Moto Gp Tickets for Catalunya (Spain) Grand Prix Race

Here at SM, we actually find the Moto GP a darned sight more entertaining than Formula One. While the four-wheeled version is often little more than a monotonous parade around a track, where the speed with which you can change a tyre is often as crucial as anything else, bike racing is unpredictable to the end, with drama and changes of positions on every lap.

And there are few better places to watch it than here in Catalunya, one of the hotbeds of the sport, and where there is plenty of local interest in all three categories.
Italy’s Valentino Rossi, the 7th highest earning sportsperson in the world. missed out on an eighth world championship last season in a thrilling finale to Nicky Hayden. But 2007 has seen a poor title defence to date for the American, who is not even in the top ten, with Spain’s young hopeful Dani Pedrosa having the better of the Honda performance.

A local lad from Sabadell, Pedrosa became the youngest ever winner at both the 125cc and 250cc levels before moving up to the top category last season, and finishing a respectable fifth However, t^e Catalans are expecting a lot more than that from him this time round The other Spaniard also hails from these parts. Fortuna Yamaha’s Toni Elias is a member of a family from Manresa with a huge biking tradition, and he secured his maiden Moto GP victory in Estoril, Portugal, last October.

But top of the pile in the 800cc Moto GP category is Sete Gibernau’s replacement at Ducati. Australia’s Casey Stoner, who failed to win a race in his debut season in 2006, but this time has already won in Qatar. Turkey and China.
In the two lower categories, there is even more local interest, with no fewer than four Spanish riders in both top tens.

Mallorca born Jorge Lorenzo is already a massive 32 points clear of nearest challenger Dovizioso in 250cc. This guy is showing just as much promise as Pedrosa as the country continues to produce biking talent as easily as it produces cheap daytime television. Lorenzo became the youngest ever rider in a Grand Prix when he made his debut in 2002 on his 15th birthday, and in 2006 he become the 2nd youngest Champion in the history ot the 250cc Motorcycle World Championship.

Alvaro Bautista, meanwhile, is from Talavera de la Reina, Castile-La Mancha, Hector Barbera is from Dos Aguas and Julian Simon is from Toledo.

In the 125cc category, Spain as usual has a weaith of riders, although the likes of Faubel, Gadea and Olive have all been around for a few years now without ever suggesting they will be gunning for much bigger things. So, the two tc really look out for are the youngsters. Pol Esrargaro and Esteve Rabat both of whom have omy just reached the namer side of puberty.

So, that’s the Moto GP. Now, whatever you do, don’t forget the sunglasses and suntan oil. If it’s sunny on Sunday, you’re going to feel that heat big time.

Also, if you can make it, the Circuit offers spectators with a three-day ticket the chance to visit the pit-lane on Thursday 7th June, from 16.00 to 19.00.

Buy some tickets for the Catalunya Grand Prix here!

Laporta expresses satisfaction

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta is very happy with the outcome of Barça’s weekend encounter at Calderon and has asserted Barça’s stake on the La Liga title.

Laporta showed clear satisfaction with the result of the Aletico match and said the game only show-cased Barcelona’s unique capabilities. He further made known his clear desire to achieve victory in the three remaining matches, with faith that doing so will secure the La Liga title.
He said three straight wins will be their focus and no focus shall be given to results from other teams matches.

We saw a great team today that should be rightful champions. We deserve to win the title.

FC Barcelona - Getafe Tickets

You can’t miss this match!!!!

Buy your FC Barcelona Tickets for this match here. We have the very last ones!

Giant sculptures by Igor Mitoraj, on the street

The exhibition of sculptures on the street is complemented by an exhibition of marble and drawings at the CaixaForum

Cracked, fragmented and eroded. This is how Igor Mitoraj sees mankind today. His sculptures are on the Rambla de Catalunya, between Gran Via and Consell de Cent until 1 July.The large scale sculptures by Mitoraj have been put on the street in order to bring art closer to the general public. “The sculptures convert the public space in Barcelona into an exhibition hall for a while”, said the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, in the presentation of the exhibition. Inspired by the classics The more than twenty sculptures on this central road in the city, visible to all those wandering past, could belong to an ancient fallen civilisation. Many relate Mitoraj’s work with classic Graeco-Roman art. However, the Polish artist, born in Germany, rejected this at the presentation of this exhibition. “I do not follow ancient models”, said Mitoraj, “the heroes are modern, from today”. “This exhibition illustrates my research on our common European culture”, explained the artist. Mitoraj gave his first exhibition in the city in 1989, in the former Sala Gaspar, when he was a little-known, young sculptor. Five years ago there was also an exhibition of his work in the city, with three pieces on Carrer d’Enric Granados. The sculptures appear unfinished, without a final polish, in all the materials used by the artist. The idea of fragmentation and weakness is accentuated in some pieces which Mitoraj wraps in bandages, as if they were Egyptian mummies. To find out more about the work of the artist, a parallel exhibition at the CaixaForum has more than thirty sketches by the artist, and a selection of marble sculptures, to complement that on Rambla de Catalunya.

Anti-Bullfighting Rally

Sunday June 17 at 16 00 from Ramblas to Monumental

This one s not for a while yet but here at Sports Matter we d like to make sure that you know about it in good time and help get as many people along as we can The Monumental is the only operational bullring left in Catalunya, and is desperately struggling to make ends meet even with state funding They are trying to generate more interest r the fiesta national by bringing some of the most respected bullfighters in the lard to a city that we are glad to say. generally has not the slightest interest in this appalling form of entertainment.

Bullfighting should hopefully be out of Barcelona soon. And this demonstration is all about making sure that that s sooner rather than later.

ESPANYOL v SEVILLA UEFA CUP TICKETS

ESPANYOL v SEVILLA Wednesday, May 16, 2007 Hampden Park, Glasgow Kick Off: 20:45 (CET)

Neutrals may complain about a European final being a one-country arfaitr, but both Espanyol and Sevilla thoroughly deserve their place in the limelight after an arduous journey to reach Hampden Park.

For los Periquitos to have progressed through 14 games in the tournament without tasting defeat at at any stage is a testament nit only to their players, but to couch Ernesto Valverde.

Without making many changes to the squad after taking over the reins last summer, the former Athletic Club boss has transformed the fortunes of the club that have forever lived hi the shadow of FC Barcelona.

Progress in the league has been slow in recent seasons and the cup competitions have represented something of an oasis with Espanyol winning the Copa del Rey last term.

Under Valverde though, things have improved on all fronts and any thoughts at’ battling against relegation again this season were soon banished after a confident start to the campaign.

Whether the club would have been challenging for a top six finish had they not had the midweek exhertions in the Europe does not matter, now that they have their first chance of enjoying continental success for the first time in 19 seasons.

Sevilla already have experience of winning the trophy as they are the current holders.

Last season all the Andalusian club’s efforts remained focused on the tournament, but reaching the final this term should be considered an even more remarkable feat as the club has remained in contention tot unique treble.

As well as the 12 European encounters (Sevilla did not have play a qualifying round as holders) Juande Ramos’ team arc battling for the Spanish league title and arc in the Copa del Rey final.

The two clubs met most recently in the league on April 29, with Sevilia securing a 3-l victory, but that cannot be seen as an indicator to the outcome in Glasgow as los Periquitos did not play a full-strength ride.

Back in December, Espanyol won 2-1 at Montjuic so they have shown that they are capable of overcoming their opponents and and will, no doubt , be relishing the label of underdogs after their unbeaten run thus far.

The UEFA Cup may be criticized for lacking the quality of the Champions League, but neither of these sides will care if thee lift the trophy on Wednesday.

Spanish Formula One Grand Prix

Sunday May 13 at 14.00

Arguably the biggest event on the Barcelona sporting calendar comes this weekend, as Alonsomania takes over the city for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló.

We previewed the event in full in our previous issue, but some of our readers may have only just arrived and missed out on that. So, just for them, here’s quick explanation of how to get to Montmeló.

By car: if you have a car. or are an accomplished joy-rider, you want to head out of the city along Avinguida Meridiana and get onto the AP7 for Girona. Montmeló should be marked quite clearly on any road map of the Barcelona area, and if you don’t have one of them, then it really is your own stupid fault if you get lost. Well, actually it’s not, because the Catalans have the daftest motorway numbering system in the world, and the AP7 is likely to call itself something completely different along the way.

If you get to a place where they’re all speaking French, you’ve gone too far, otherwise it’s exit13, sortida in the local lindo, and from there on the circuit is clearly signposted, although you can hardly miss the damnes thing, it’s somewhere at the other end of that massive traffic jam you’re stuck in.

You can get other F1 tickets here for the Monaco Grand Prix

Barcelona Polo Classic

Reial Club de Polo, Saturday May 12 and Sunday May 13

When it comes to sport, things don t come much more spectacular than polo, the hockey on horses that is generally claimed to be one of the oldest sports of all. That isn’t strictly true. polo is just the oldest sport that anybody considered important enough to write about. And you will get few better opportunities to see the sport of kings in the flesh than the Blancpain Polo Classic right here in Barcelona. now in its 39th year and which draws to a close on May 13 Six teams featuring the cream of European and Argentinian talent have been playing in a round-robin league, which concludes on Saturday 12 with the following matches: 11:00 Hackett v Marquard Media 12:30 Sapphire v RCPB Cadillac 14:00 ally v Ruinart Then on Sunday it’s finals day, with the third and fourth place play off at 10.30, the final itself at 12.00 and for some reason, the 5th and 6th place off taking place after the trophy presentations, starting at 13,45.

Barcelona’s Triple Crown of Sailing

Saturday and Sundays from May 12 to May 27

The Zegna Regatta is the first of the three events that make up Barcelona’s ‘triple crown’ of sailing events. with the Trofeo Real Club Nbutico de Barcelona and the Trofeo Conde de Godo being held on the two following weeks. Valencia hosting the Americas Cup may have taken some of the fizz out of this year’s edition, but the organisers are still spouting firth about 2007 being the biggest and best yet and all the usual…

The Zegna is contested by the RN E IMS 670, First Class 8 and Platu 25 classes, the Trofeo RCNB by TP52, Classics. IMS 570 and 670, RN 11213, First Class 8 and Platu 25, and the Godo by TP 52, Classics, IMS 570, RN 1 /2/3 and IMS 670. Hopefully that means something to some of our readers, coz frankly here at SM, we ain’t got a clue what it’s all about.

What we do know is that the place to hang about and watch the boats is the Port Vell (that’ll be the old port, the area around Maremagnum and Barceloneta, it’s fairly easy to spot, the fact that there are loads of boats floating on stuff called water tending to be a fairly big giveaway). The Zegna Regattas start at 10.30, while 12.00 noon is the start time for the others, and for full details, we suggest you go to www.rcnb com (only in Spanish and Catalan).

How to get to Montmeló Circuit

Sunday May 13 at 14.00

Arguably the biggest event on the Barcelona sporting calendar comes this weekend, as Alonsomania takes over the city for the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló.

We previewed the event in full in our previous issue, but some of our readers may have only just arrived and missed out on that. So, just for them, here’s quick explanation of how to get to Montmeló.

By car: if you have a car. or are an accomplished joy-rider, you want to head out of the city along Avnguida Meridiana and get onto the AP7 for Gerona. Montmeló should be marked quite clearly on any road map of the Barcelona area, and if you don’t have one of them, then it really is your own stupid fault if you get lost. Well, actually it’s not, because the Catalans have the daftest motorway numbering system in the world, and the AP7 is likely to call itself something completely different along the way.

If you get to a place where they’re all speaking French, you’ve gone too far, otherwise it’s exit13, sortida in the local lingo, and from there on the circuit is clearly signposted, although you can hardly miss the dames thing, it’s somewhere at the other end of that massive traffic jam you’re stuck in.

By train: Take green line 2 of Cercanias from Sants, Passeig de Gràcia or Clot in the direction of Maçanet-Massanes. the journey takes about 20 minutes and once at the station just follow the crowds (forget the illusion of finding a free taxi). The stroll only takes 20 minutes.

By coach:  Sagales (902 13 00 14 or www.sagales.com) runs a nin-stop coach service from Barcelona to the circuit, costing 6 euros. It leaves from the corner of Passeig Santnt.es/TB06/index.aspx?ID=BCNONLINE&=eng&idEvento=973 Joan and Diputació (just above of Plaça Tetuan), running every 30 minutes from 17.30 to 10.00 on Friday and Saturday, and from 6.30 to 9.00 on Sunday. The return service starts running as soon as the day’s racing is over and the journey takes about 45 minutes.

If you still don’t have a ticket, our pals here will be able to sort you out.