BIKE (UK)

INSIDE: LA BANEZA

Every August a small town in Spain turns its streets over to bike racers. It doesn’t get more authentic than this

- By Stephen Davison

Fierce Spanish road racing snapped by TT camera legend Stephen Davison.

GO AND SEE IT

La Baneza is a 200 mile ride from the ferry port of Santander, through the fantastic roads of the Picos de Europa. The races take place in mid-august, on a weekend close to the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15 August). motoclubba­nezano.es

‘Straw bales are the protection of choice and are used on the apex of almost every corner, creating spectacula­r explosions of golden grass’

PREPARATIO­N, PREPARATIO­N…

A family work to get their machine running for the mini moto event which takes place on the evening before the main event’s practice. Adults and kids take part in these madcap races through the town centre under the street lights after the sun goes down on Friday night. Practice for the main races takes place on Saturday evening with the racing run in the furnace-like heat of Sunday afternoon.

PROTECTION

Angel Dominguez (Honda) clouts a bale during the feature 125cc GP race. Straw bales are still the protection of choice and are used on the apex of almost every corner, creating spectacula­r explosions of golden grass when a shoulder brushes against them. Pursuing riders slide and slither on the loose straw.

SHORT STRAIGHTS, TIGHT BENDS

Cayetano Rodriguez and Luis Quioles crash during practice for the 125cc race while Jeronimo Lorente takes evasive action. With short straights and tight bends along most of the twisting 1.08mile circuit, corner speeds are low, helping to prevent serious injury in the many tumbles.

THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT

A poster advertises the races in a shop front in La Baneza. The streets of the Castille town play host to a festival as well as the bike races each August. Good enough to take home and frame.

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

A local woman stands outside her front door which opens directly onto the circuit. During the racing she is completely barricaded inside her house by a wall of hay bales. Better safe than sorry.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Race fans cheer on local hero David Bango during the 125cc GP race. You really can get this close to the action.

HEROES

First held in 1954, La Baneza now attracts over 100, largely Spanish, riders. A host of Joses, Juans and Jorges follow in the wheel tracks of famous names like Angel Nieto, Benjamin Grau, Jorge Martinez Aspar, Victor Palomo and Phil Read. Grand Prix legend Nieto died just a few days before this year’s races and a mural was painted alongside the track as a tribute. His sons and grandson were driven on a lap of honour to haunting chants of ‘Nieto, Nieto’.

60,000 SPECTATORS

The local tourist office claimed 60,000 people poured into La Baneza’s narrow streets for the 2017 races. Garages and front rooms are converted into makeshift bars along the race route, providing a constant supply of Estrella and San Miguel for locals and visitors alike.

MINI MOTOS

Friday night is mini moto night when bikes battle between the tyres on the back streets of La Baneza. Incredibly local residents often have to skip between the racers as they wend their way home from a hard day at work.

‘La Baneza attracts over 100, largely Spanish, riders. A host of Joses and Jorges follow in the wheel tracks of famous names…’

IN THE PITS

Preparing a Ducati in a back yard that doubles as the pits. Spanish built Ossas, Montesas and Bultacos dominate the classic stroker class while Italian bikes take precedence in the four-stroke category with the occasional Triumph, Norton or BSA thrown in to add some variety.

CLOSE TO THE ACTION

An excited fan cheers on local favourite Maxi Blanco on his Ducati in the Classic Super Series race. Just how far the Spanish fans will go in their pursuit of getting a good view is amazing. As those in front lean out the people behind lean even further to get a better shot on their mobiles. The gap between fans and fairings is often little more than a few millimetre­s.

THE DIFFERENT CLASSES

Four different classes race at La Baneza. Alongside the Super Series bikes there are Pre-1972 two and four-stroke classic machines, with a limit of 250cc and 500cc respective­ly. The premier race – the ‘City of La Baneza Grand Prix of Speed’ – is for GP spec 125cc and Moto3 machines.

YOU DON’T SEE MANY OF THESE

A Sanglas rider is offered congratula­tions after the Classic Super Series race. The class is restricted to 650cc European bikes manufactur­ed prior to 1984. Moto Guzzis and Ducatis are the most popular marques, but a combinatio­n of patriotism, nostalgia and bloody-mindedness means that some people choose to develop and race these Spanish-built 500cc singles.

‘As those in front lean out the people behind lean even further to get a better shot on their mobiles’

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