Portimao confirmed for 2020 MotoGP finale

The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, aka Portimao, will host the fifteenth and final round of this year’s FIM Grand Prix World Championship after the FIM and Dorna confirmed on 10 August that Portugal will wrap up the coronavirus-impacted 2020 MotoGP season.

To be held on 20-22 November, the finale will be the first ever MotoGP round at Portimao and the first time since 2012 that MotoGP has been held in Portugal. Back then, Estoril hosted the round and Casey Stoner was the race winner in what was his farewell season in MotoGP.

Located in southern Portugal, Portimao has regularly hosted World Superbikes since its inauguration in 2008, but has yet to host MotoGP, despite serving as a “reserve” track for the championship since 2017.

With a single long straight and 15 turns – nine right, six left – Portimao is perhaps closest to Valencia or Catalunya in configuration, but its elevation changes set it apart from both those tracks. The 4.658km circuit is part of a broader sports and commercial complex that includes a karting track, luxury hotel, apartments and technology park.

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta: “We’ve been to Portimao with Superbike and we think it’s an amazing possibility for us. Also in the agreement is that the track will be resurfaced after the Superbike round. When we explained this to the riders, they were excited because they’ve seen the track on TV, but we’ve never been there.”

While unconfirmed at this stage, the Portimao circuit administrators hope to have 30,000 fans at the 100,000-seat capacity venue, but this remains subject to Dorna and relevant health authorities’ approval.

In the handful of rounds held so far, MotoGP’s COVID-19 safety protocols have been effective, so barring any fresh coronavirus outbreaks in Europe, this calendar now seems solid.

2020 MotoGP calendar (as of 10 August, 2020*)

Round   Dates               Grand Prix                    Circuit

Rd01    06-08 Mar         Qatar**                         Losail International Circuit

Rd02    17-19 Jul          Spain                            Jerez

Rd03    24-26 Jul          Andalucía                      Jerez

Rd04    07-09 Aug         Czech Republic             Brno

Rd05    14-16 Aug         Austria                         Spielberg

Rd06    21-23 Aug         Styria                            Spielberg

Rd07    11-13 Sep         San Marino                   Misano

Rd08    18-20 Sep         Emilia Romagna            Misano

Rd09    25-27 Sep         Catalunya                      Barcelona-Catalunya

Rd10    09-11 Oct          France                          Le Mans

Rd11    16-18 Oct          Aragón                         Aragón

Rd12    23-25 Oct         Teruel                           Aragón

Rd13    06-08 Nov         Europe                         Valencia

Rd14    13-15 Nov         Valencia                        Valencia

Rd15    20-22 Nov         Portugal                        Portimao

*Subject to COVID-19 developments and government directives

**Moto2, Moto3 race only

Images: MotoGP