Because this will be the first race of the World Championship, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA) expects twice as many people as the last event of this type held on the circuit. Many of the spectators will travel from Spain.
In the three days of competition, it is estimated that 150,000 people pass through the circuit. Only on Sunday, the day of the main race, 60,000 people are expected, a number higher than the inhabitants of the nearest city, Portimão. For this reason, the National Republican Guard (GNR) assigned to the event has weight.
“In this operation, members of the Faro Territorial Command participate in the different valences: territorial, transit, intervention, criminal investigation, intervention unit, film technology and inactivation of explosive devices,” revealed Major Mafalda Almeida at a press conference.
In total, 200 soldiers will be deployed daily, with reinforcements on Sunday, totaling 230 that day. There will also be drones and an air vehicle to support all the logistics. The GNR spokesman stressed that the main objectives of this operation are to implement security measures and advice, since “many spectators are expected, on a weekend that is expected to have good weather conditions.”
So that there are no restrictions to access the AIA, the Republican National Guard asks those who bought tickets to preferably travel on the 50 buses that the organization has made available (double the number of the last run), and which will connect the cities of Portimão and Lagos. to the circuit “There will be a transfer service available every day from 7:30 am and with intervals of 30 minutes,” added the GNR spokesperson. In addition, once at the racetrack, a bus will transfer the spectators to the respective entrance gate.
The administrator of the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve believes that this event, being the first on the world circuit, is surrounded by expectations. “For us it is a great responsibility because it is the first time that the championship has started in Europe”, says Paulo Pinheiro. “We have done two official tests in the last two weekends, it is the first time that there is going to be a sprint race in this championship on Saturday, it is the first time that Miguel [Oliveira] going to apply for a new brand, there are a number of factors,” he adds.
The Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira, fresh out of KTM, will race for the first time with the Italian brand Aprilia and Paulo Pinheiro believes that in the AIA he will be able to demonstrate his talent. “He was the great winner of a Portuguese prize in 2020, at that time unfortunately without an audience, and he completely dominated the race,” said the official, recalling the times of the pandemic.
“We know that this year is much more difficult, because it is the first time that he is going to race with a new bike, he has only had a few days of testing before this championship, but he has a lot of talent to overcome that”, he guarantees.
The Moto GP races begin this Friday, March 24, with the main race scheduled for Sunday. The organization has already sold 50,000 tickets and hopes to reach 65,000.
Source: TSF
