The Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix, which was initially scheduled for November 15th at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarvein Portimão, was postponed for a week and will now take place between November 20th and 22nd. The change in the MotoGP World Championship calendar results from the rescheduling of the Qatar Grand Prix, motivated by the current geopolitical instability in the Middle East associated with the conflict involving Iran.
The race at the Lusail circuit, in Qatar, was scheduled for the weekend of April 10th to 12th, but was postponed to November 6th to 8th. This change led the championship organization to reorganize the final phase of the season, forcing the postponement of the last two races on the calendar.
With the updated dates, The Portuguese Grand Prix will now be held between November 20th and 22nd, while the Valencian Community Grand Prix, in Spain, which closes the MotoGP season, will be held between November 27th and 29th.
In a statement, MotoGP executive director Carmelo Ezpeleta explained that the decision was taken after careful analysis of the situation and in coordination with all partners involved. According to the person responsible, The organization’s priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of drivers, teams, stewards and fans, whilst ensuring that the championship runs to the highest standards.
Carmelo Ezpeleta also thanked those responsible for the Portimão and Valencia circuits for the flexibility they demonstrated, which allowed them to adjust the calendar in order to guarantee the races without compromising the normal course of the competition.
The decision also had the support of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), chaired by the Portuguese Jorge Viegas. The director stressed that, given the current geopolitical context, the safety of everyone involved in the championship must always be the main priority.
With these changes, the end of the MotoGP season will be marked by several consecutive races in the final weeks of the championship, culminating with races in Portugal and Valencia, where the world champion of the premier motorcycling category will be decided.
Leave a Reply