Final round of the MotoGP season, with the championship returning to Valencia after last year’s absence due to the flood that caused numerous casualties — to the extent that the replacement weekend in Barcelona was named the Solidarity GP.
The Circuit Ricardo Tormo has hosted 25 Valencian Community GPs and one edition of the European GP.
The GP data
According to Brembo technicians who work closely with all MotoGP riders, the 4.005 km Circuit Ricardo Tormo falls into the category of medium-demand tracks for braking.
On a scale of 1 to 6, it has a difficulty index of 3 because, despite featuring 10 braking zones, total brake usage per lap amounts to 30 seconds: 4 are classified as High, 2 as Medium, and 4 as Low.
From the start to the chequered flag, each rider applies over one tonne of total load to the brake lever.
The toughest corner
The Coincidence
Marc Márquez’s injury and subsequent shoulder-blade surgery will prevent him from racing in Valencia — the only track he has never ridden on with a Ducati.
With Honda in MotoGP, he scored 2 wins, 2 second places, 2 thirds and 3 retirements, although his most recent victory dates back to 2019.
In Moto2, however, he won on his sole appearance at the circuit with the Suter, which was also fitted with Brembo 4-piston calipers, but with 290 mm steel discs, since carbon discs are banned in the lower classes.
Joan’s Only One
In 2020, the Circuit Ricardo Tormo hosted two Grands Prix within seven days: in the European GP, Joan Mir claimed what is still his only MotoGP victory, with teammate Alex Rins finishing 2nd. Their Suzukis, like their rivals, were equipped with the new Brembo GP4 caliper, the first to introduce cooling fins on the outer body, delivering improved heat dissipation.
That year also saw a reduction in the amount of fluid inside the braking system, in order to decrease lever sponginess and ensure more consistent performance.
The Comeback
All 26 premier-class GPs held at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo have been won by bikes equipped with Brembo brakes. The inaugural edition in 1999 was secured by Regis Laconi on the WCM Yamaha, after a dominant solo race.
Second place went to Kenny Roberts Jr. on the Suzuki, fitted with the first Brembo radial calipers for the 500cc class, which allowed him to fight back and then overtake Tadayuki Okada and Garry McCoy, both forced to reduce their pace due to their axial-mounted calipers: radial calipers provide superior performance and enhanced braking feel.