We told you so, but it's now official...
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports recently announced the addition of a fifteenth Grand Prix to the 2020 FIM MotoGP™ World Championships calendar, with the event set to take place from November 20-22 and become the season finale .
The venue for the event can now be revealed to be the incredible Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal. A MotoGP™ reserve track since 2017, the circuit will now enter the calendar.
The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve is truly unique, with its characteristic elevation changes and undulating layout that have earned it a reputation as a high-speed roller coaster, a thrilling ride for fans and competitors alike. The track will now welcome MotoGP™ back to Portugal for the first time since 2012, and the event will see Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) race on home turf in the premier class for the first time.
Paulo Pinheiro, general director of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve: “ It’s a great achievement for our team to finally have MotoGP on our circuit! MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorsport on two wheels, and we are very happy to have it. »
« It's been a long process with Dorna, we had an agreement in place since 2017, and finally all the work paid off. Furthermore, having Miguel Oliveira on the MotoGP starting grid, being able to fight for the podium, will be an added asset for this race, and we hope that the Championship will be decided here. »
“We are working to have fans at our race, and we will start with a capacity of 30.000 fans for the race weekend, then we will decide with Dorna and the health authorities on the next steps. »
“We can't express how happy we are to have this race. »
Carmelo Ezpeleta, general manager of Dorna Sports: “This is big news for us, we signed an agreement in 2017 with Portimao to be the reserve circuit for any type of cancellation, and we have been in contact with them all this time. We went to Portimão with the Superbike and we think it's an incredible possibility for us, and the agreement also foresees that the track will be resurfaced after the Superbike round. When we explained this to the drivers, they were excited because they had seen the track on TV, but we had never been there. »
“Portugal has a long history in our sport and there have been some historic battles in Estoril. It is something very good for us to have the possibility of returning to Portugal, especially with the participation of Miguel Oliveira, because it is great to have a Portuguese rider able to compete in his own country. We are extremely happy to be able to race in Portimão at the end of the year. »
Jorge Viegas, president of the FIM: “I am very proud that MotoGP returns to my country eight years after the last Grand Prix, which took place at the Circuito do Estoril in May 2012. I would like to warmly thank Dorna, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve and the Motorcycle Federation of Portugal for having successfully fulfilled the necessary conditions for the organization of the final of the 2020 FIM Grand Prix World Championship which will take place in Portugal. »
Paddock-GP translation
