More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing: 

Aprilia Racing returns to Europe for the penultimate race of the season in Portimão.

The 2025 MotoGP season is entering its final stages. After the extra-European tour, Aprilia Racing is returning to Europe to tackle the penultimate round on the calendar at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve with Marco Bezzecchi and Lorenzo Savadori.

Bezzecchi will be arriving in Portugal determined to turn the page after a Malaysian GP where he was unable to fully express his potential with the RS-GP25. The Italian rider will be aiming to be back among the protagonists and to consolidate his third place in the overall rider standings.

Completing the line-up will be Lorenzo Savadori, who is subbing for Jorge Martín after it was confirmed that he will not be participating in the GP of Portugal. The Spanish rider underwent a medical check on last Wednesday with Professor Xavier Mir, after the surgery that fixed his right clavicular fracture following the accident suffered in Japan. The post-operative evolution is progressing as expected, with full recovery of mobility in his right arm, although the fracture has not yet healed completely. A further medical check is due in the next few days.

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, nestled in the beautiful setting of Algarve in Portugal, was added to the Motorcycle World Grand Prix Championship calendar in 2020. With its 4.59 km, a main straight almost 1000 metres long before an impressive descent towards the iconic turn 1, and its 15 corners (6 lefthanders and 9 righthanders), the circuit is known as the “rollercoaster” because of its constant ups and downs, which always make for spectacular races.

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.” 

Lorenzo Savadori: “Portimão is a fantastic and extremely particular track. A lot of time has passed since the last time I rode here and I can’t wait to get back onto the track. We’ll continue the work we began in Australia, and in Portugal we’ll keep developing the bike. We are coming from two positive days of private testing in Jerez, where we further advanced the development programme.” 

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More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo:

Portuguese GP for the Ducati Lenovo Team: Nicolò Bulega makes his MotoGP debut. 

The Ducati Lenovo Team is heading to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, which hosts the 21st race of the season. Portugal has been a regular round since 2020, and Ducati has achieved two victories here: Pecco Bagnaia in 2023 and Jorge Martin in 2024. It will be a special week for Nicolò Bulega, World SBK runner-up with Aruba.it Racing Ducati, who will replace Marc Márquez for the final two GPs of 2025 and will make his Premier Class debut. Nicolò, who rode the Desmosedici GP for the first time last Thursday in a test at Jerez de la Frontera, will crown this important milestone with the 100th race of his career in the World Championship.

Pecco Bagnaia is also on track, appearing to have regained his confidence with the bike. After the victory in the Sprint in Malaysia and a truly solid and convincing first half of the race, Pecco is ready to get back at work for the third place of the overall standings and battle with the top riders for the podium.

Both riders will be back on track on Friday, November 7th, at 10:45 a.m. local time, for the first free practice session.

Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 4th (286 points) : “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”.

Nicolò Bulega (#11 Ducati Lenovo Team): “I’m happy and at the same time a little nervous about this debut. I want to enjoy the moment but also do a good job with the whole Team. I have no expectations in terms of results; I want to start gaining confidence with the Desmosedici GP. Let’s also consider that we’ll be riding on a very unique and demanding track like Portimao”.

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More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha: 

Home Emotions Run High as Oliveira Prepares to Say Goodbye to His MotoGP Fans in Portimão. 

The Portuguese GP takes place this weekend, with the Portimão circuit hosting the 21st round of the MotoGP World Championship. It will be an especially meaningful race for the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team, as Miguel Oliveira will make his final MotoGP appearance in front of his home crowd before moving to the World Superbike Championship in 2026. Alongside teammate Jack Miller, the Portuguese rider will aim to deliver a strong performance and fight for a top result.

GINO BORSOI – Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP

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.”

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.”

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More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha: 

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Prepare for End of Season Push in Portimão.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP is ready to tackle the final two rounds on the 2025 MotoGP calendar. After a one-week break following the completion of the fly-aways, the team will get back into action in Portugal this weekend. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins are looking forward to riding the ‘roller coaster’ Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, which both consider a favourite track.

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team enter the Grande Prémio de Portugal keen to make a strong start to the final stretch of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship season.

Fabio Quartararo’s sole focus is to be at the sharp end again this weekend, fighting for solid results. The Frenchman has good memories of riding the YZR-M1 in Portimão. The combination of El Diablo and his Yamaha proved to be a winning formula at this circuit in 2021 and 2022. He is currently 9th in the 2025 championship standings and will give it his best effort to challenge the rival in eighth place, who is four points ahead of him.

Álex Rins enjoyed an overall productive fly-away leg this season. Despite a difficult race weekend in Malaysia last time out, he got into Q2 three times in a row and scored positive results and points, showing progress. The Spaniard is therefore extra keen to start afresh this weekend. He is currently in 19th place in the overall classification and feels there is potential to make steps. His best MotoGP finish at Portimão is the fourth place he achieved in 2022.

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve – better known as Portimão (after the port city from which it is half an hour’s drive removed) – is situated in the Algarve region of Portugal. The circuit was opened in 2008 and added to the MotoGP calendar in 2020. It’s a big hit with the riders but also especially with the fans, who can’t get enough of their heroes taking on this track famous for its elevation changes. The circuit has 15 corners – nine right, six left – and the front straight will allow the MotoGP riders to really stretch the legs of their machines before a unique downhill descent into Turn 1.

The Grand Prix of Portugal takes place in the GMT+0 time zone. MotoGP’s FP1 will take place on Friday from 10:45-11:30, local track time followed by the Practice session from 15:00-16:00. On Saturday, FP2 will be held from 10:10-10:40, the qualifying sessions from 10:50-11:30, and the 12-lap Sprint starts at 15:00. On Sunday, the Warm Up is held from 09:40-09:50, and the 25-lap Race starts at 13:00.

MASSIMO MEREGALLI – Team Director, Monster Energy Yamaha

“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.”

Fabio Quartararo: “We’re back in Europe for the last two rounds, and Portimão is up next. It’s a pretty unique track with all the elevation changes, and it’s definitely different from the circuits we’ve raced at lately. So, I’m curious to see how the bike handles here and how the tyres hold up this weekend. I really like this circuit, so we’ll do our best. As always, I’m giving it my 100%, and hopefully we can end this season with some good results over the next two weeks.”

Alex Rins: “After a tough weekend in Malaysia and now heading into Portimão, I remain optimistic. It’s a track that I always enjoy because of its unique characteristics. The team and I are continuing to adapt. These final two rounds are crucial for us to confirm key set-up directions before we fully shift our focus to 2026 testing.”

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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:

Honda HRC Castrol prep for penultimate race of 2025 in Portugal.

The Honda HRC Castrol squad have just two races left to tie a bow on a season of progress, development and rewards. Luca Marini and Joan Mir are both primed to bring their overseas form back to Europe.

Affectionately called ‘the rollercoaster’ due to its incredible elevation changes, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve was opened in late 2008 and joined the MotoGP World Championship calendar back in 2020. A long, fast final corner leads onto a 970m main straight before riders grab the brakes as late as they dare for the tight Turn 1 – Joan Mir spectacular to watch into the corner. It remains as one of just a handful of circuits on the calendar in which Honda HRC has never won a premier class race at.

Luca Marini arrives with 18 points between himself and the top ten in the Championship standings and a mere six points splitting the Italian and Johann Zarco from top Honda honours. Finishing outside of the top ten on Sunday just twice since his return from injury, Marini’s march has been steady and has delivered him directly into being a consistent podium threat. If Marini can score just 14 points across the four remaining races, he will have increased his 2024 points haul tenfold in 2025. Conquering qualifying and start on the front two rows remains a major focus for the #10 as he continues to hunt a first Honda podium.

Coming off two podiums in four races, Joan Mir arrives at round 21 in the best form of his Honda career and with his confidence only growing. The hard braking zones at the 4.59-kilometre-long circuit should allow the #36 and his Honda RC213V to highlight their combined strengths while the fast and flowing corners give a chance for further testing and improvements. His two previous visits to Portimao on the Honda RC213V have yielded an 11th and 12th place finish – solid foundations.

The 25-lap Portuguese GP will begin at 13:00 Local Time on Sunday, November 09 before the Moto3 race.

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.”

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.”

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More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3: 

Portugal’s rollercoaster awaits Red Bull KTM Tech3 as MotoGP™ heads to Portimao for penultimate round of 2025. 

The Red Bull KTM Tech3 team is thrilled to head to Portimao for the penultimate round of the 2025 MotoGP™ World Championship, as we return to Europe for the final two rounds of the season. Enea Bastianini will team up once again with Pol Espargaro, as the Spaniard will continue to replace Maverick Viñales this week, who will benefit from an extra week to fully focus on his shoulder recovery.  

Soo, we are back to Europe, and the insane rollercoaster of Portimao awaits both Enea Bastianini and Pol Espargaro. After two solid Sunday races, Bastianini will be arriving in good shape with the confidence from both Australia and Malaysia. However, he still faces the one fast lap challenge, which he must improve to allow him to start from better positions. On the other side of the garage, a mutual decision between Maverick Viñales, the team and KTM will see the number 12 sit out the Portuguese Grand Prix to benefit from an extra week of recovery. Pol Espargaro will race with the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team once again, after his two solid rounds in Australia and Malaysia with us. It will be for sure special for the number 44 to return racing to Portugal, the place where he sustained his big injury at the start of the 2023 season, but he will be ready to face the mental challenge that it represents for him.

Be part of the fun in Portugal and follow Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini and Pol Espargaro all weekend long, starting with Free Practice 1 on Friday morning at 10:45 (UTC), followed by the one-hour Practice in the afternoon, at 15:00. On Saturday, the boys will be back on track with Free Practice 2 at 10:10, just before qualifying starts at 10:50. Can the boys put all their chances on their sides and qualify on the first rows? Once we have that figured out, it will be time for the Tissot Sprint at 15:00, as the best of twelve fast laps will penultimate Sprint medal at stake this season. Finally on Sunday, the main race of the Grand Prix of Portugal is scheduled at 13:00 local time (GMT), for twenty-five laps.

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!”

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.”

Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “After the Asian tour, we are back to Europe for the final two rounds of the 2025 championship, with our first stop in Portugal at Portimao’s rollercoaster! The Tech3 team has very good memories at this track, since Miguel Oliveira won the first edition of the Portuguese GP with us back in 2020 on the KTM, and Pedro Acosta took his maiden MotoGP podium there with us last season. Our bike has always been strong on this track, we had 3 KTMs in the top 5 in 2024, which makes us believe that we should have the tools to fight at the front this year. Enea Bastianini will arrive there in good shape with two strong races in the bag, and we know he will be determined to improve qualifying. Portimao can be the perfect place to do it, since he started from the pole position in 2024.  On the other side of the garage, it has been decided together with KTM to give an extra week of recovery to Maverick Viñales. Portimao is physically really demanding, and the focus is to have Maverick in the best condition possible in Valencia, which will be followed by the test. Pol Espargaro will therefore once again step in to replace Maverick. The last time Pol was in Portimao was in 2023, when he was seriously injured, so it will be a good opportunity for him to reconnect with this track.”