Spanish motocross has a special place in the hearts of motocross fans worldwide. From the very first Grand Prix held at the Ruta circuit in 1962 and won by British rider Arthur Lampkin, until last year’s three rounds in Spain, all won by the World MXGP champion, Jorge Prado. We have seen many historical rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship held in Spain.

Of course, the Sabadell circuit on the outskirts of Barcelona was a stronghold for the 250cc class in the late 1960’s and until the early 1980’s, and many legendary moments occurred at that circuit. Wins by names like Joel Robert, Dave Bickers, Torsten Hallman, Guennady Moiseev, Harry Everts, Heikki Mikkola and Georges Jobe.

None more important than the victory in 1973 by American Jim Pomeroy. On that dusty day in Spain the Bultaco rider became the first American to ever win a Grand Prix. Many more would follow, but Pomeroy still holds a special place in the hearts of the Grand Prix fans in Spain.

Around 20 years later Team USA arrived at the Jerez circuit in the south of Spain and put on one of the most dominating performances in Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations history. Led by Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath, and with support from Jeff Emig and Steve Lamson the American riders went undefeated.

In 2003 another Motocross of Nations was held in Spain after the original circuit, Competition Park in California couldn’t come to terms with the event, and it was postponed. It was run some weeks later at the Bellpuig circuit, and it was Team Italy won with Andrea Bartolini, Alex Puzar and Alessio Chiodi.

Another brilliant moment in Spanish motocross was the performance by Stefan Everts at the Bellpuig circuit in the north of Spain in 2001. Having spent two years on the injury list, and many saying his fine career was more or less over Everts took victory in one of his greatest moments, in a career filled with brilliance.

Beating Joel Smets and Marnicq Bervoets and starting a second part of his illustrious career, Everts would go on to win motocross world championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, one of the most dominant runs in GP history.

For many British fans the 2000 Grand Prix of Spain, held at the Talavera circuit was a special moment. It was the arrival of Ireland’s Gordon Crockard. The Honda backed rider put together 1-4 results for his first GP victory, and it would lead to him becoming a serious contender in 2001, winning another two GP’s and finishing third in the world behind Mickeal Pichon and Chad Reed.

More recently the event has swaps from circuit to circuit, a few years at the Talavera circuit, before disappearing again, but in the last few years the Spanish GP has returned to the calendar at the Circuito Internacional Comunidad de Madrid, intu Xanadú-Arroyomolinos circuit, with home rider Jorge Prado winning in 2020, and also bringing thousands and thousands of Spanish fans back to the sport.

At the same circuit the following year, Jeffrey Herlings won the MXGP class ahead of his two biggest rivals, Jorge Prado and Tim Gajser and in 2022 Maxime Renaux took the win, while Herlings won in 2023, it was a magnificent year from Jorge Prado in 2024, when he won all three Spanish GPs, in Madrid, Lugo and finally Cozar.

That final GP in Cozar also saw Prado be crowned World MXGP champion for the second time and made him a four time World motocross champion, when you include his two MX2 championships.

Now that the muddy Cozar round has been completed a couple of months ago, the series heads to the beautiful area of Lugo, which not only has a great Jorge Prado circuit, but also a city that is just a lot of fun and culture. The history of Spanish motocross continues and you couldn't find a nicer place to do it.