A truly memorable event to end the season with a noisy sell out crowd and fireworks adding to an electric atmosphere around the tight and twisty Ricardo Tormo circuit. The second slowest track on the MotoGP calendar is surrounded by grandstands which completes the stadium affect, generating a tremendous atmosphere. The track, which named after the former 50 cc World Champion Ricardo Tormo who died of leukaemia, was only completed in 1999 and staged it’s first grand prix the same year. Frenchman Regis Laconi won that first race which was his only grand prix victory. It’s been a good circuit for the Honda Pons team with current Camel Honda star, Brazilian Alex Barros scoring a superb victory over Valentino Rossi in the last race of the 2002 season. Rossi has won the MotoGP race for the last two years, riding both Yamaha and Honda machinery. Track data: Length: 4.005 kms Pole Position: Right. Width: 12 m Right corners: Five Left corners: Nine Longest Straight: 876 m Constructed: 1999. Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1:33.317 154.506 km/h (2003) Pole record: Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1:32.478 155.907 km/h (2003) 2004 Race winner: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 47:16.145 – 152.510 km/h Camel Honda Alex Barros 2004 – sixth. TECHNICAL INSIGHT – COMUNITAT VALENCIANA GRAND PRIX – 06/11/05 – VALENCIA The Cheste Circuit is 4.005 m long with a total of 14 corners, 9 left-handers and 5 right-handers, and a 650 metre-long straight. In this short straight surprisingly high speeds of around 305 km/h are reached due to the fact that it is a downhill section and also the fact that the first corner is taken at a relatively high speed of more than 140 Km/h. In spite of the fast straight, Cheste is the second slowest track in the MotoGP Championship with an average speed of only 155 km/h, slightly more than the Portuguese Estoril circuit. To make a good race here it is necessary to prepare the bike so that it is light and agile. The corners come one after another all around the lap and a manoeuvrable bike is key to setting good lap times. In general one can say this is a track where a shorter wheel base is desirable and often special plates are fitted to make the bike turn more easily into the corners. This setting can though lead to problems in turn one, turn seven and the final corner where the rider must brake when the bike is leaning, which tends to block the steering and the fitting of these special plates can accentuate the problem. Also in the final corner the rider must change from fourth gear to first with the bike leaning over on the side where the gear change is located, making it very difficult to find a good racing line through the corner. Although Cheste is not a high speed circuit, the braking points are nevertheless sharp and hard suspension shocks are normally fitted. The most movement in the front fork is experienced on the short straight leading up to turn 2, and also the tricky corner 12 where the track suddenly starts to climb, producing even more force on the front shocks. Luckily the track is in good conditions and there are not too many bumps so hard springs can be fitted without too much pondering. Rear suspension is not an excessive problem either, although we must bear in mind that the rear tends to sink under acceleration when the throttle is opened at low speeds, and also when the rider accelerates through the long corner with the bike leaning over. To counteract this effect harder springs can be fitted or the hydraulic brakes of the rear shock can be adjusted to dampen the compression and sinking effect in these areas. Another important factor to consider when setting the bike is the engine brake. A well-adjusted engine brake that lets the rider turn with ease is invaluable in setting fast times here. In Cheste, all the gears are used around the lap, with three taken in first gear, seven in second gear, three more in third and finally turn “13” is taken in fourth. And we could really say that turn “7” is taken in fifth gear although under braking in preparation for turn “8”. Since the top speed on the straight is not so high, it is relatively easy therefore to find a good adjustment for the gear ratios. Tyre choice is not such a big problem in Cheste as it is not a circuit that causes excessive tyre wear. The only thing to look out for is the left side of the tyre since there are many more left corners than right corners, and also the possible heavy tyre wear produced in turn “13.”