The world speed motorcycling championship returns to Europe for the first time since 2006. The 2023 Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix will kick off the season at Algarve International Circuit in Portimao.
It promises to be an exciting start to the year, thanks to new sprint races held ahead of each grand prix. Similar in concept to World Superbike’s Superpole Race and Formula 1’s sprint format, they’re designed to bring more excitement on Saturdays.
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
Located in Portimao, Portugal, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is one of Europe’s most impressive race circuits. The facility opened in 2008, and has since hosted regular motoring events including the World Superbike Championship, Formula One and a number of international races.
In addition to the main circuit, the facility also boasts a technology park, a sports complex and a five-star hotel. It has even branched out into the world of go-karting, and is open to visitors all year round!
The track is situated in the heart of the Algarve region and has a wide range of facilities that are designed to help you have the best possible experience. If you are looking to make the most of your holiday, then a trip to the track is definitely something worth considering!
You can book a tour of the track to see it in action, or you can try your hand at go-karting yourself. All you need to do is provide your own helmet, gloves and racing shoes, and you can get started in no time!
If you want to be able to enjoy your time at the track in style, you can book a VIP Village pass. This allows you to take part in all the activities that are on offer, and will ensure you get a good seat for the event!
A MotoGP Grand Prix is a highly anticipated event for all fans of the sport. It is a chance to see some of the most skilled riders in the world as they battle it out for top positions. The Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix is a fantastic opportunity for you to see the sport in action, and it is sure to be an unforgettable experience!
The race will be held on 26 March 2023. The first round of the new season is expected to be a great success, and it is sure to draw in thousands of fans from across the globe.
With so much going on, you will need to get organised and plan ahead if you want to have a great time at the Portuguese Grand Prix. There are lots of ways to prepare for the big day, from organising your travel to choosing tickets and VIP Village passes.
The Circuit
The circuit at Portimao – known as Autodromo Internacional do Algarve – is nestled in the heart of Portugal’s beautiful Algarve region. The 100,000-capacity track has been a key part of the European motorsport scene since 2008, but it is much more than just a racetrack. It is a sports complex, technology park and hotel with plenty to offer fans visiting the circuit.
The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve opened in 2008, with World Superbike racing taking place there for the final round of that year. It was the first time the circuit had hosted a grand prix.
This year the opening round of the MotoGP season will be in Europe, and series organiser Dorna has announced that it will be held at the stunning Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. The event will run over the 24th to 26th March, marking the first European round to open the championship in the last six years.
As well as being the opening round of the MotoGP season, the race will also be the debut of a new sprint race format for the sport. This will add a new attraction to Saturday’s grand prix, and aims to create more hype around the events.
It’s a similar concept to that of World Superbike and Formula 1’s sprint races, which have become hugely popular in recent years. They take place on the Saturday afternoons of each of the Grand Prix weekends, running over 50% of the distance of the Sunday race, and offering half-points to the winners.
Riders will have longer free practice sessions on Friday, with 45 minutes for FP1 and 1 hour for FP2. The top ten in these two sessions will qualify for Q2, which will be used to decide the grid for both the Saturday sprint and the Sunday grand prix.
Following on from the success of World Superbike and Formula 1, a sprint format is set to be introduced in 2023, with the addition of this feature aiming to make the weekend more exciting. The new sprints will be held over 50% of the distance of the main grand prix and will award points to the first nine riders.
The Schedule
After a successful visit to the Algarve International Circuit in 2020, MotoGP is back at the Portuguese track for 2023. As the opening race of the season, it promises to be an exciting affair with new riders and machinery on display at this stunning venue.
The first race of the MotoGP season is due to take place in Portugal on March 26th. It is the only event to take place on the European continent, and a first-time appearance at Portimao means it’s set to be a real treat for fans.
As usual, the opening day of the race will feature practice sessions that are live on Kayo and Fox Sports. The first session will be held at 6:55pm on Friday evening, with the second session at 11:10pm on Saturday. The lights will go out for the main event at 10pm on Sunday.
Despite a damp start to the opening MotoGP session of 2023 in Portugal, new Gresini Ducati rider Alex Marquez led the field through the opening laps. Marquez was followed by factory Honda riders Joan Mir and Brad Binder. KTM’s Alex Rins made his debut for the LCR Honda team, while Pol Espargaro (Tech3 GASGAS) and Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli also lined up in the top 10.
There was no surprise as to who finished where in Qualifying 1 on Saturday, with Marc Marquez leading the way ahead of Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantoni. Pol Espargaro suffered major injuries from a nasty crash in the opening practice session on Friday, which saw him ruled out of the rest of the weekend.
The inaugural sprint race for the 2023 MotoGP season will take place in the afternoon, and will feature a smaller distance than Sunday’s grand prix. The first nine riders to finish will earn half points, which have no bearing on the final grid for the grand prix.
The first sprint race of the 2023 season is the first event in a series of 21 sprint races that will be held on Saturdays for half the grand prix distance, with the winner classified separately to their record-breaking victory from the previous season. The shortened distance and lower number of laps should result in less fuel use and tyre wear, so this could be the perfect opportunity for riders to run flat out for a quick win.
The Final Words
The roar of two-wheeled engines filled the air as MotoGP returned to Europe for the first time in over three years, with the stunning Autodromo Internacional do Algarve kicking off the new 2023 season. The event will be held across the 24th-26th March weekend, with the rest of the series’ calendar yet to be revealed.
It’s a busy start to the year for the GP paddock, with two races in the Americas on the cards next week, before the first round of European racing in Jerez, Spain. After that, there’s a three-week break before the Valencia GP in November, which marks the 75th anniversary of motorcycling’s World Championship.
While the riders have been working hard on their bikes, the professional engineers and mechanics have been hard at work at the race track, ensuring that all the machinery is in the best possible condition for each race. The MotoGP series is a demanding sport that requires a lot of skill, dedication and effort to succeed.
With that in mind, it’s easy to see why Honda has been such a dominant force in the history of the sport. After all, the company has won a total of more than 800 Grand Prix victories and 130 Riders and Constructors World Championships.
In 2023, Honda will look to continue its incredible run of success with Marc Marquez, who has won the past six titles, as well as Alex Rins and Jack Miller, both of whom have joined the factory satellite team, LCR Honda Castrol. Both of these riders have shown strong progress over the course of the pre-season tests and have been given plenty of time to learn the RC213V’s handling and set-up.
One of the big talking points at this week’s Portugal test has been the progress Aprilia has made with its aerodynamic setup. Its RS-GP was wheeled out with new front fork-mounted wings, strakes hanging off the swingarm and a t-wing on the seat unit, all of which is being spearheaded by former Minardi, Benetton and Ferrari aerodynamicist Marco de Luca.
The Italian manufacturer is also looking to take some more aero from its rear wing and is hoping that this will help it keep up with the other Japanese manufacturers. The RS-GP is one of the most impressive machines in the sport and will be a tough fight to beat, but it will need to get better at braking and a lot of other aspects of its performance.
