Portimao, no one around

The Algarve International Circuit became the first stop this weekend in the European territory of the MotoGP World Championship, which hosts the Portuguese GP. Three appointments have been held so far at the Autodromo located in the Algarve with achievements for three different riders and brands, Oliveira for KTM in 2020, Quartararo for Yamaha and Bagnaia for Ducati in two events organized in 2021 .

After the first two editions of the Portuguese GP, they performed in Jarama (1987) and Jerez (1988), races signed by Eddie Lawson in the 500cc. Between 2000 and 2012 it was held at the Estoril circuit with great moments for Spanish motorcycling such as Toni Elías’s win over Valentino Rossi of two thousand (2006) or the first MotoGP victory of the last three -time champion. Jorge Lorenzo (2008).

After a long absence, the Portuguese GP is back on the MotoGP calendar in 2020 thanks to a reorganization caused by the pandemic and the Algarve International Circuit has become one of the tracks to come ‘to the rescue’ with local hero Miguel Oliveira as the first winner. In 2021, they held the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao, also as the start of the European tour, and returned ‘to the rescue’ with a second appointment, the Algarve GP, as the penultimate event after the Asian-Ocean events collapsed due to pandemic. Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Portuguese GP) and Italian Pecco Bagnaia (Algarve GP), would-be champion and runner-up, won those races. Starting in 2023, Portimao will replace four Spanish circuits, making them three annual events for the entire Iberian Peninsula.

KTM, Yamaha and Ducati shared the MotoGP victories in Portimao and Suzuki was the fourth brand to come out on the honor roll thanks to Joan Mir with a podium finish after Bagnaia in the last race held and after Quartararo and Bagnaia itself in first in 2021 appointment Bagnaia, Mir and Miller have been on the podium twice.

The circuit chosen by Marc Márquez for his comebacks

The Portimao was the circuit that Marc Márquez chose to return to the Grand Prix in 2021 after his long injury to his right arm and to also test himself on an RC213V-S, a 215 hp machine similar to the MotoGP Honda, then of his diplopia here. last winter. This time the appointment to Portimao after a shot of confidence after showing his speed in Austin where he returned from last spot in the race due to a technical failure early in the sixth final after a good match of the champions with Fabio Quartararo.

Oliveira, the GP claims

This Wednesday, from 4 to 6 pm local time, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider and local hero, Miguel Oliveira, will move with his MotoGP RC16 from the city of Portimao to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Before starting, Miguel will greet all the fans and supporters on stage, where Isilda Gomes, the mayor of Portimao, will give him a special helmet for his home GP so he can start guiding a group of Portuguese fans to their own motorcycles on the 30 minute drive on rural roads.

This is the first time MotoGP fans will be able to ride side by side with their hero on a MotoGP bike. Once the caravan reaches the Portimao circuit, Miguel and all the drivers will be guided along the asphalt track, where they can follow him on a (slow) lap of reconnaissance. The event will culminate in the main ending, where Oliveira will stop her bike (and everyone next) to take a selfie.