Portugal

After the opening round in Jerez Loris Capirossi led the MotoGP™ World Championship for the first time. Ducati, who led the Constructors Championship for ...

In 1986 Jarama was the last European circuit to host the opening round for 19 years as the spotlight settled on Suzuka in Japan. Who will ever forget that opening round at Welkom in 2004 when Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi locked horns in such a personal Yamaha/Honda confrontation that set the tone for the season and beyond? For those 17 years it was the Losail International Circuit in Qatar that had the privilege to raise the curtain and switch on the lights although in 2020 the MotoGP™ class had to start in Jerez because of Covid restrictions. The 2020 season with those Covid restrictions was a nightmare and brought back memories of my first year as a Grand Prix reporter in 1980. Lack of money brought the demise of the Venezuelan Grand Prix as I was about to book my tickets to San Carlos. 17 long and eventful years later the curtain raises on the MotoGP™ stage back in Europe at Portimao in Portugal.