After the Formula 1 World Championship from 23 to 25 October, AIA – the Algarve International Circuit will be playing host to the 15th and last MotoGP race from 20 to 22 November, with the best drivers on the circuit, including Italian Valentino Rossi, Spaniard Marc Marquéz and Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, who will be racing ‘at home’.
An attractive extra for the Algarve stage is the fact that, right after the race, the winner will take to the podium and the prizes will be awarded for the end of the 2020 Moto GP season.
The official announcement that the race was to be held on the Portimão race track, located in Sítio do Escampadinho, Mexilhoeira Grande Parish, was made this afternoon, in the presence of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, João Paulo Rebelo, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques, and the Secretary of State for Trade, Services and Consumer Protection, João Torres.
On the occasion, the Mayor of Portimão, Isilda Gomes, praised the CEO of Parkalgar, Paulo Pinheiro, “for having succeeded in bringing these two major events with the elite of motorsports to Portugal, an extremely relevant feat for the country”. The Mayor quoted the poem “Pedra Filosofal”, written by António Gedeão, to emphasise that “the dream commands life, as whenever a man dreams, the world takes a leap forward, like a colourful ball in the hands of a child.” After admitting her “delight at all of this good news”, Isilda Gomes acknowledged that “this double was only possible through a lot of hard work and we will do everything we can so that Formula 1 and Moto GP will come back next year and so that the drivers themselves won’t want to leave this circuit behind.” In turn, Paulo Pinheiro said that “after 12 years of hard work, we’re finally reaping the rewards, because preparation is the mother of victory and our focus is on turning AIA into a fixture for these two extremely important races.”
In turn Jorge Viegas, President of FIM (International Motorcycling Federation), highlighted the commitment of AIA and the government “to making this dream come true”, his opposite number, Manuel Marinheiro, President of the Portuguese Motorcycling Federation, recalled that throughout this year, the country will be hosting eight races that count for the world championships, “an unheard of situation in the times we live in.” In his speech, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports pointed out that sporting events “have shown how it is possible to resume the competitive calendar, preferably with spectators in the stands, provided they behave responsibly.” The Secretary of State for Tourism in turn expressed that “the expected short-term impact will be very positive, with a lot of spectators in the stands if there are favourable developments in the pandemic situation.” Rita Marques added that “A race like this has tremendous international projection, with over 430 million viewers in over 200 countries and, if all goes well, it will send a powerful message that Portugal is ready and open to welcoming tourists again”.
AutódromoInternacionalDoAlgarve
FederaçãoInternacionalDeMotociclismo