Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel
Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel at a glance
- Location
- Lommel, Limburg
- Type
- motocross
- Length
- 1.829 km (1.137 mi)
- Surface
- deep sand
- Owner
- Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel vzw
- Website
- motorcrosscentrumlommel.be
Track map and layout
Lommel is built entirely on the deep, loose sand of Belgian Limburg, a 1,829-metre lap that grows heavier, bumpier and more chopped-up with every pass as the sand shifts under racing bikes. Unlike hard-pack or clay circuits, there is no fixed racing line here for long: ruts move and reform through a moto, forcing riders to constantly adapt their lines and physically wrestle the bike through the sand, which makes it one of the most fitness-sapping tracks on the world championship calendar. Its reputation as motocross's ultimate physical test, sometimes described by riders as a 'torture chamber,' has made a strong Lommel result a badge of honour among sand specialists.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Current MXGP layout | 1.83 km | 1,829 m, entirely deep sand |
Events and race weekends
Lommel hosts the MXGP of Flanders, a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, having first held a Grand Prix in 1990 and returned to the calendar regularly since 2008. Its most significant international appearance came in 2012, when it hosted the Motocross des Nations, the sport's premier international team event, won that year by Germany. The venue also has deep roots in the Motocross des Nations' predecessor event, the Trophée des Nations, where Team USA famously scored its first-ever team win at Lommel in 1981, the start of a long unbeaten American run in international team competition.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MXGP of Flanders | FIM Motocross World Championship (MXGP) | — | regular calendar fixture since 2008; venue also hosted the 2012 Motocross des Nations |
Getting there and parking
Lommel sits in Belgian Limburg near the Dutch border, making Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands the closest international gateway at around 35 km away, with Maastricht Aachen Airport and Brussels Airport also within reach for a longer drive.
- Eindhoven Airport (EIN) · about 35 min drive
- Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) · about 60 min drive
- Brussels Airport (BRU) · about 90 min drive
Parking
On-site parking is available for Grand Prix weekend at the Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum, with additional field parking signposted from surrounding roads during major events.
Lommel's wider area is also a popular destination for recreational sand-track riding outside Grand Prix weekend, so expect a strong local motocross culture year-round.
Hotels and camping near Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel
Lommel itself has a modest range of local hotels and guesthouses, and its position close to the Dutch border also makes Eindhoven, with a much wider choice of accommodation, a practical alternative base around 35 km away. Motocross fans have a strong camping tradition at Lommel for Grand Prix weekend, reflecting the sport's grassroots following.
Where to look
Lommel town centre for proximity; Eindhoven across the Dutch border for a wider range of hotels.
Camping
Camping areas are traditionally set up around the venue for MXGP of Flanders weekend, popular among the sport's fanbase.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel is a dedicated, long-established motocross facility used for club racing, training and public riding sessions outside Grand Prix weekend, reflecting Lommel's status as one of Europe's best-known sand-riding destinations. Visitors interested in riding should contact the centre directly for current session schedules and access requirements.
Spectator guide
Lommel's flat, open sandy terrain gives spectators wide sightlines across much of the circuit from natural banking, with the track's constantly evolving ruts and lines making it one of the more visually dramatic rounds of the MXGP season as the sand deepens through the day.
Seating
Natural sand and grass banking surrounds most of the circuit, with limited grandstand seating near the start-finish straight.
Best places to watch
Vantage points overlooking the deepest sand sections show riders working hardest to hold their lines as the track breaks up.
Weather
- July-August (typical GP dates): mild Belgian summer conditions, generally dry, though rain can turn the sand heavier still
History of Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel
A sand track built for international team racing
Lommel's reputation in international motocross predates its Grand Prix history. In 1981 the venue hosted the Trophée des Nations, where Team USA scored its first-ever win in international team competition, a result that launched a run of American dominance in team events through the following decade. The track's uniquely deep, shifting Belgian Limburg sand, unlike anything found on hard-pack circuits elsewhere in Europe, quickly established Lommel as a benchmark test of skill and fitness for the world's best riders.
Joining and rejoining the world championship
Lommel first hosted a round of the Motocross World Championship in 1990, when Finnish rider Pekka Vehkonen won the 250cc Grand Prix, before the venue later became a regular fixture on the calendar from 2008 as the MXGP of Flanders. Its standing as one of the sport's toughest tests was cemented in 2012, when it hosted the Motocross des Nations, the sport's premier international team event, an occasion that saw Germany take the win on Lommel's punishing sand.
The sport's toughest sand track today
Today Lommel continues to host the MXGP of Flanders and is widely regarded, by riders and fans alike, as the most physically demanding sand circuit on the world championship calendar, a reputation built on a track that becomes heavier, bumpier and more unpredictable lap after lap as the loose Limburg sand is churned up. Beyond Grand Prix weekend, the Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel remains a major destination for club racing and recreational sand riding, drawing riders from across Europe eager to test themselves on one of the sport's most storied and feared tracks.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Lommel motocross track?+
The current MXGP layout is 1,829 metres long, run entirely on deep, loose sand.
Why is Lommel considered the toughest track in motocross?+
Its deep, shifting Belgian sand surface has no fixed racing line and grows heavier and more rutted through a moto, demanding exceptional fitness and bike control, which has earned it a reputation as the sport's most physically punishing venue.
When did Lommel host the Motocross des Nations?+
Lommel hosted the Motocross des Nations in 2012, the sport's premier international team event, which was won that year by Germany.
How long has Lommel hosted world championship motocross?+
Lommel first hosted a Grand Prix in 1990 and has been a regular calendar fixture as the MXGP of Flanders since 2008.
Where is the Lommel circuit located?+
It is in Lommel, in Belgium's Limburg province near the Dutch border, roughly 35 km from Eindhoven Airport.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuit Zolder · 26 km · road course
- Motorclub Oss · 63 km · club
- De Witte Ruijsheuvel (Oss Motocross Circuit) · 63 km · motocross
- Grenzlandring · 71 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps · 100 km · road course
- Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet · 111 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.