The Barcelona Superprestigio has proven to be a popular staple of the winter break. The indoor flat track race, which takes place at the Palau Sant Jordi, is returning for its fourth edition on December 17th.
Once again, the stars of the MotoGP, World Superbikes and Endurance will take on the cream of dirt track and off-road disciplines. Former winners Marc Marquez and Brad Baker face off for the fourth time.
The event follows the formula which has been so successful in the past. The field is divided into two classes: the Superprestigio class, which features some of the best asphalt riders in the world; and the Open class, in which the best of the off-road world will compete.
Marc Marquez leads the Superprestigio class, which also features his brother Alex, former Moto2 champion and current AMA Superbike rider Toni Elias, World Superbike stars Jordi Torres and Xavi Fores, former World Superbike star Ruben Xaus, World Endurance star Vincent Philippe, Moto2 men Xavi Vierge, Marcel Schrotter and Xavier Simeon, and Moto3 stars Fabio Di Giannantonio, Joan Mir and Jorge Martin.
The Open class features riders from a wide range of off-road disciplines. Brad Baker is the main attraction, the former AMA Flat Track Grand Champion having attended every edition so far.
Baker’s AMA rival Jared Mees had intended to compete, but the American broke a collarbone while training, and will not be fit in time.
Baker will face Speedway World Cup winner Fredrik Lindgren, former Supermoto champions Tom Chareyre and Sylvain Bidart, former Enduro junior world champion Oriol Mena, and a host of top European dirt trackers, including Ferran Cardus, Ollie Brindley, Allan Birtwistle, and Australian newcomer Tom Edwards.
The race is to be held at the Palau Sant Jordi, as it has been for the past four years. The indoor arena was originally built as part of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics complex, and sits atop the Montjuic hill, the site of the Spanish Grand Prix in 1968.
Practice starts on Saturday morning at 11am, while doors open for the main racing at 4:30pm, with the first race due to kick off at 6:30pm. The Superfinal, in which the best riders from the Open class face the best of the Superprestigio class, closes out the night at 9:10pm.
The show is to be streamed live on the MotoGP.com website, as well as on Youtube, and the Superprestigio website with live commentary from WorldSBK commentator Greg Haines.
A full time schedule is on the Superprestigio DTX Barcelona website, as well as a full entry list and news and updates. Tickets for the event start at €22, and can be purchased from the RPM Ticket website. As we have done every year, we will be on the scene and reporting from the event.
Photo: © 2016 Steve English – All Rights Reserved
This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.
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