The Jerez de la Frontera circuit was built in 1986, and hosted its first GP the following year, rapidly becoming one of the most popular tracks of the entire MotoGP calendar.
The circuit is situated in a valley in the south of Spain, offering spectacular views and nearly always characterized by excellent weather. Its numerous grandstands provide perfect viewing facilities for over 200,000 spectators and the track was resurfaced in 2005.
At last year's race, Jorge Lorenzo, who is celebrating his thirtieth birthday today, finished second at the flag after starting from second place on the grid while racing for Yamaha.
This year he will be racing for the Ducati team where he is hoping small improvements will mean he has a more competitive round in front of his home fans. However, he knows that it is not normally a favourable event for the Ducati team.
"We arrive in Spain after three rather complicated races for us, but we have always made small steps forward in the latest rounds,” he said. “Jerez is one of my favourite tracks, I have excellent memories of it, and I've scored a number of wins there, but it's also true to say that it's not the most favourable track for Ducati.”
“We are analyzing all the data, including those from the recent test at this circuit, to carry on working on the bike and improve our competitiveness. I can't wait to feel the warm support from the Spanish crowd and ride a Ducati for the first time in front of my fans.”
The Jerez de la Frontera weekend gets underway on Friday morning with the first free practice session at 9.55 am, while the 27-lap race is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 2 pm.
