The 2023 MotoGP World Championship finally begins. The wait has become very long, but the maximum competition the bikes starts this weekend in Portimao, on the occasion of the Portuguese GP. A spectacular setting that replaces the traditional start in Qatar because there are works in Lusail.
The season arrives with a substantial change, because, for the first time in its more than 70 years of history, a sprint race is introduced, which will have half as many laps and points as the traditional one, on Sunday. In fact, it will be called only sprint so as not to overshadow the usual one. This innovation alters the entire program of the weekend because Friday practice already counts and much for the fight for pole, which will be known on Saturday morning. These grid positions are also valid for Sunday, those of the sprint do not count for that. Note that in the early hours of Saturday to Sunday, in Spain it is advanced one hour: at 2:00 it will be 3:00.
Sportingly, Ducati proved to be superior in pre-season testing. And not only for having eight bikes on the grid, more than anyone else. Its machine is the most complete: the most powerful, has better acceleration, turns very well, and adapts to all its pilots … Pecco Bagnaia, the champion, is the reference, with the Spaniards Jorge Martín and Álex Márquez in their ranks. Then there would be Aprilia, with Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales looking for the surprise.
And Honda? Well, he hasn’t had his best winter. Marc Márquez is already full physically, but the mount does not accompany him. Joan Mir and Álex Rins continue with a difficult adaptation. Yamaha sparked in the end with Fabio Quartararo and KTM/GasGas is still a long way off.
Acosta, the ‘coconut’ in Moto2
In Moto2, everyone looks at Pedro Acosta. In the last tests in Jerez and Portimao, he shone and is the rival to beat. There are many other candidates: Albert Arenas, Arón Canet, Alonso López, Tony Arbolino, Sam Lowes, Ai Ogura… Let’s see if Izan Guevara ends up arriving, although his coupling after being Moto3 champion is complicated.
Moto3, is very open
The small category, Moto3, is presented as a great opportunity for some ‘veterans’, such as Jaume Masiá, Romano Fenati, or Deniz Öncü, and many new ones arriving from the FIM CEV. In between, several who stood out in 2022, such as David Muñoz, Dani Holgado, or Diogo Moreira. Neither they nor Moto2 will have a ‘warm up’.
Where to watch on TV and online the Portuguese GP of MotoGP
The Portuguese Grand Prix of MotoGP can be followed in full. Television coverage, it is broadcast on DAZN, which is available on its platform and also within Movistar +.
Portuguese Grand Prix schedule
Friday, March 24
10:00 – 10:35 Moto3: FP1
10:50 – 11:30 Moto2: FP1
11:45 – 12:30 MotoGP FP1
14:15 – 14:50 Moto3: FP2
15:05 – 15:45 Moto2: FP2
16:00 – 17:00 MotoGP: FP2
Saturday, March 25
09:40 – 10:10 Moto3: FP3
10:25 – 10:55 Moto2: FP3
11:10 – 11:40 MotoGP: FP
11:50 – 12:05 MotoGP: Q1
12:15 – 12:30 MotoGP: Q2
13:50 – 14:05 Moto3: Q1
14:15 – 14:30 Moto3: Q2
14:45 – 15:00 Moto2: Q1
15:10 – 15:25 Moto2: Q2
16:00 MotoGP: Sprint race (12 laps)
Sunday, March 26
10:45 – 10:55 MotoGP Warm Up
12:00 Moto3: Race (19 laps)
13:15 Moto2: Race (21 laps)
15:00 MotoGP: Race (25 laps)
