MotoGP rolls in to Portimao for penultimate showdown

MotoGP 2025

Round 21 – Portimao – Preview

After a long journey through Asia and Oceania, the FIM MotoGP World Championship heads into its penultimate stop in Europe for the wild thrill ride that is Portimão.  Nestled in the beautiful setting of Portugal’s somewhat barren but undoubtedly beautiful and rugged Algarve, the 100,000-capacity Autodromo Internacional do Algarve was opened in November 2008.  The Algarve Motorsports Park is a state-of-the-art complex that boasts not only the stunning racetrack, but also a go-kart track, an off-road park, a hotel, an apartment complex, a technology park, and a sports complex.

In terms of the actual circuit layout, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve features 15 corners, nine of which are right-hand turns and six are left-hand turns. The undulation in Portimao is incredibly daunting and combines with some blind entries that require serious testicular fortitude.

We have witnessed seven different winners so far, and the prospect of another new name on the top step at one of the most technical and unpredictable circuits on the calendar.

With both titles decided, focus turns to the final podium places and debut opportunities. Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing) arrives as confirmed runner-up in the championship following his Sepang victory, completing a historic Márquez brothers one-two after Marc’s early-season dominance. And with Marc on the sidelines, the form guide has undoubtedly been shaken up.

Replacing Marc for the two final rounds is 2025 WorldSBK runner-up Nicole Bulega. The Italian, already contracted to Ducati’s 2026 MotoGP development team, will make his premier-class debut aboard the Desmosedici GP25, gaining early experience before the upcoming 850cc regulation change. Bulega completed a short familiarisation test at Jerez prior to his debut weekend. Expectations are modest, but the opportunity is regarded as an important step in Ducati’s long-term programme.

Nicolò Bulega

“I’m very happy to be able to end a season like this one with a last-minute surprise. Making the MotoGP debut is the dream of any kid who aspires to become a rider. Plus, being able to ride the World Champion bike for the final two races of the 2025 makes everything even more exciting. It’ll be a big gamble; I have no expectations. I’ll take this experience calmly, especially because, so far, I’ve only been able to test the Desmosedici GP at Jerez. That said, I’m certainly motivated to do well and give my all. Thanks to Ducati and Ducati Corse for their trust, to Claudio, Gigi, Mauro, Davide, Stefano, and Serafino for making me feel their full support and to Team Aruba.it Racing, with whom we finished a season as protagonists”.

Luigi Dall’Igna – General Manager of Ducati Corse

“Nicolò has been part of the Ducati Corse family since 2022, when we wanted him to ride the Supersport bike. We believed in him, and he repaid us with two seasons as an absolute protagonist in Superbike, where he came close to the title and became our reference point as a rider. Furthermore, for next year, we announced his commitment, together with Michele Pirro, in developing the Desmosedici GP with new tyres. The opportunity to race in the final two GPs is the best way to begin working in this new role as a test rider. It will certainly be demanding, but I hope he’ll be able to enjoy this experience: for a young rider, making the debut in the top category of our sport is a great satisfaction”.

The race for third in the standings remains open between Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Francesco Bagnaia

“I came back from Malaysia with a bitter taste in my mouth, but also some positive feelings. Sunday’s race certainly didn’t end in the best way, even though we were competitive all weekend. This was something we’d been missing in the last few GPs, and we need to continue in this direction. Portimao is certainly a unique track with particular characteristics. We’re working to find the same riding confidence we found in Sepang”.

Bezzecchi currently holds a narrow lead after Sepang, where Bagnaia failed to finish and Acosta scored second place. Bagnaia won at Portimão in 2023 but did not finish last year, while Bezzecchi has previous form at the venue with podium results in 2023.

Marco Bezzecchi

“I am quite happy to be returning to Portimão. Last year, we raced here at the beginning of the season, so a lot of time has passed since we were here last. I like this track a lot and I am looking forward to tackling it again. These will be two important races. We’ll try to do a good job with the entire team and with Aprilia, have fun, and close out this season in the best possible way.”

Acosta’s recent consistency has closed the gap to just 31 points from Bezzecchi, positioning the KTM rider as an outside chance for third overall if results continue in his favour. And this is a circuit where KTM riders have fared very well in the past.

The battle for sixth continues between Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio (both Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing). Only one point separates the pair, with Di Giannantonio having the better recent record at Portimão.

Fabio Di Giannantonio

“I hope we can start this weekend even closer to the ideal setup so we can fight for the podium. We’ve already shown on several occasions that when we have the right feeling, we’re capable of battling for the Top3 and even for victory. So, the goal for Portimao is to push from the very beginning to stay in the leading positions.”

Franco Morbidelli

“It’s going to be a tough weekend – Portimão is a very demanding track. We’ll see how it goes. We’re coming from a very positive weekend in Sepang, where we completely turned around the negative feeling from Australia, so I’m really happy. I’m also very satisfied with the level we’ve reached and are showing right now. We’re super motivated for this season finale.”

Further back, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) arrives from a strong run of form that includes two podiums in four rounds. Honda, having made steady progress in recent months, could move up a tier in the concessions ranking from ‘D’ to ‘C’ if the manufacturer scores 19 points or more across the final two events.

Joan Mir

“We ended the flyaway races in a great way and I am hungry to return to the podium again. In the past we have done ok in Portimao on the Honda RC213V and the bike and myself are much stronger now. The goal is to find our base quickly and make the small adjustments during the weekend. We have two races to end the season in the best way possible and show our speed, there are no doubts about the improvements we have made this year. Two more races for 2025 and then all our attentions move to 2026 and the future.”

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Fermín Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing) are also closely matched in the points table, separated by just four points after Quartararo’s top-five finish at Sepang. Aldeguer has found the second half of the season more challenging, but secured Rookie of the Year honours in Malaysia.

Massimo Meregalli – Monster Energy Yamaha Team Director

“As we approach the final two rounds of the 2025 season, it’s important to reiterate that this year we primarily focused on bike development. The changes we are implementing are part of a long-term strategy and not quick fixes. Moreover, achieving the level of performance we aspire to requires sustained effort and time. That said, both the team and Yamaha remain fully committed and highly motivated to pursue improvements at every opportunity. Fabio and Álex continue to receive our full support as we work together towards progress. These upcoming race weekends will be particularly valuable, providing us with a chance to validate key findings ahead of the transition into 2026 testing.”

Raul Fernández (Trackhouse MotoGP) boosted himself into the championship top ten with his breakthrough win at Phillip Island, but that was followed up by a no-score in Malaysia. The youngster will be aiming to get back in the points at Portimao.

Raul Fernandez

“The next back-to-back races will be the last two rounds of the year. It’s going to be very important to end the season on a high and I think we are going in a very good direction. I know that if we want come back to Europe well, we have to do the same job like in the previous races to be competitive. This is the main target, to be competitive and also make sure we stay in the top 10 in the championship standings. This is the goal and surely to enjoy the last two races of the year.”

From eleventh to fourteenth in the standings, just 28 points separate Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3). Binder and Marini have both recorded three consecutive top-ten finishes. Bastianini has podium history at Portimão and is looking to bounce back to form after a run of inconsistent results.

Luca Marini

“Back in Europe now after some busy but productive races. Our goals remain the same for Portugal and Valencia; to fight at the front and show all of our potential. In 2024, Portimao was just my second race with Honda and our situation has evolved a lot so we can hardly compare our performance there in the past. Just two races left in what has been a good 2025, but we still have a couple of things to tick off our list to be really satisfied from the year. Let’s enjoy these moments with the team and the fans.”

Enea Bastianini

“We are arriving at Portimao with the confidence of two solid races in both Australia and Malaysia, but it is also a completely different track to Phillip Island and Sepang, so we will have to wait for Friday to understand if we can be competitive. Looking at last season, the KTM was fast here, so it is encouraging for us, but we know that we are still missing something in qualifying. I hope that we will find a way to be more competitive on one lap, and hopefully, we can try to qualify for the second or third row, which should make our life easier!”

For local fans, Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha) headlines the weekend in what will be his final home Grand Prix as a full-time MotoGP rider. The 30-year-old Portuguese rider made history with his Portimão victory in 2020 and will be hoping to finish his season on a high before he heads to WorldSBK in 2026.

Miguel Oliveira

“I‘m very emotional, because Portimão is a really special circuit for me, and racing at home always gives me that extra motivation to perform well. Knowing that this might be my last MotoGP race in front of my fans makes the weekend even more special. I want to do well, enjoy it, and make sure the team and all the fans enjoy it too. I can‘t wait to get started.”

Teammate Jack Miller will also aim to end his run of non-finishes and break back into the top ten, while Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP), Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha), and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) complete a group of riders targeting a strong finish to the season.

Jack Miller

“I‘m really looking forward to racing in Portugal and bouncing back after what was a tough weekend for us in Malaysia. Portimão is a track where I‘ve had some great races in the past and where I‘ve always felt at ease. I really enjoy riding there, and I‘m excited to do it on the M1, as I believe it‘s a circuit that could suit our bike well. My hope is that after a few tough weekends, we can close the gap to the front in this coming one.”

Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) and Pol Espargaró (Red Bull KTM Tech3) continue as replacements for the injured Jorge Martin and Maverick Viñales, respectively.

Pol Espargaro

“Honestly, I was not expecting to have to substitute Maverick again, but I understand this is the best decision to have him fully recovered as soon as possible, the most important thing for the KTM project. As I always say, this is part of my duties as a test rider and I will try again to be as helpful as possible to the factory and to the other riders. We have been working last week in Jerez, so let’s see if we can continue gaining more positive info to improve our bike. This circuit is, in some way, special for me. The last time I competed there, things didn’t finish well, so I see this weekend as a challenge for me. In any case, I’m really looking forward to facing it.”

Twelve riders on the grid have scored MotoGP podiums at Portimao: Bagnaia (3), Jack Miller (2), Joan Mir (2), Quartararo (2), Oliveira (1), Franco Morbidelli (1), Johann Zarco (1), Viñales (1), Enea Bastianini (1), Bezzecchi (1), Pedro Acosta (1) and Martin (1).

The Moto2 World Championship arrives at Portimão with the title fight finely balanced after a dramatic turn of events in Malaysia. Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) crashed out of the lead in Sepang, handing a crucial opportunity to rival Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), and the Brazilian now has a chance to seal the 2025 title in Portugal.

Following his fifth-place finish in Malaysia, Moreira trails Gonzalez by just nine points with two rounds remaining. If he finishes the weekend 26 points or more ahead of Gonzalez and the other three riders still mathematically in contention, he will be crowned Moto2 World Champion.

Behind the leading pair, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) sits 35 points off the top following his third-place finish at Sepang. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), who claimed victory in Malaysia, remains 41 points behind, while Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) is a further two points back in fifth overall.

All three would need exceptional results in both remaining rounds to stay in the fight, but mathematically remain in contention heading into Portugal.

The Rookie of the Year standings are also tightening. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) leads with a 42-point advantage over teammate David Alonso, who has recorded back-to-back podium finishes, including second place in Sepang, to reduce the gap. Holgado remains in control but will be looking to secure the title this weekend.

Senna Agius is looking to move further inside the championship top ten and add to his podium tally after some challenges of late.

With the championship picture shifting rapidly and multiple storylines still in play, Portimão could prove decisive. If Moreira extends his advantage, the title may be settled before the final round in Valencia.

Moto2 Championship Standings

Moto3

As the 2025 Moto3 World Championship moves into its penultimate round at Portimão, attention turns to the battle for second place in the standings, while thoughts across the paddock remain with Noah Dettwiler (CIP Green Power) and World Champion Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as both continue their recoveries from injury. The latest prognosis for both is positive.

Angel Piqueras (FRINSA MT Helmets MSI) strengthened his hold on second overall with a runner-up finish in Malaysia, extending his advantage over Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) to 14 points. Quiles, who has already secured the Rookie of the Year title, finished seventh at Sepang and will be aiming to close the gap this weekend.

Máximo Quiles

“We arrive in Portugal feeling very motivated. The last few races didn’t go as we wanted, so we’re really keen to finish on a high note. Winning the Rookie of the Year title is great, and I’m very happy about that, even though I finished the race feeling a little frustrated with the result. Now we’ll try to fight for the runner-up spot because we have a chance, but the main goal is to enjoy the last two races. I no longer have the pressure of being the best rookie; if we can end in second, it will be great, but I want to finish the year on a high note and enjoy myself with the team.”

If Piqueras leaves Portugal with a lead of 25 points or more, he will secure the runner-up position with one round remaining.

Malaysia race winner Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) arrives in Portimão with renewed confidence after claiming his first Grand Prix victory. The Japanese rider will again face Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) in the contest to finish as the top Honda rider.

Joel Kelso (LEVELUP MTA) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) are tied on points in fifth and sixth, setting up another close contest for position as the championship nears its conclusion. Both riders will look to finish strongly before the final round in Valencia. If the cards fall his way, Kelso could move as high as fourth in the standings by season end.

Jacob Roulstone remains on the sidelines with an injury but hopes to be back in action for the Valencia finale.