International Motocross Race Returns to Tenerife

Racers across the world are only a white flag away from the hottest motocross event of the winter. Tenerife, the largest of the seven Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, will soon host the fifth annual Motocross Internacional de Tenerife-GoldenTyre Trophy.

Europe's best and brightest motocrossers will converge on Tenerife to heat up December with the Motocross Internacional de Tenerife-GoldenTyre Trophy. This year's event will be held from the 7th until the 9th of December on the track of St. Miguel de Abona.

An estimated 7,000 people attended last year's thrilling super final, as Spaniard Jonathan Barragan successfully defended his 2005 title. After crashing in his qualifying session and the second MX1 moto, Barragan did battle with Italian Alex Salvini and MX1 rider Cedric Melotte for the ultimate victory.

Barragan, a KTM factory rider, was in the lead at the outset of the race, but Melotte and Salvini made it a tough race. Salvini was actually in the lead with Melotte in second place with three laps to go. Melotte then tried to overtake Salvini, resulting in a crash that ultimately gave the title to Barragan. Salvini restarted quickly and secured second place, and fellow Italian Davide Guarneri took third.

Last year's race consisted of four thrilling heats, two in the MX1 class and two in the MX2 class. The best 15 riders from each class qualified for the superfinal. However, this year's contest will be organized in a considerably different manner. This year's Motocross Internacional de Tenerife-GoldenTyre Trophy will only have one open class for riders of all categories. Taking place on Saturday, this open class will qualify contestants for Sunday's race, which will feature three heats of 20 minutes plus two laps each. The combined results of all three heats will determine the final winner. The first five riders overall will receive a cash prize and amount of the prizes to be awarded totals a whopping 10,000 euros.

Motocross enthusiasts not only love the race, they also love the island. Tenerife is known for its beautiful climate, which attracts nearly three and a half millions tourists a year to its scenic 2,034 square kilometers. Most of Tenerife's tourism comes from the United Kingdom, followed by Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Italy and France, among many others. The island is home to many beautiful resorts, including the Playas de las Americas and Los Cristianos. In fact, recent legislation was passed to ensure that any future resort construction must either be of five-star status or offer resort luxuries like golf courses or banquet facilities.

Tenerife's Costa Adeje, the area that includes Las Americas and Los Cristianos, offers many wonderful opportunities for recreation and sightseeing. Outstanding shopping, 9 beautiful golf courses, fine dining, water parks, zoos, and a magnificent theater that often features great musicals and of course the natural beauty of sun and sand on Tenerife's gorgeous beaches are all attractions you will find there.

Tenerife's northern section contains the tourist hub of Puerto de la Cruz. The town maintains its old harbour roots, while offering a distinct flavour of modernity. It is charming as well as cosmopolitan. Large and beautiful hotels dot its skyline and it is home to El Carnavel every year on Ash Wednesday. The city also hosts the comical "La Sardinada," a summertime festival devoted to sardines, which in recent years has become very popular for tourists. The event even involves mock mourners in drag burying a giant sardine.

While you will not find any giant papier-mache sardines at the fifth-annual Motocross Internacional de Tenerife-GoldenTyre Trophy races, you will find thrilling world-class motocross competition. The Spanish isle of Tenerife will host some of the most exciting moments in motocross racing this winter. Racing enthusiasts are in for a treat when they explore the rest of this beautiful island after the races are over as well.