Initial forecast of 180 thousand people for the four days of the event “has already been largely exceeded”
The director of the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA), Paulo Pinheiro, said this Sunday that the Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix “has already exceeded the expected attendance”, being the largest in a motor event in Portimão.
“We are close to 200 thousand people, in what can be said to be the largest attendance ever at a MotoGP race and at motor events in the Algarve”, the person responsible told Lusa, in the year that marks the 15th anniversary of the AIA.
According to Paulo Pinheiro, the initial forecast of 180,000 people scheduled for the four days of the second round event of the speed motorcycle world championship, “has already been largely exceeded”, with the circuit’s capacity very close to being sold out this Sunday.
“The set of initiatives we planned were attractions that brought thousands of people to the Algarve from various parts of the country and abroad, which is reflected in this increase in spectators”, he explained.
In addition to a fun zone installed outside the circuit, to accompany the race, the organization will raffle off a Yamaha R7 motorcycle and 10 helmets signed by Miguel Oliveira at the end of the race, one per stand.
The draw will be made after the end of the MotoGP race, at 3pm, followed by “an invasion of the track” by the public who can interact with the riders.
“These are attractive initiatives that, I think, resulted in attractions for the public”, highlighted Paulo Pinheiro.
In turn, a source from the Republican National Guard (GNR) told Lusa that traffic on the A22 (Via do Infante), towards Faro/Lagos “is proceeding normally, but with slow access to the race track”.
“In view of this conditioning in fluidity, people are advised to go to the circuit as early as possible”, pointed out the source.
According to the GNR, “a significant change” will be made to road traffic between 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm, with the closure of the section of the A-22 between the Alvor and Mexilhoeira Grande interchanges, providing access to the race track, in the direction Faro/Lagos.
According to the guard, the change aims to “allow a quick flow of traffic at the exit of the circuit during the afternoon”.
Therefore, he states that anyone traveling to AIA during that period will have to exit at the Alvor Junction on the A22 and follow Estrada Nacional 125.
The MotoGP race, the second round of the Motorcycle Speed World Championship, is scheduled for 2pm this Sunday.
By Lusa
