The circuit hosts many events and is popular for track days and testing by the British Super Bike squads as well as World Super Bike and MotoGP riders. 

Our roving photographer Keith Adcock went along to the Pro Test day at the Cartagena Circuit and captured Michael Dunlop, Bradly Ray and Scott Reading as they took their new machines through their paces.

The circuit is spartan without the usual grandstands and facilities that you would see at most of the UK tracks. Access for the spectator photographer is somewhat limited to the pits and the first few corners. To get a good shot of the riders you will require a step as there is some safety wire in the way.

Of course you can shoot through the wire but when the opportunity to get a clean shot presents itself you are better off taking it. You can make the wire disappear by using a long lens and a wide aperture, however this can limit you to a less than desirable shutter speed what with the bright light in this part of Spain.

Also to get a clean shot through wire you ideally need to be at right angles to the wire limiting your shots for the day. Shooing at an angle to the wire will produce a gray cast to your images. This can be removed in post production but wherever possible shoot over or round where you can.

Michael Dunlop the Northern Irish 18-time Isle of Man Tourist Trophy winner was looking fitter and leaner than he has in the past and looks to be determined to repeat his 2018 TT successes.

Dunlop won three races last year at the TT including the Supersport, Lightweight and Superbike TT Trophies with an average speed of 130mph in the Superbike class over the historic island course.  

He will return to the island this year on the Tyco BMW S1000RR to try and replicate his win with the Tyco team in the Superbike class. He will also be competing in the Senior TT race and racing in his own team of MD Racing for the Superstock and Supersport.

Bradley Ray the Build Base Suzuki rider opened the 2018 British Super Bike season with a double win at Donington Park but never really challenged for the rest of the season. A run of DNF and disappointing results mid season saw him finish up 6th in the Championship.

A 6th in your first season in BSB isn't a bad result but I had high hopes for Ray in 2018. The last time I watched him race was at Mallory Park for the Race of the Year where he was narrowly beaten by 0.128s by Richard Cooper.

Scott Reading who will be riding the Paul Bird Motorsport team Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4 in BSB was also testing at the dusty circuit, supposedly on a Ducati road bike there was a certain amount of skepticism about that around the paddock.  

Reading's PBM team mate this year will be Josh Brookes. We will look forward to capturing him over the mountain at this years BSB round at Cadwell where he always puts on a good show for the spectators.

In my opinion, the Be Wiser Ducatis were the best machines to photograph last year in the BSB Championship. The bright red machine looked to be dominant in the hands of Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne who road for PMB last year until his probable career ending crash at Snetterton.

We will next see the BSB riders at the season opener on the 9th of April at Silverstone for a media and practice day. Round 1 of the championship will be 21 -22 April again at Silverstone, the PistonClick team will be at both events. We will catch up with Michael Dunlop at the IOM TT where the team will bring you a bumper article covering 8 days of the best road racing in the UK.