Five reasons why Cartagena is the perfect winter getaway
After Cartagena for the Triumph Street Triple RS launch, we think the track in Murcia might be just the ticket for some winter fun in the sun
AS the shitty British weather does its best to dampen the spirits of all but the hardiest riders, some will be thinking about ways to get their motorcycle fix without getting soaked to the skin.
If a long drawn out motorcycle tour doesn’t float your motorcycle (or boat), and a little more excitement is needed to quell the winter chills – here are ten reasons that Cartagena might just be your perfect winter biking destination.
5. It’s Spain – which means it’s like here – only warmer, drier and more fun
The Independent reported that 81.8m Brits visited Spain in 2017. And that’s great for us because most of them won’t have been bikers. They’d have been overly-baked octogenarians on the lookout for a full English and ‘proper’ pint of good old Britain – aka Guinness.
But Spain isn’t about rolling around on mobility scooters – it’s about bikes. They bloody love bikes, and they idolise the likes of Marquez, Pedrosa, Viñuales, and Rins. In the UK most pubs (not all though!) roll their eyes when a group of bikers turn up – in Spain, they rub their hands!
4. It’s only 25 minutes from the airport to the track
Nobody likes a long and impatient bus ride when they have bikes to ride. And you’re not in for one if you head to Cartagena for a weekend track-based debauchery. Murcia airport is about a 25-minute transfer from the track and not much more into Cartagena town.
3. Track Temperature!!
The average temperature in Cartagena rarely gets below 10°C – so for us it’s basically always shorts and t-shirt weather! In mid-summer the midday sun will happily sail the mercury into the mid-thirties, possibly making riding on track a less attractive idea. It’s another reason the circuit (or just the south of the country) makes so much sense for a winter jaunt – even in winter it’s like being out on a spring day in the UK!
2. Cheap and cheerful
Unlike many of the GP-spec circuits that you’ll go to, Cartagena isn’t all frills and nice finishes. Yes, it’s got garages, power, restaurant tons of paddock space. But it is a gritty kind of place – think Mallory but less grey!
That lack of corporate bullshit does translate to a good deal for us two-wheeled petrol head though – No Limits have winter sessions with three days on track and accommodation for around £500.
1. It's heaven on sub-1000cc
Cartagena’s layout is great fun. Easy to learn but tricky to master. The mix of slow tricky corners and long fast sweepers are perfect for getting your eye in quickly and then just chipping away at your lap times.
The BSB paddock uses the circuit for winter testing and you can see why when you ride there. It’s like a less green and lush UK track. With lots of areas where you’re braking into another corner carrying lots of lean angle. It also has a lovely first couple of corners that need to be taken as one corner. It only takes a session to get it right but when you do it’s extremely rewarding.
For more information on the track, head to: www.circuitocartagena.es
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
