15 April 2021 – Algarve International Circuit – Portugal

The Championship, even with all the difficulties liked to the management of the pandemic, is proceeding without any huge issue and after the double opening race held in Qatar, the MotoGP arrives on the Algarve International Circuit. Last year this circuit hosted the final race of the season and in this Championship it will host the first race in Europe. In the previous race our two pilots unfortunately have not been much lucky and this did not allow both of them to collect what they were capable of.

The race of Romano started from the pitlane, due to a penalty received in the famous lottery of the free practice! This year the sanctions have been embittered, to try to limit the congas, that always occur in Moto3. Due to the start from the pit lane, Romano at the end of the first lap had a gap from the leader of the race of more than 10 seconds. He did not lose heart and with a fast pace, he managed to perform an excellent comeback, which allowed him to end the race, with a gap of fewer than two seconds from the winner.

For what concerns Adriàn, he started fast from the grid, and he fought with the veterans of the category for more than half of the race, succeeding to reach for some instants the second position. Unfortunately, he was unintentionally hit by another pilot, ending his race before the end. A pity, but what Adriàn showed off is crucial for the future.

The circuit, on which the third round will be held on Sunday, is very technical and spectacular and offers multiples opportunities to overtake. Alongside its 4653 m there is every kind of corner, with variations of elevation rather important. We have 9 right corners, 6 left corners, and a straight line of 969 m.
We leave the word to the protagonists of this weekend.

Romano Fenati: “I am happy to be back in Europe. Portimao is an amazing track, and we are ready to compete in this race. We have worked very hard in Qatar, but unfortunately we did not collect the result for which we have worked. The feeling with the bike is good, so we have to improve. I think that we are on the right path.”

Adriàn Fernàndez: “I am thrilled to be able to start my third race in the World Championship, with an excellent synergy with the team. It is a circuit that I already know, so I will have the chance to perform at my best.”

Max Biaggi – Team Owner: “We arrive in Europe and instead of the usual track of Jerez, we will arrive in Portimao. It is a beautiful circuit, to which I am personally linked because of the excellent memories that I have on it. In the previous two races, we did not collect as much as we could, thus this race must represent the occasion to use the excellent work done until now. I am expecting from Romano an excellent result, while Adriàn has to continue to work with the same intensity, that he showed off until now.”

Statistics

The pole position of the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2020 was obtained by R. Fernandez, with the time of 1’48.051 and at an average speed of 152.9 km/h. R. Fernandez won the race followed by D. Foggia and J. Alcoba. Romano reached the twentieth position, starting from the twenty-third one. The Grand Prix of last year represented for Adriàn his debut in the World Championship Moto3. He started from the twentieth position on the grid, and he ended the race in eighteenth position.

For what concerns the records, all of them were sealed in 2020, because the Moto3 rode for the first time on the Algarve last year. J. Masia has the All Time Lap Record, since he obtained the time of 1’47.398, at an average speed of 153.9 km/h. R. Fernandez obtained both the Best Pole, with the time of 1’48.051 and an average speed of 152.9 km/h, and the Best Race Lap. In the race, he obtained the time of 1’48.051, at the average speed of 152.9 km/h. 248.8 km/h represents the top speed, reached by J. Masia.

Schedule – Local Time (GMT +1)

Here there is the schedule to follow the Sterilgarda Max Racing.

Thursday 15 April
17:00 – Press Conference

Friday 16 April
09:00 – 09:40 – FP1 Moto3
13:15 – 13:55 – FP2 Moto3

Saturday 17 April
09:00 – 09:40 – FP3 Moto3
12:35 – 12:50 – Q1 Moto3
13:00 – 13:15 – Q2 Moto3

Sunday 18 April
09:00 – 09:20 – Warm-Up Moto3
11:20 – Race Moto3