Motocross lovers and professionals in Malaga and Cadiz used to find it difficult to train and compete because the nearest circuit for both provinces was in Villanueva del Trabuco. However, in September last year a group of enthusiasts opened the new Costa del Sol Motocross Track in the municipality of Casares, near Estepona. They have launched a school and club on this sizeable piece of land and hope it will become a benchmark for Spanish and international off-road motorbike racing.

Mauro Vázquez is one of the founding members who, with another seven friends who are motocross lovers, decided they were tired of having to travel so far to practise their favourite sport and embarked upon this adventure, which has required considerable investment. The land is rented from a private owner and a large part of the investment has been in acquiring the equipment necessary to improve and expand the tracks.

At present there is a 1.5-kilometre professional track and another, which is one kilometre long, for children. A further four are being built, and when those are completed there will be beginners' and intermediary tracks for children, and four for adults: professional, intermediary, supercross and dirt track.

“This won't be just a motocross circuit; it is going to be a complex for motor sports,” explains Mauro Vázquez. There will be an area where children can be initiated into the world of two-wheeled motor sports, and at the moment they have a motocross school taught by Gabi Villada. The owners expect the complex to be completed next month.

They are currently discussing a date to host a trial for the Andalusian Motocross Championship and a provincial one, and trying to organise one for the Spanish Championship later this year.

Motocross is very popular in the area. “Ever since we opened people have been telling us they have bought another motorbike, after having sold theirs because they were fed up with travelling at least two hours by car to the nearest circuit,” says Mauro.

Between Ceuta and Malaga there is no permanent professional track where fans can practise, which is why this one is proving so successful. Now the official season is over, drivers are looking for places in which to train and Casares, with its enviable climate, is the focus of attention for foreign motocross fans.

“Numerous foreign riders have come for pre-season training,” says Mauro Vázquez, “most of them from Holland, Sweden, the UK and Finland.” These professionals and their teams spend long periods of time on the Costa del Sol, normally until April, but the facilities are open to everybody for 15 euros a day.

At present the complex is open Wednesdays (2pm to 6pm), and Saturdays and Sundays (9am to 4pm) and users must have accident insurance.