bit flash to me. I'm not sure if we are allowed to move around the course or not (my only race experience is BSB where you can go anywhere except pit lane).

Dave

It was 10 years ago since I went but assuming it's the same now the only other place you could go to watch the race is 'the hill'.

There are grandstands around pretty much most of the circuit which are all allocated seats. Very very different from wandering around Brands or Donington

We're going again next year for my wife's 50th but she's dropping serious hints that we should go this year as well because it looks like there may be a lot to go for.

I'm tempted but we'd have to come home on the Monday because I'm short of holidays

Went last year for my 50th courtesy of my wonderful missus. Everything Andy said about the track and train is true. Every grandstand gives you a great view (we were in blue). The atmosphere was amazing and we felt euphoric being there. So different to Donington which is why I stopped going in '92. We stayed out of the centre in a hotel where the Ducati crew were and they gave a pit pass to a young lad and his dad. They were great guys (one of them posts on here).

You will have a fantastic time!

Danny Kent was on our Ryanair flight home - bet he's flying a higher class this year!

everything said above is true but also prepare for the heat its "el scorchio" you can"t fail to enjoy it (thumbs)

Lucky you! Its a very different GP cos its held in a large open arena. So no problems with the viewing. I have been a couple of times. I prefer the fast left kink on the back "straight." Good high speed viewing. Fridays are best for getting into other areas as it will be quite empty compared to sunday.

Do not miss going to the small town of Cheste on friday/saturday night for the partying/ madness. Its the one stop past the circuit on the train. Its their GP and they definately make the most of it! Loads of merch, food and beer stalls etc. The trains are 24hrs for the GP weekend so head out about 11pm from Valencia to experinence the madness (although its not quite as crazy as it was ten years ago its still way,way more fun than anything in UK.) Just follow the crowd as the trains are packed all night and through the wee small hours.

Valencia, like most every Spanish city has a beautiful old town and does not take much more than an afternoon to have a walk about. All north of the train station/bullring.

'Mon Rossi!

its a bit like the TT, if your booking now its a bit to late, not the easiest place to get to out of town ether.

Steve