Portimao to host 2020 MotoGP season finale
Rennie Scaysbrook | August 10, 2020
The spectacular Portimao venue in southwest Portugal will host the final round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship on November 20-22.
This will be the first time MotoGP has visited the venue that traditionally hosts the World Superbike Championship and the first Portuguese Grand Prix since the 2012 event held at Estoril.
“It’s big news for us, we signed an agreement in 2017 with Portimao to be the reserve circuit for any kinds of cancellations, and we’ve been in contact with them all this time,” said Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. “We’ve been to Portimao with Superbike and we think it’s an amazing possibility for us, and also in the agreement is that the track will be resurfaced after the Superbike round. When we explained this to the riders they were excited because they’ve seen the track on TV, but we’ve never been there.
“Portugal has a long history in our sport and there have been some historic battles in Estoril. It’s something very good for us to have the possibility to go back to Portugal, especially with Miguel Oliveira participating as it’s great to have a Portuguese rider able to compete in his own country. We are extremely happy to be racing in Portimao at the end of the year.”
“I’m over the roof!” said Miguel Oliveira. “It’s a dream come true. I raced there for two years in 125 and Moto3, it’s a special place. Me being the only Portuguese rider in the MotoGP category, it is a special feeling to come back and race in my home country. The fact it’s the last race of the year means I can go flat out and give it all in front of the home crowd.”
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