The Circuit Ricardo Tormo is holding its traditional Racing Legends this weekend, commemorating the 2006 Valencian Community MotoGP Grand Prix and its winner, Troy Bayliss. In addition, hundreds of classic vehicles have gathered at the Circuit for the 12th edition of Racing Legends.
To mark the twentieth anniversary of the 2006 Valencian Community Grand Prix, the Circuit has paid tribute to Troy Bayliss, winner of that year’s MotoGP race. Bayliss secured victory in that race, where Valentino Rossi, who arrived as championship leader, crashed, and Nicky Hayden was crowned world champion. The Australian rider was scheduled to attend, but the conflict in the Middle East made it impossible for him to travel and receive the Circuit’s tribute.
As part of the tribute to the 2006 Grand Prix, a discussion panel was held with television commentator Miguel Ángel Roselló, former riders Rubén Xaus and Juan Bautista Borja, four-time world champion Jorge Martínez Aspar, and Circuit General Director Nicolás Collado.
“Rossi thought the World Championship was won; he arrived with great confidence, but also under a lot of pressure, while Hayden arrived in a very different situation. Bayliss came from Superbike, with nothing to lose, to compete in the last MotoGP race of the season with Ducati. He was very motivated, it was a favorable track for him and for the Ducati, he had ridden here a lot… Everything came together, he was very competitive, he didn’t make a single mistake and led from start to finish, something that wasn’t so common at that time,” recalled Rubén Xaus, who was Bayliss’s teammate in Superbikes.
Jorge Martínez Aspar recalled the victories of Álex de Angelis in 250cc and Héctor Faubel in 125cc. “Also, that year we achieved our first team title, with Álvaro Bautista in 125cc. At Circuit Ricardo Tormo, things have always gone well for us, and I hope they continue to do so,” said the four-time Valencian world champion.
“The 2006 Grand Prix was experienced with special enthusiasm. Hayden’s title was something we didn’t expect. We all thought Rossi was going to win, and everything was prepared for it, but that’s motorcycling,” commented Circuit Director Nicolás Collado.
Throughout the day, the Circuit hosted various exhibitions of classic motorcycles, Grand Prix motorcycles, classic cars, and trucks, in what is the largest gathering of classic vehicles in the Valencian Community.
On Sunday, the Circuit will pay tribute to Jaume Masià, Moto3 world champion in 2023. The rider from Algemesí will unveil his bust at the Circuit roundabout, a discussion panel on Valencian motorcycling champions will be held, and the Classic Motorcycle races and the Regularity Trophy will take place.
