The Autodromo do Algarve is also a dream route for spectators and not just for the drivers. In this aerial photo, the mountain and valley character of this course hardly comes into its own. However, visitors will again not be admitted to the third Grand Prix in 2021. In the middle of the picture the VIP Tower and to the right of it the pit area and opposite the huge grandstand.

With or without Marc Marquez – everything will be completely different

Since Marc Marquez made his announcement on Facebook a few days ago, countless journalists have been writing their fingers sore. It is now only clear that the doctors released him for running. So far, no one, including the Catalan himself, has been able to assess whether he will really be competitive on his comeback. Much more important than his return is actually the fact that the Autodromo do Algarve is a completely different world than what the fans, teams and drivers experienced in Qatar. Basically, Marquez himself doesn’t really know what to expect on the RC213V. It was precisely for this occasion that he recently tried to familiarize himself with the track on a MotoGP replica. Whether he can play a role in the World Cup this year will not be seen until April 18, 2021, at the earliest.

Our shot at Turn 9 – we only heard positive feedback from the riders when MotoGP held its season finale on this track near the coastal city of Portimão last year. Except for the start-finish straight, the course hardly gives the drivers a breather and is also technically very demanding.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) – for him, only the competitiveness of Yamaha in qualifying and races in Portugal plays a role. This is exactly what he, Maverick Viñales and their team will concentrate on. What the opponents do and whether Marquez comes back is of subordinate interest, at least until Sunday.

Is Marc Marquez even returning to Portugal?
Even the website of the driver with the known number 93 does not provide any clear information about this. Regarding his condition after the last diagnosis, all that was said was, “The clinical condition of the right humerus has been found to be very satisfactory, with obvious progress in bone consolidation. In the current situation, assuming the reasonable risk associated with his exercise, Marquez can return to the competition “. That is anything but the clear statement that he will really drive in Portimão. There is probably no ideal track, but here of all places he has never driven except for a few test laps. There are only 3 free training sessions of 45 minutes each and the last two are already about moving into Q2.

Sandro Cortese in front of Xavi Fores (both Kawasaki) photographed by us in Turn 4 (Honda Corner) on February 29, 2020, in Phillip Island (Australia). For the young man from Berkheim, a fall in the 1st WorldSBK race on August 8th at 2:35 p.m. in turn 12 meant the end of his career. With, among other things, serious back injuries, he was lucky to have survived. It was immediately clear to us at the time that he would never return. Only a few weeks ago he saw this himself.

The weather forecast for the start of Europe in Portugal – light rain for Friday

It is not the wind, as has often been the case recently in Losail, but temperatures, route and weather conditions that make for a completely different world than recently experienced in Qatar. According to the current forecast, the thermometer will hardly rise to 20 degrees Celsius and on Friday morning it should only be a little over 10. However, it is even more dangerous that light rain must be expected for the second free practice session. If nothing changes in the forecast, it will be particularly tough for the rookies and Marc Marquez. Also, for riders like Petrux and Pol Espargaró, who so far only know their bikes from Losail. This is exactly what we understood by the first headline, everything will be completely different. Exactly for this reason it is even conceivable that Honda and Marquez could agree to make his comeback on Jerez first. Otherwise, a mammoth task awaits the 6-time world champion in Portugal.

The Algarve coast near Portimão photographed by us on the penultimate visit. The MotoGP celebrated its premiere here on the weekend of November 22, 2020, and now it is coming back here after the expected cancellation by Argentina and Texas in April of this year.
Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) – the undisputed huge surprise of the 2nd race in Losail, when he narrowly failed in second place, but at least reached the podium. After the double race in Qatar, however, the hour of probation now comes on a completely different route. We’ll only know after a few European races whether he’s really the sensation of the 2021 season.

Die Strecke ist eine Herausforderung für jeden Fahrer

In the hinterland of the Portuguese Algarve coast, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve opened on November 2, 2008, with a capacity of around 100,000 visitors. The modern course was inaugurated by WorldSBK as soon as they traveled to Portugal for their final round. The layout of the track includes a total of 15 corners, nine on the right and six on the left. The length is 4.6 km and the start-finish straight at 969 meters is only slightly shorter than the one in Losail. Before turn 1, the track drops slightly and after turn 8 there is a dip where even the WorldSBK riders can barely keep their front wheel on the ground. The long straight in Qatar is almost 100 meters longer, but the last curve 15 in Portimão is very long. Therefore, the fastest MotoGP drivers drive past the huge main grandstand at a good 350 km / h. A really short break before many demanding sections come again.

The result in November 2020 of the MotoGP Grand Prix Portugal

The current World Championship status in MotoGP

Because it is not at all clear how the situation will develop, we only have a clear situation regarding the calendar until the race in Jerez de la Frontera. Many of the other stations are currently anything but secure, which by no means only applies to the overseas races. In the second year of the corona pandemic, there are absolutely no guarantees, also with regard to the permission for spectators on the track. For MotoGP you will probably only know the favorites on Friday evening, while in Moto2 a name is already at the top of the list before that. After his heroic struggle to finish on the podium with broken bones in November 2020, Sam Lowes is a top favorite. Unless the Englishman is injured, this also applies to the whole season.

Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) – Do most of his opponents in Portugal only see him from behind again? Completely underestimated by many supposed experts, we already had it on our bill last winter. See our article “MGP Review – die 5” from December 19, 2020 (easy to find with the search function). As the best Ducati rider to date, he is currently the man to beat. However, hardly anyone will succeed on the start-finish straight.

Schedule of the first race of the season in Europe

Unless otherwise stated, this applies to all images (© MotoGP).