Jerez(Spain):
The Jerez circuit is very complete as regards configuration; the layout combines fast corners and strong braking sections. Therefore, the bike needs to be well balanced and the rubber suffers a lot, so the tyres are determining for the final result of the race. As regards the atmosphere, there’s a large motor biking tradition, the public bends over backwards with the riders and you feel the warmth of the people on the track.
Losail (Qatar):
Ive never felt so overwhelmed in a circuit. The feeling of heat is really strong and it is essential to get used to it from the very first moment you arrive in that country. It makes you suffer during the race and since it is in the middle of the desert, there is a lot of dust on the track. Its quite long, but as regards configuration its nothing to write home about.
Istanbul(Turkey):
You notice that the designer and creator of the Istanbul circuit has also designed other circuits we visit, for example Shanghai, although I think that it is a much more compensated circuit. It combines uphill and downhill sections and has good asphalt. Its quite wide and the grip it offers is not bad. It has some rather slow sections, but I guess its because its a circuit that has been designed thinking about Formula 1. In general terms however, its a circuit that is not bad at all.
Shanghai (China):
Shanghai is a circuit with good asphalt. When we went there for the first time, I remember that the asphalt had good temperature, although I personally dont like the circuit much. I believe the design is based on a coat of arms or something like that of Shanghai and it has very strange corners. Apart from that it is not balanced between straights, tight and large corners. There are some very long straights and a very tight corner. I guess that it has also basically been thought out for Formula 1 races, but I personally dont like it at all.
Le Mans(France):
Le Mans has a lot of accelerations, a lot of hard braking sections and a very fast, long corner at the end of the straight. Having a good acceleration at the exit of the corners is fundamental to make a good lap. The gearbox has to be very well set.
Mugello (Italy):
Mugello is one of the most complicated circuits. It has a lot of variants, fast corners and drops. And there are the bumps on the asphalt making the set-up of the suspensions very difficult. The straight is the longest of the Championship and the speeds are really high. Slipstreams are basic in this race.
Catalunya (Spain):
The Circuit de Catalunya has new asphalt and that has changed the performance of the tyres. In any case, Montmeló is a complete circuit, with good facilities and with a quite fast average speed, and it has a very difficult curvone.
Assen (Holland):
There must be a reason for calling it The Cathedral. Its a very technical circuit were it is difficult to find references, because its so flat. The average speed is very high and that makes it a bit dangerous. But, in any case, it is one of the most beautiful layouts of the calendar, where the driver enjoys racing because its really demanding.
Sachsenring (Germany):
The layout in Germany combines a first slow section with a faster one. It is also characterised by having large drops and the gearbox has to be very well set.
DoningtonPark(Great Britain):
Donington is a stop and go circuit, linking strong braking sections with accelerations. Being so close to the airport is no benefit at all: its usually very slippery because the grip isnt perfect. It has some very critical angles for the engines performance.
Laguna Seca (USA):
Ive never been to Laguna Seca, but from what Ive been told and from what Ive seen its a very short, small circuit, where you have to work a lot, because you cover a lap very quickly and that makes your mind get tired soon. As far as I know, it’s a dangerous circuit due to the limited run-off areas; lets see if they improve safety for this season.
Brno(CzechRepublic):
I consider it one of the most difficult circuits of the championship, where the riding technique is the most important. It has linked corners and if you dont follow the right line, you loose valuable time in every lap; Id say that theres only one good line. Its a very long circuit and its easy to get the slipstream on the straights.
Sepang (Malaysia):
Its facilities are exemplary and the circuit is very complete and long. The heat and humidity are decisive factors in the race, but you can stand it. The layout combines all types of sections and usually everybody likes it.
PhillipIsland(Australia):
Its a track with very high average speed and the wind that is always blowing over the island adds difficulty to the riding. There are very fast corners where you have to be very careful, focussed to the utmost, especially if its cold. The layout is very nice, although, I insist, its a bit dangerous.
Motegi (Japan):
It’s one of the circuits were I feel more comfortable, I like it. The track is even and combines angles and braking. You can lap fast because the asphalt is in very good conditions. I feel very well in Motegi.
Estoril (Portugal):
The biggest influence in Estoril is the wind. There are always strong gusts of wind making it difficult to ride. The circuit is twisty and difficult. It has a very long straight where the group usually closes up. Its not easy to escape here. The races are usually grouped.
Ricardo Tormo (Spain):
Cheste is a small circuit, but its good to set the bikes. Its very flat and its very good for fans because they can follow the whole lap of a rider from almost every spot. Since it’s the last race of the Championship and in Spain, the atmosphere is also very good for us.
