MXGP of Bulgaria - Sevlievo in Bulgaria.

Wednesday 20 March: It is simply known as the best facility in the sport of Motocross. We are not talking in Europe, but the whole World. Geoff Meyer writes for Youthstream.

Sevlievo in Bulgaria.

It was more than a decade ago that we visited this magnificent facility for the first time, and each and every time we return it seems like an oasis in this very traditional country.The circuit situated on the side of a hill is hard pack, but always well prepared and offers 100% viewing for the public and paddock. A hotel is built inside the paddock and the media centre is like the facility itself the best in the World of Motocross.

Sevlievo has also seen some amazing battles in the last ten years, and it has also seen its tragedy. Like the terrible accident of Pit Beirer, his recovery and return to the circuit a couple of years later was a welcome sight for everyone involved.

The village of Sevlievo is a mighty contrast to the circuit, with horse and carriage often the way of travel for the locals. The quiet city always welcomes the FIM World Motocross Championship riders and teams and flying into the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, and visiting the big city is always a pleasant affair for everyone.

On April 20 and 21 the fifth round of the 2013 FIM World Motocross Championships will be held in Sevlievo, and many of the competitors are looking forward to giving the circuit another challenge. Steven Frossard, Gautier Paulin, Antonio Cairoli and Ken Roczen have had success at this circuit. For Paulin the 2012 event was a huge success.

"I really like this circuit," Paulin said last year. "It is fast and many riders have the same speed, but it's a little like a French circuit and I rode well there in 2012."

Tommy Searle won the MX2 class in 2012 and has often done well in Sevlievo, as has Clement Desalle. Searle has always shown good speed at this race and will enter the 2013 round with a lot of confidence after good results in Qatar and Thailand.
"I don't know what it is, but I have done well in Sevlievo," Searle said. "I won last year and finished second in 2011, plus I had good results prior to that. It is a fast circuit and you have to really work hard, because many riders have the same speed, but I look forward to going there."

One rider who is yet to win in Bulgaria is the 2012 FIM World MX2 Champion Jeffrey Herlings. The question on everyone's lips at this year's event will be can the Dutchman finally get a victory on the circuit where he made his Grand Prix debut in 2011 with a third place finish against Ken Roczen and Searle.

So while we still have to visit Valkenswaard in Holland and Trentino in Italy, the next stop will be Sevlievo and it will be a special one for everyone involved as the circuits celebrates its decade of involvement in the FIM World Motocross Championship.