Circuit Ricardo Tormo
Circuit Ricardo Tormo at a glance
- Location
- Cheste, Valencian Community
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.005 km (2.489 mi)
- Turns
- 14
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1999
- Owner
- Generalitat Valenciana
- Capacity
- 165,000
- Phone
- +34 96 252 52 20
- Website
- circuitricardotormo.com
Track map and layout
Circuit Ricardo Tormo is best known for its 'stadium' design: tightly packed grandstands wrap around a compact 4.005 km, 14-corner layout so that a large share of the lap is visible from almost any seat, a rarity among modern circuits. The lap is short and technical, with a long main straight leading into a tight first-corner braking zone, then a sequence of medium and slow corners that punish a poorly balanced bike or car. The final sector's tightening final corners set up straight-line speed onto the front straight, which has produced some of MotoGP's most dramatic championship-deciding finishes. A shorter external circuit and a school circuit are also configured within the same grounds for smaller events and driver training.
Named corners and sections
- Turn 1. A tight right-hander at the end of the main straight, the circuit's primary braking and overtaking zone.
- Turn 4 (Angel Nieto). A tightening corner in the technical middle sector, named for Spanish motorcycling legend Ángel Nieto.
- Final corners (Turns 13-14). A tight, low-speed complex leading onto the front straight, often decisive for grid position and late-race passing.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit | 4.00 km | 14 turns; current MotoGP configuration, in use since 1999 |
| External Circuit | 3.14 km | 11 turns; used for some car racing series |
| School Circuit | 1.30 km | 7 turns; used for driver training and karting |
Events and race weekends
Circuit Ricardo Tormo has hosted the MotoGP Valencian Community Grand Prix, traditionally the final round of the season, every year from 1999 to 2023. The 2024 event was cancelled after catastrophic flooding hit the Valencia region in late October 2024, forcing the circuit to close for weeks; MotoGP returned to Cheste for the 2025 season finale. The circuit also hosts Formula E pre-season testing most years and rounds of domestic touring car and GT championships.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Premi de la Comunitat Valenciana | MotoGP | November | traditional season finale; cancelled in 2024 due to regional flooding, returned in 2025 |
| Formula E pre-season testing | Formula E | December/January | held most years since 2017 |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits beside the A-3 Valencia-Madrid motorway near Cheste, about 30-35 minutes west of Valencia city. Valencia Airport is the closest major hub, roughly 25-30 minutes by road. There is no dedicated station at the circuit; visitors travelling by rail generally arrive into Valencia's main stations and continue by shuttle bus, taxi or hire car, with extra event buses laid on for the MotoGP weekend.
- Valencia Airport (VLC) · about 30 min drive
Parking
General parking is available around the circuit for most events and is typically included with race-weekend tickets; arrive early for MotoGP, when the A-3 exit at Cheste becomes heavily congested.
Book event shuttle buses from Valencia city for the MotoGP weekend rather than driving, since the motorway exit and local roads around Cheste back up badly on race day.
Hotels and camping near Circuit Ricardo Tormo
Most visitors base themselves in Valencia city, about 30 minutes away, which has by far the largest range of hotels, apartments and transport links; rooms across the city sell out and rise sharply in price for the MotoGP finale. A smaller number of hotels and rural guesthouses are available closer to Cheste and the surrounding villages for those who prefer to stay nearer the circuit.
Where to look
Valencia city offers the widest choice of hotels and the best transport links; Cheste and nearby towns such as Chiva and Buñol have smaller, closer options.
Camping
Camping options are limited directly at the circuit compared with tracks like Jerez; most fans either stay in Valencia or use nearby campsites in the wider region, and options should be checked directly with the circuit or official event ticketing ahead of the MotoGP weekend.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The circuit hosts car and motorcycle track days and driver training on its Grand Prix, External and School layouts throughout the year, alongside its own driving school. Third-party organisers also run track days here outside the MotoGP and Formula E testing windows, taking advantage of the circuit's compact, technical layout.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotoGP | 1:29.976 | Raúl Fernández | Aprilia RS-GP25 | 2025 |
Spectator guide
The circuit's stadium-style design means most grandstands offer views of a large portion of the lap rather than a single corner, making general admission and lower-tier grandstand tickets unusually good value for watching a full race unfold. The main straight and Turn 1 grandstands are the highest-demand seats for the MotoGP finale, when championships are often decided.
Seating
Grandstands ring the compact infield, with most offering sightlines across several corners thanks to the stadium layout; premium seating clusters around the main straight and Turn 1.
Best places to watch
Any of the main grandstands give a wide view of the circuit because of the stadium design; Turn 1 is the best spot for braking-zone overtakes on the final lap of the MotoGP season finale.
Weather
- November (MotoGP): mild but variable, highs around 18-20°C with a real chance of rain in some years
History of Circuit Ricardo Tormo
A modern circuit named for a champion
Circuit Ricardo Tormo opened in September 1999 in Cheste, a short drive west of Valencia, and was named in honour of Ricardo Tormo, the Spanish two-time 50cc and 80cc world motorcycle racing champion who died of leukaemia in 1998. Built as a purpose-designed 'stadium' circuit, with grandstands arranged so spectators could watch far more of the lap than at a typical track, it was awarded the season-closing round of the grand prix motorcycle world championship from its opening year, a slot it has held in almost every season since.
Championship deciders
Because it traditionally closes the MotoGP season, Cheste has repeatedly hosted title-deciding races, including several of the closest and most dramatic championship finales in the sport's history. The circuit has also hosted rounds of Formula E's pre-season testing programme since 2017 and various domestic touring car and GT series, making use of its compact layout and easy access from Valencia.
Disruption and return
In late October 2024, catastrophic flash flooding struck the province of Valencia, killing over 200 people and causing widespread damage across the region, including at the circuit itself. The 2024 Valencian Community Grand Prix was cancelled and the circuit closed for weeks while repairs were carried out, with planned pre-season testing relocated to Circuito del Jarama near Madrid. The circuit reopened before the end of 2024, and MotoGP returned to Cheste for its 2025 season finale, restoring the track's traditional place at the end of the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Circuit Ricardo Tormo?+
The Grand Prix layout is 4.005 km (2.489 miles) with 14 corners.
Is Circuit Ricardo Tormo also known by another name?+
Yes, it is sometimes referred to in English as the Ricardo Tormo Circuit or the Valencia circuit; locals usually just call it Cheste, after the town where it is located.
Why was the 2024 MotoGP race at Valencia cancelled?+
Catastrophic flash flooding hit the Valencia region in late October 2024, damaging the circuit and forcing the cancellation of that year's Valencian Community Grand Prix; MotoGP returned to Cheste in 2025.
Why is the layout called a 'stadium' circuit?+
Grandstands are arranged so that spectators can see a large portion of the 14-corner lap from most seats, unlike circuits where a ticket typically covers only one or two corners.
When is the MotoGP race at Circuit Ricardo Tormo?+
It is traditionally held in November as the final round of the MotoGP season.
What is the MotoGP lap record at Circuit Ricardo Tormo?+
1:29.976, set by Raúl Fernández on an Aprilia RS-GP25 during the 2025 Valencian Community Grand Prix.
Other tracks nearby
- Valencia Street Circuit · 26 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Circuito de Albacete · 114 km · road course
- MotorLand Aragón · 181 km · road course
- Circuit de Calafat · 204 km · road course
- Circuito de Madrid Jarama – RACE · 281 km · road course
- Circuito Internacional Comunidad de Madrid · 296 km · motocross
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.