The FIM Motocross World Championship is going to Portugal for the second year in a row to mark the fifth stop of the 2023 campaign. The circuit of Agueda is historic and has been on the calendar for a long time, since 1985. The 2023 MXGP of Portugal will mark the 24th MXGP event of the circuit and will be held on the 29th and 30th April.
Over the years, some amazing riders put their name on the winning list in Agueda such as Stefan Everts, Antonio Cairoli, Gautier Paulin, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and last year Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado. However, to spice things up the circuit will have a variation this year as the direction will be inverted which is going to add to the challenge for every rider as this will feel like a new circuit.
Last Sunday 10 riders were invited during a Press Day to test the new layout and all the changes made in the jumps throughout the circuit. Amongst them was Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez, currently 5th in the Motocross World Championship and Portuguese riders invited by the organiser who will race this weekend. The excellent feedback showed that the circuit of Agueda will be even faster and more spectacular this weekend. The MXGP of Portugal will also host the 3rd round of the EMX250 and EMX125 presented by FMF Racing with Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi and MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Janis Martin Reisulis leading their Championship respectively.
The MXGP of Portugal in 2022 marked the 4th stop of the season and it was Jorge Prado who won the first GP of his 2022 season with a great 1-2 to stop Tim Gajser to win 4 GPs in a row at that time which showed how much Prado likes this circuit.
This year, Prado arrives in Portugal with the Red Plate, 201 points and full of confidence after winning his first GP of the season in Trentino. He has been incredibly solid as he never missed a podium so far this year. Prado also won 3 times in Agueda over his career which places him as a big favourite. However, the competition will be tough as we saw 4 different GP winners over the first 4 GPs of the season which says a lot about the level of rivalry in 2023.
MXGP Schedule
Championship Standings
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 201 points;
2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 184 p.;
3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 175 p.;
4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 166 p.;
5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 136 p.;
MXGP of Portugal Sunday Stream
