Spain

Once away from the costas, you could only be in Spain.

In the cities, narrow twisting old streets suddenly open out to views of daring modern architecture, while spit-and-sawdust bars serving wine from the barrel rub shoulders with blaring, glaring discos.

- Read more destination guides with Lonely Planet

Date: 8 June 2008
Venue: Catalunya
Track length: 4727m
Laps: 25
Race length: 118.175km
2007 winner: Casey Stoner (Ducati)

The circuit de Catalunya boasts the fastest section on the MotoGP calendar where riders on the start/finish straight can hit speeds of more than 320kmh. However, this is offset by a number of slow sections and a series of corners that riders negotiate at speeds below 85kmh, providing a real contrast over its 4727m. There have been 12 Catalunya Grands Prix and Valentino Rossi has won five of them.

MotoGP 2008 racing calendar