MotoGP arrives in Europe – All schedules for the Portuguese GP

After starting in Qatar, the MotoGP World Championships head to Europe for the first time in 2024 for the Portuguese GP next weekend. Once again, the race will take place at the Algarve International Circuit.

In MotoGP, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) leads the championship after his victory in Losail, but he is only two points ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and three points ahead of Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati). In a track with fewer straights and more twists, other manufacturers aim to be closer, such as Aprilia where Aleix Espargaró has already shown in Qatar that he can reach the podium under ideal conditions.

There is also curiosity to see what Marc Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GasGas Tech3/KTM) do on a new circuit for both of them on their current bikes – especially in the case of the youngest of the Spaniards, who has never competed in Portimão in the premier class. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac/Ducati) returns to the place where he had a spectacular accident at the end of January. As for Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing/Aprilia), he will be the home rider, arriving at this GP eager to improve on the disappointing 15th place in Doha.

The Qatar GP was somewhat surprising in Moto2, with the victory of Alonso López (Sync Speed Up/Boscoscuro) ahead of Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP/Kalex) and Sergio García (MT Helmets-MSi/Boscoscuro). The main title contenders finished in lower positions, including Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo/Kalex), Arón Canet (Fantic/Kalex), and without scoring Fermín Aldeguer (Sync Speed Up/Boscoscuro) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS/Kalex). All of them will try to react to the less than ideal result at the beginning of the year.

As for Moto3, there was a very close field in Qatar, led by two title contenders: David Alonso (CFMoto Aspar), who won, and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GasGas). However, there are many more riders who can and will try to shine, including Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Iván Ortolá (MT Helmets-MSi/KTM) or even José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who retired in Qatar and did not translate his potential into a result.