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Ticket sales for this weekend’s European Grand Prix in Valencia are well up on last year, organisers have revealed.

The race was moved from late August to late June after disappointing crowds in 2009 – and the decision appears to have had the desired effect.

"The city is making an enormous effort but I assume there's a long way to go," F1 commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone said. "The change of date is helping the ticket sales, as well as the signing of Fernando Alonso with Ferrari."

Race promoter Jorge Martinez Aspar confirmed that ticket sales for this weekend's event had gone "well beyond the sales of last year".

"There will not be as many people as in the first year [2008], but it is much better than last year," he added.