MY TOP 3 FOR 2019

Round 5 – Le Mans

Grand Prix de France May 17-19

A dead easy ride or drive from Calais. This place may be a little bit rough around the edges, but it just oozes history from every pore. Loads of entertainment going on in the evenings. The campsites are completely bonkers so don’t forget your earplugs, but we encourage you to get stuck in and absorb the crazy brilliance that Le Mans uniquely offers.

Top Tip: Book weekend tickets through motogp.com in either the T.52 (Ouest France “S” Bleus) or T.23 (Moto Journal Raccordement) grandstands. These get you access to the Maison Blanche campsite with is within part of the 24 hour Circuit, has restricted access with 24-hour security and a toilet block with hot showers. You also get access to the general admission areas.

Round 6 – Mugello

Gran Premio d’Italia May 31-June 2

Mugello: MotoGP’s Mecca. Whether you’re yellow or not you have to get to a Mugello Grand Prix before Valentino Rossi retires. We’ll probably never see anything like it again once he’s gone. If the scenery doesn’t take your breath away the quality of racing certainly will, not to mention the awesome, rolling layout of the track that challenges riders like few other circuits on the calendar.

Top Tip: Get your tickets now through the official Mugello partner ticketone.it. Consider splashing out on grandstand tickets in the Tribuna Centrale – not only will you see the bikes touching a mind boggling 230mph but also, you’ll get some much-needed shade and access to the general admission areas. But take a brolly for shade anyway as it can get as hot as hell.

Round 14 – Aragon

Gran Premio de Aragón September 20-22

Aragon is one of my favourite rounds of the season. This state-of-the-art facility appears to have been plonked by an alien race in the middle of nowhere. In my opinion it is the only decent track Hermann Tilke has designed. As the last European round before the flyaways it has a really relaxed atmosphere.

Top Tip: Fly to Reus and stay in Salou (15 minutes from the airport) where you’ll find loads of cheap accommodation on offer. Try and hire a bike as the ride from Salou to Aragon and back is awesome. It’s impossible to get bored of the dramatic scenery and the smooth, sticky ribbon of asphalt winding its way through the mountains. Sure, it’s at least a 90-minute ride each way but it gets better every time.