Even on race day, the most crowded of the annual events held here (there are also NASCAR and Motorcycle races), you can move pretty freely around the place, which has a county fair-like ambiance, with plenty of food, merchandise and booze stands and trailers everywhere you turn.

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Stoner, who plans to retire at the end of this season, was also disappointed -- having won the previous four races held at Spanish circuits.

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Hotels and tourism also get a boost as more international flights arrive, given that certain flyaway events (the races held outside Europe) sell at least 50 percent of their tickets to foreigners.

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