motorbikes

The city council’s plan to award almost 11,000 new licenses is hoped to improve urban mobility

He’s one of the youngest riders to race at the highest level in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, the youngest to win a race at the MotoGP category and unquestionably a youngster with promise. Marc Márquez, who is racing professionally since 2008, is now only twenty years old and is already competing against the greatest motorcycle riders in the world. The youngest pilot to win a race in MotoGP answers some questions for CNA.

The rain that fell on the Catalan capital did not tarnish the first X-Games held in Barcelona, although it did cause a headache for the organisers, who had to juggle with competition schedules and even cancel the RallyCross and Moto X Freestyle competitions. 114,600 people attended the event in total, crowding out the venues in which the different competitions were held.

The Catalan capital is ready to celebrate the first X-Games on European soil. The event, which is being held from May 16th to the 19th, is expected to host 120,000 spectators that will generate an income of 40 million euros for the city of Barcelona. Among international stars like stunt performer Travis Pastrana, the BMX rider Kevin Robinson or the skater Paul Rodríguez, toplevel Catalan stars like rally competitor Nani Roma or the Moto X riders Laia Sanz and Edgar Torronteres will also be present.

Catalan rider Dani Pedrosa won the MotoGP race at Jerez Circuit last Sunday, leaving behind him outstanding rookie Marc Márquez and the current World Champion Jorge Lorenzo. The two Spanish riders were responsible for the confrontation of the day, as their motorbikes collided on the final corner, recently named after Lorenzo, where Márquez stole his second position. The Moto2 category also finished with a Catalan victory led by Esteve Rabat, as well as Moto3, with Maverick Viñales at the top of the podium.

In MotoGP the victory of Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo and Catalan rider Dani Pedrosa’s second spot on the podium riveted the thousands of fans that came to the Catalunya Circuit at Montmeló, as did the victory of Catalan promise Maverick Viñales in the Moto3 category. However, in Moto2 local favourites Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró clashed leaving Espargaró out of the race and Márquez in 3rd position. Victory in the Moto2 category was for Italian Andrea Ianone.

This weekend, Grand Prix motorcycle racing returns to the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló (Greater Barcelona) for the fifth race of the world championship in all three categories. Catalan racers are the favourites at MotoGP, GP2 and GP3 levels based on current form. From the very beginning, Catalonia opted for the motor racing industry. The Catalan circuit has a contract for the motorcycle Grand Prix until 2016 and it has been known recently that the Barcelona City Council and the Provincial Council of Barcelona are going to invest money in order to preserve as much as possible the activities

The Summer X Games are expected to bring 140,000 people and generate an income of €70 million. The world’s most important action sports event, arranged by the U.S. sports broadcaster ESPN and ABC network, will be held in Catalonia’s capital between 2013 and 2015. Barcelona will host the Summer X Games, together with 5 other cities worldwide. The Summer X Games have championships in skateboarding, motocross, car rally and BMX.