[kropotkin thinks...] - Portimão MotoGP Preview: A Rollercoaster Full Of Unknowns

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Portimão MotoGP Preview: A Rollercoaster Full Of Unknowns It is hard to think of a greater contrast between tracks than between Qatar, which hosted the opening round of the 2024 MotoGP season, and Portimão, which is home to the second round of 2024. Starting with the obvious: Qatar is a night race, Portimão is a day race, which changes everything. The track conditions are much closer between morning and afternoon at Portimão, than during the heat of the day for early practice at Qatar, and the cooler evening when the racing happens.

Then, the even more obvious. Qatar is as flat as a pancake. Portimão has earned the nickname Rollercoaster, for its wild sequence of elevation changes. Take the section from Turn 9, the aptly named Craig Jones corner, to Turn 12. Riders plunge down the hill from Turn 8, bottom out the suspension at Turn 9, trying as hard as they can to get the bike to change direction, then climb 12 meters - roughly four storeys - up through the double right hander of Turns 10 and 11, before dropping down another 16 meters - a little over five storeys - to Turn 12.


David EmmettWed, 20/Mar/2024 - 10:25

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