Germany has always drawn some of the biggest crowds in motorcycle racing and the old ‘East’ Germany has perhaps more than its share of international circuits. Sachsenring is one of them, located 20km west of Chemnitz and 80km south of Leipzig.

When races through the streets of nearby Hohenstein-Ernstthal – the first of which took place in 1927 – became too dangerous, a new, purpose-built circuit was constructed, 4.18km in length and combining four left turns and nine rights. It has held the German GP since 1998.

The drive from Leipzig airport will take just over an hour, while buses and trains run regularly from Chemnitz. Weekend crowds have grown steadily at Sachsenring, with figures in excess of 200,000 not unusual.