Portimão to host MotoGP in November 2021

Give your holiday an adrenaline rush, and come watch MotoGP Portugal 2021!

One of the most eagerly awaited events for motorcycle lovers will take place at the Autódromo do Algarve from November 5 to 7, 2021. It is one of the most popular championships for two-wheel fans and returns to Portugal after being cancelled in Australia due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. It will be the third time that MotoGP has visited the Portuguese city of Portimão, and Belmar Resort will have its doors open to all fans of the two-wheeled sport.


Photo by Pascal Richier – Unsplash

What should you visit on a weekend in the Algarve?
First of all, you should know that tickets for this sporting event are divided into two categories. The first category is a full ticket for all three days of the MotoGP Algarve (from November 5 to 7, 2021). The second category is for the last day only. The value of each ticket depends on the stand you have chosen to attend the sporting event. To buy your ticket, visit this website.

Travelling to the Algarve and enjoying the beauty of this region while eagerly awaiting the MotoGP World Championship is a great plan for every motorcycle lover. At Belmar Spa & Beach Resort we have reserved covered garage spaces for you to safely park your motorcycle.

Lagos is a landmark for any visitor to the Algarve. The historic centre is full of memories of other times mixed with the arrival of people from all over the world. The Descobrimentos Avenue runs through some extraordinary areas of the city. Take a short tour from Belmar Resort to the Lagos Marina, park your bike and walk around all the places of this magnificent city.


Photo by Cassia Tofano – Unsplash

Plan a tour around the region, passing by mythical places like Cape St. Vincent in Sagres. In a short 40-minute drive past the fishing villages, you'll remember the images that end where the land is interrupted only by the sea. Book your tour at sunset time and experience one of the greatest natural spectacles in the Algarve.


Photo by Herman Delgado – Unsplash

Pass by your main destination this weekend, the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve and make your way to Marmelete for lunch at the Tasca do Petrol. The delicacies served here are cooked in a firewood oven. They are cooked from morning to noon to preserve the typical taste of the gastronomy of the Algarve Mountain. We recommend that you book your table in advance as this restaurant is busy. In the afternoon, head towards Monchique and visit Fóia, the highest point in the Algarve, and on the way down, Caldas de Monchique with its potable water springs and leisure areas with outdoor seating.


Photo by Olivia Rouge – Unsplash






Do you know the history of MotoGP?
MotoGP racing began unofficially at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1949, shortly after the end of World War II, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) introduced official championships. Before that year, it was not allowed to use petrol for these races. The first categories to participate in the races were 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc and 600cc with sidecars. The first race was held at the famous Isle of Man TT, a mountain course that still challenges riders from all over the world. The first winners of the championship were Leslie Graham and Freddie Frith in the 500cc and 350cc categories respectively.

In 26 years, motorcycles of Italian brands have won several championships, including the historic MV Augusta, which even won several world titles in four categories between 1958 and 1960. The MotoGP legend Giacomo Agostini, one of the most successful riders in this championship, did several laps on this brand.

In the 1960s, Japanese motorcycle brands gained ground and won several awards with world-famous brands such as Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha. At the end of the decade, the cost of participation became too high and as a result, the brands gave up until only Yamaha was left in the championships. As a result of this event, the International Motorcycling Federation introduced new participation rules that limited the number of engines per displacement.

In the recent history of MotoGP, Valentino Rossi stands out. He started by becoming a world champion in the 125cc class in 1997. Since that year Valentino Rossi added more titles to his career, riding for prestigious brands from Honda to Yamaha. When he rode for the latter brand, Yamaha, the athlete considered leaving MotoGP, precisely during the championship of this sport at the Portimão circuit in 2020, but you will still see him competing for Yamaha in the 2021 races.

Miguel Oliveira, an athlete already well known in motorsport, has recently joined MotoGP. He made his debut in MotoGP in Austria in 2019. The following year, Oliveira rode a new race on the back of a KTM factory bike at a familiar track in Portimão. He won the World Championship in his own country with an amazing Pole Position finish, track record and fastest lap of 1m39.855s, leading from start to finish. He finished 2020 with 125 points. Currently, in the 2021 race, Miguel Oliveira is 7th in the drivers' standings with 85 points.

Do you know the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve race track?
Inaugurated in 2008 in the city of Portimão, it was the second circuit in Portugal dedicated to the sport on wheels, after the construction of the legendary Estoril circuit. The track has 32 different configurations, ranging from 3,465 m (the shortest) to 4,684 m (for Formula 1). Thanks to these characteristics, the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is ready to host the most prestigious races in the world. The circuit has been approved by the FIA and the FIM for the best motorsport competitions. In addition to the races, several brands such as BMW, AMG, Porsche and McLaren have already used this venue to showcase their products.

The circuit is considered one of the most demanding in the world and is located in a natural landscape in the Algarve. Over 4.692 km, athletes can expect straights, challenging corners, climbs and descents. The nickname of the circuit of the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is Roller coaster because the track is all blind curves, and there are several elevation changes.

The two MotoGP races in 2020 and early 2021 in Portimão took place without spectators in the stands due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. In November, two-wheeled enthusiasts will once again have the chance to experience the adrenaline rush up close, at a venue considered one of the best for the motorsport. More than 67,000 people are expected at the Autódromo do Algarve, where the appropriate distances and measures to contain the virus will be taken into account.

Do you know which teams will compete in MotoGP 2021?
In MotoGP 2021, eleven teams will participate in the 18 races of the year. These are:

• Aprilia Racing, has as riders Spaniard Aleix Espargaró and the Italian Lorenzo Savadori.
• The Ducati Lenovo Team, winner of the Constructors' Championship in 2020, has Australian Jack Miller and Italian Francesco Bagnaia as riders.
• The riders of Ducati Pramac Racing are Frenchman Johann Zarco and Spaniard Jorge Martin.
• Team Avintia Esponsorama has as riders Italians Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini.
• The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team has as riders the South African Brad Binder for another year and the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira.
• The KTM Tech 3 Team has as riders the Italian Danilo Petrocci and the Spaniard Iker Lecuona.
• The Honda Repsol Team has as riders the Spanish Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró.
• The LCR Honda Team, led by the Spanish rider Alex Márquez and Japanese Takaaki Nakagami.
• The Suzuki Ecstar Team is led by Spaniards Alex Rins and Joan Mir.
• The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team includes Frenchman Fabio Quartararo and Spaniard Maverick Viñales.
• The Petronas Yamaha SRT Team includes Italian Valentino Rossi (his last MotoGP) and Franco Morbidelli.

Do you know how to get to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve?
Take the fastest route, the A22 motorway, and in just 20 minutes, you'll be at the magnificent Autódromo Internacional do Algarve to watch the 2021 MotoGP. To make the short drive from Belmar Resort to your destination easier, you can also use the map at Google Maps.


Google Maps image


Do you know what championships are coming up at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve?
It's not just about two wheels on the asphalt in Portimão. Many other championships deserve a visit to the western Algarve. We leave you with the calendar of upcoming races and events that will take place in the venue dedicated exclusively to motorsports. The Algarve is also magnificent in the low season with the conviction of offering the best events for the most demanding.

Race: European Le Mans Series
One of the most important car races takes place between 22 and 24 October. This is a four-hour endurance race in which the Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque also participates.

Event: Algarve Classic Festival
One of the biggest classic car events on the Iberian Peninsula, where hundreds of classic cars gather in Portimão. All the elegance in detail and powerful cars visit the city in this meeting. Drive your classic car along Portimão's waterfront from October 29 to 31 at Algarve Classic Festival.

Race: IAME Festival Games
This event takes place at the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve, just a few metres from the Autodromo and includes the following categories: X30 Mini, X30 Junior, X30 Senior, X30 Pro, X30 Masters and the new KZ-I. This event will take place between the 10th and 14th of November.

Winter is not about staying home. Go out, have fun and combine your passion for motorcycles with a trip to the Algarve on the first weekend of November 2021. Book your stay at Belmar Spa & Beach Resort, here and stay 2 minutes from Porto Mós beach, in a resort that offers you the comfort of apartments and a parking space in a covered garage for your vehicles.