The MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix scheduled to close the season on the Portimao circuit is on the carpet. The fault is this damn COVID-19 which reminds us of bad memories. The country's government authorities have taken stock and regret that, among its 10,3 million inhabitants, the number of new infections has exceeded the 4 mark in the last three days, which is a first since the outbreak of the pandemic. Then, of course, the restrictive measures arrive…
Le Portugal will have had its Formula 1 Grand Prix in Portimao with the public, but nothing is now less certain that the rehearsal will take place in the same place, the 22th November with motorcycles. The Coronavirus is regaining strength and, that is why, from Wednesday, the “ civic duty » asks the population to stay at home if possible.
A measure which already allows us to say that the MotoGP final will take place in front of empty stands. The general manager of the site, Paulo Pinheiro, predicted up to 50 spectators who would have been delighted to applaud their hero Miguel Oliveira, winner of Styrian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 was a bad example
The Prime Minister António Costa declared Saturday duringan extraordinary press conference of the Council of Ministers : " It has already been communicated to the promoter that the Motorcycle Grand Prix will not have an audience, as the inability to organize events with an audience is revealed. We can no longer take risks and therefore it is not allowed ". At least, the head of government did not question the very organization of the meeting...
But we must remain careful, nothing is certain. Indeed, the same Prime Minister clearly criticized the application of security measures on the part of the organizer during the arrival of Formula 1. Previously, the Portuguese health authorities had denounced, among other things, that the supporters did not had not attended the Grand Prix, particularly on Saturday, while respecting the rules of social distancing and that they were not obeying the regulations…
