MotoGP/Portimão: Fans want Oliveira to "go all out" to bring "joy" to his farewell.

Fans believe in a good result for rider Miguel Oliveira (Yamaha) in the Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix, but he will have to "go all out" to bring joy in his farewell to the premier class of motorcycle racing.

Competing in his seventh season in MotoGP, and with a move to the World Superbike Championship (for production-derived motorcycles) already planned for 2026 with BMW, the 30-year-old Oliveira will have strong support from the public at the Autódromo Internacional de Portimão (AIA) throughout the weekend.

“Miguel has to go all out on the track. He has to give everything in this last race in Portugal. We are here because we believe in him and we know he knows how to win here,” said Vítor Neves, near the AIA, where he was accompanied by three friends, all from Porto.

In 2020, Oliveira triumphed on the Portimão circuit, and the Portuguese rider's fans dream of another moment of joy.

“[Miguel] has nothing to lose, he only has this race left and the last one in Spain [Valencia]. We want to have some fun and be left with a good memory,” he pointed out, in statements to Lusa.

Couple from Coimbra supports

Maria Rodrigues and José Carlos Santos, a couple from Coimbra, also expressed hope for a good result, although they acknowledged that podium finishes are like a mirage for the driver from Almada.

“I think Miguel can put on a good performance at home. I'm not saying win, or even get on the podium, but a fifth or sixth place. We'll see. We're here to support our Miguel,” José Santos predicted.

Spaniard Alex Márquez (Ducati) led today's first free practice session at the Portimão circuit, which hosts the 21st of 22 races this season, with Oliveira in 20th place.

Alex Márquez, who has already mathematically secured second place in the championship, finished the session with a time of 1:39.145 minutes, leaving Italian Marco Bezzechi (Aprilia) in second place, 0.196 seconds behind, with Australian Jack Miller (Yamaha) in third, 0.233 seconds behind.

Absent from the Portuguese MotoGP Grand Prix will be the reigning champion, Marc Márquez (Ducati), who has already secured the 2025 title, and his compatriot Jorge Martin (Aprilia), champion in 2024 and winner of the Portuguese round last year, both due to injury.

The 21st edition of the Portuguese Grand Prix will be held for the sixth consecutive year at the Algarve International Circuit (AIA) in Portimão, which is hosting a race of the championship for the sixth time, between today and Sunday, on the 21st matchday of the 77th season of the main World Motorcycle Championship.