MotoGP almost guaranteed in Portimão in April 2022

The organisation of the MotoGP world championship on Tuesday said that it wants to continue at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA), in Portimão, in 2022. Still, the Algarve structure revealed that details remain to be settled.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, General Director of Dorna – the promoter of MotoGP – said on Tuesday that the agreement is signed and confirmed that the Portuguese Grand Prix will take place in Portimão, still without a certain date, but during the spring, surely in April.

The official spoke by video call at the presentation of the race of the MotoGP championship this year, which takes place at the Algarve circuit between November 5 and 7 and was “sure” that the Portuguese Grand Prix this year and the next will be a big success.

The AIA administrator was cautious, saying that everything is on track and practically closed for 2022, but stressed that there are still some rough edges to be smoothed out.

Despite the enthusiasm shown by Dorna, Paulo Pinheiro stressed that there are still some small details missing and assumed that the goal, for now, is to make the 2021 race a historical event at all levels, positively for the spectators, for the teams and the organisation.

Until now, the Algarve circuit had a replacement circuit contract with the possibility of being able to move to the calendar permanently if they could meet the necessary conditions.

The goal is to try to have a contract of three or five years so they can have continuity and make long-term investments, which implies the improvement of some conditions in the circuit.

“Our aim is, if we can gather all the conditions, to have a longer-term contract, now at this moment is not yet guaranteed,” Paulo Pinheiro said.

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve will once again host a round of the MotoGP World Championship, on November 7, after the cancellation of the Australian round.

In the third round of the world motorbike speed championship, the Algarve circuit, which hosted the Grand Prix of Portugal on 18 April, will host the 17th race of the year.

This will be the third time that the ‘queen’ category of speed motorcycling passes through the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, after the debut in 2020, with the victory of Miguel Oliveira.

The 2022 Grand Prix will be the fourth race in the premier category of speed motorcycling at the AIA if it comes to pass.