Let's talk MotoGP: Don't take your eyes off them in Portugal!

The MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix is ​​fast approaching. The second round of the 2024 championship promises to be... interesting, at least, if not spectacular on the track. Indeed, since 2020, we cannot say that Portimao offers us great races but all the same; given the Qatari promises, there is something to dream about. In this article, we'll look at a few specific things to keep a close eye on.

 

At home services

 

Miguel Oliveira has revenge to take with his circuit. Big winner here in 2020 for the very first, he has never managed to repeat this feat since. However, last year, a crazy start allowed him to take the lead after the first round. Then, he was heckled, and then cut by Marc Marquez. The Portuguese, at Aprilia Trackhouse Racing, remains an eminently surprising rider who should never be overlooked. Even if he is far away in qualifying, an exercise which very rarely succeeds for him – he only has one pole in MotoGP, carried out in Portimao in 2020, he is able to move ahead quickly and compete for victory with the best drivers in the world. Will he take his revenge?

 

 

In Portugal as elsewhere

 

Would I do you the affront of telling you to take a look in the GasGas Tech3 box to monitor Pedro Acosta there ? I think this is almost unnecessary. This is his second Grand Prix at the highest level, after a superb performance in the opening round. Clearly, he can do better, and his escalation in the hierarchy is only a matter of time.

 

Maverick must get out of the herd

 

Last year, Maverick Vinales was quite convincing at Portimao. Second in the main race, he had a lot of pace on a track that rewards the efforts of Aprilia engineers in terms of aerodynamics. So, obviously, we have to keep an eye on No. 12. We know how disappointing he is usually, but he too, with a good qualification, or a good start, can prove extremely dangerous. Be careful at the end of the race, because he has a gift for coming back strong in the last moments.

 

 

The French can hurt

 

Johann Zarco as fabio quartararo have their cards to play this weekend. For the first, first of all, it's a circuit that suits him rather well. He took pole here in 2022, before finishing second on Sunday. Last year, he rewarded us with a sumptuous fourth place thanks to a crazy comeback a few laps before the checkered flag was presented. This track, historically, is not so unfavorable to the Honda RC213V – Joan Mir recorded an 11th place there for her first Sunday outing aboard the Japanese in 2023 – so there is hope. For the second, our only world champion, it's more tense. He also performed on this track. In 2022, precisely, he was the author of one of the greatest solo rides of recent years, completed five full seconds ahead of Zarco. Discussions with Aprilia are going well, but he will not be the only one to claim the beautiful Italian. Contracts are signed earlier and earlier; it is therefore an opportunity to remember who he is. It won't be easy, but getting beaten by Alex Rins wouldn't improve his rating, which has already objectively weakened since 2021.

 

 

Another revenge to take

 

Oliveira was unlucky in 2023. Marquez's action immobilized him for half a season, but he was not the only one to suffer bad luck in Portugal. Enea Bastianini, hit by Luca Marini's motorcycle – who had also fallen, had missed the majority of the 2023 financial year. This accumulated delay did not allow him to return to his form of 2022, when he was still able to compete. compete for victory at Pecco Bagnaia on a regular basis. After the Qatar GP, he himself was already thinking about Portugal. In Australia, last year, he said, when he was at his worst, that he could win a race before the end of the season. This was done in Malaysia. Can he claim a new feat, on the circuit that crowned him Moto2 world champion in 2020? Answer in a few days.

 

 

Others are to follow, of course, such as Marc Marquez, with another revenge to take where he achieved his last pole position, Pecco Bagnaia, double winner here in 2023, or Jorge Martin, who has only experienced retirements on this track since his arrival in MotoGP.

Who do you have in your sights for this second round? Tell me in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport