Portuguese GP – Timetables, challenges and objectives of the MotoGP Portuguese GP in Portimao –

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Timetables, challenges and objectives of the MotoGP Portuguese GP in Portimao

Portuguese GP - Timetables, challenges and objectives of the MotoGP Portuguese GP in Portimao -

Head to Portugal and the Portimaõ circuit for the MotoGP 2020 final, the last round of this strange season marked by the coronavirus, the absence of Marc Marquez, the failures of Yamaha, the breakthrough of KTM, the end of the duo "Ducati- Dovizioso "and, of course, by the driver and team titles recently acquired by Suzuki thanks to Joan Mir and his GSX-RR! Timetables, challenges and program of the Portuguese GP: beware of the one hour time difference with Lisbon !

The Portimao circuit – officially "Autodromo internacional do Algarve" – ​​is hosting a MotoGP race for the first time on its 4.592 m developed. Wide (18 m) and extremely hilly, this technical and physical track will put a strain on the physical condition and courage of the pilots….

  • MNC file :

The hardest ? Keep the front wheel on the ground under the thrust of the well-packed 280 hp of their prototypes, especially in the spectacular "toboggan" located between turn 8 and 9. MNC has already found himself tackling this frightening descent by wheeling with "simple "production sports bikes: we dare not imagine with a MotoGP !

Inaugurated at the end of 2008, this atypical route has since been surveyed by World Superbike motorcycles, with a lap record of 1’40.372 signed by Jonathan Rea on his Kawasaki ZX-10R. MotoGP should lower this benchmark, as evidenced by the "unofficial" lap times signed during the discovery session held in early October.

Portuguese GP - Timetables, challenges and objectives of the Portuguese MotoGP GP in Portimao -

Several MotoGP riders have indeed come to familiarize themselves with this unknown track, most of them with production bikes: Rossi and Viñales on R1-M, Petrucci and Dovizioso on Panigale V4 Superleggera, Miller on his personal Panigale V4R, Zarco on Panigale V4 "classic ", Alex Marquez on RC213V-S (homologated version of MotoGP: little trickster, go!), Mir and Rins on GSX-R1000 or even Nakagami on CBR1000RR-R.

Only Aleix Espargaro had the "chance" to run with his Grand Prix RS-GP: Aprilia is the only manufacturer to still benefit from regulatory concessions, which allow it, among other things, to run its holders on its prototype during private tests. The Spaniard took the opportunity to go down to 1’40.170 (unofficial chrono), under the mark of Rea… 

These tests had also precipitated the beginning of the end of Jorge Lorenzo’s contract as a Yamaha tester: the Mallorcan appeared in great difficulty due to lack of physical training, accusing up to 5.308 sec on the first day of racing! The n ° 99 finished 3 seconds from the Espargaro lap on the Aprilia: insufficient, even annoying for Yamaha…

Due to the general lack of knowledge of this track, the first free practice session scheduled for Friday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m. (Paris time) has been extended to 70 minutes. The opportunity to recall that a one-hour shift takes place with Portugal: the race scheduled for Sunday starts at 2:00 p.m. Portuguese time, but at 3:00 p.m. French time! 

Mir and Suzuki as boss in the Algarve

This 14th MotoGP race will also take place in a country hit hard by the second wave of Covid-19, which forced the authorities to declare last week a curfew from 1 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekends and 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays… 

Portuguese GP - Timetables, challenges and objectives of the MotoGP Portuguese GP in Portimao -

Let’s hope that this does not upset the organization of this Portuguese Grand Prix too much, even if the paddock remains "confined" anyway without contact with the outside since the start of this strange season in Jerez (Spain). This does not prevent some of its members from contracting the virus, like Valentino Rossi or Iker Lecuona who is replaced by Mika Kallio on the KTM-Tech3.

This final will also be an opportunity for Joan Mir to savor his new status as MotoGP champion, at 23 and after only two seasons among the elite. Great satisfaction for his employer Suzuki, who is celebrating his 100th birthday with the driver and team titles! What more could you wish for ? MNC would say a new GSX-R1000 to celebrate this consecration with panache, which is unfortunately excluded since the emblematic "Gex" leaves the catalog with Euro5. Will fans have to settle for a Katana Replica MotoGP ?! Hard… 

The fight in the driver classification will now be played out for the places of honor, in particular the second position held by the surprising Franco Morbidelli since his third victory of the season signed last Sunday in Valencia (Spain) after a fine duel with Miller. The Italian-Brazilian is closely followed by Alex Rins, formidable finisher on the no less constant GSX-RR: only 4 pts separate them.

Portuguese GP - Timetables, challenges and objectives of the MotoGP Portuguese GP in Portimao -

Maverick Viñales can also join in this fight for the honorary title of "vice-world champion" since he is only 11 lengths behind Rins and 15 behind Morbidelli. Ditto for Fabio Quartararto, brutally relegated to 5th place following his fall in Valencia – tied on points with the future "pre-retired" Dovizioso.

It remains to be seen whether the two future Yamaha teammates will find the energy to fight: the young Nice and the Spaniard appeared totally disillusioned after the fiasco in Valencia, even going so far as to suggest a return to the M1 of 2019 – that of Morbidelli – to overcome the inconstancy lent to the 2020 model !

Valentino Rossi, with his long experience, however, did not hesitate to recall that last year’s bike was already just as problematic: Yamaha had won only once last year, against … seven victories this year (4 on the M1 2020 and 3 for the 2019)! Difficult, therefore, to be choosy on a motorcycle that won 50% of the races.

Yamaha expected firmly for 2020, with the 2019 motorcycle ?!

Still, the Yamaha must progress in many areas, starting with its engine performance … which will, unfortunately, be similar next year since the health crisis has prompted the organizers to freeze the development of MotoGP for 2021! Fortunately, the brand can act on the electronics and the chassis, factors at least as important.

Portuguese GP - Timetables, challenges and objectives of the MotoGP Portuguese GP in Portimao -

The Iwata brand will also have to find a way to improve reliability, another critical point this season with three breakdowns including two breakages and the obligation to lower the maximum speed. Not to mention the sanction received for using non-compliant valves during the opening round…  

Conversely, other manufacturers will start off on a good basis, like Suzuki, of course, but also KTM: the RC16 has made great progress this season, even signing its first victories thanks to Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira. Pol Espargaro’s two consecutive podiums in the last races also allow the future Honda-Repsol rider to seek the Top 5 final !

The coveted constructor’s title will also be played in this Portuguese final: Suzuki and Ducati are tied with 201 points ahead of Yamaha, which has 188 units despite its 50-point penalty received for its non-regulatory valves..

Last distinction to be won: the title of rookie of the year, for which the young South African Brad Binder took a serious option with his 11th place and his 87 pts in the provisional, when his rival Alex Marquez – heavily fallen in Valencia – is 14th with 67 pts. Stay connected !

Timetables of the Portuguese GP MotoGP 2020 (Paris hours, i.e. + 1h with Lisbon) 

Friday 20 November 2020

  • Free practice 1 Moto3: from 10:00 a.m. to 10:55 a.m.
  • Free practice 1 MotoGP: from 11:10 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
  • Free practice 1 Moto2: from 12:35 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Moto3 free practice 2: from 1:50 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
  • MotoGP Free Practice 2: 3:00 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.
  • Moto2 Free Practice 2: 4:25 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.

Saturday 21 November 2020

  • Moto3 free practice 3: from 10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
  • MotoGP Free Practice 3: from 10:55 am to 11:40 am
  • Moto2 free practice 3: from 11:55 am to 12:35 pm
  • Qualifying 1 Moto3: from 13:35 to 13:50
  • Moto3 Qualifying 2: from 2:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
  • MotoGP Free Practice 4: 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  • MotoGP Qualifying Q1: from 3:10 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. 
  • MotoGP Q2 Qualifying: 3:35 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.
  • Moto2 Qualifying: 4:10 p.m. to 4:25 p.m.
  • Press conference: 6:00 p.m.

Sunday 22 November 2020

  • Moto3 warm-up: from 10:00 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.
  • Moto2 warm-up: 10:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
  • MotoGP warm-up: from 11:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
  • Moto3 race start: 12h00
  • Moto2 race start: 1:20 p.m.
  • MotoGP race start: 3:00 p.m.

The circuit Autodromo internacional do Algarve (Portimaõ)

  • Absolute lap record: no official MotoGP reference
  • Race lap record : no official MotoGP reference
  • Rotation : clockwise
  • Turns : 6 on the left and 9 on the right
  • Length : 4592 m
  • Width : 18 m
  • Straight line : 969 m
  • Running distance : 114.80 km (25 laps)

Provisional MotoGP classification before the Portuguese GP

  1. Joan MIR Suzuki SPA 171 points
  2. Franco MORBIDELLI Yamaha ITA 142 points
  3. Alex RINS Suzuki SPA 138 points
  4. Maverick VIÑALES Yamaha SPA 127 points
  5. Fabio QUARTARARO Yamaha FRA 125 points
  6. Andrea DOVIZIOSO Ducati ITA 125 points
  7. Pol ESPARGARO KTM SPA 122 points
  8. Jack MILLER Ducati AUS 112 points
  9. Takaaki NAKAGAMI Honda JPN 105 points
  10. Miguel OLIVEIRA KTM POR 100 points
  11. Brad BINDER KTM RSA 87 points
  12. Danilo PETRUCCI Ducati ITA 78 points
  13. Johann ZARCO Ducati FRA 71 points
  14. Alex MARQUEZ Honda SPA 67 points
  15. Valentino ROSSI Yamaha ITA 62 points
  16. Francesco BAGNAIA Ducati ITA 47 points
  17. Aleix ESPARGARO Aprilia SPA 34 points
  18. Cal CRUTCHLOW Honda GBR 29 points
  19. Iker LECUONA KTM SPA 27 points
  20. Stefan BRADL Honda GER 18 points
  21. Bradley SMITH Aprilia GBR 12 points
  22. Tito RABAT Ducati SPA 10 points
  23. Michele PIRRO Ducati ITA 4 points
  24. Lorenzo SAVADORI Aprilia ITA 

Provisional rankings for manufacturers and MotoGP teams 

Portuguese GP - Timetables, challenges and objectives of the Portuguese MotoGP GP in Portimao -

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