In a huge break from the normal, Qatar will not host the opening MotoGP of 2023 as that honour will fall for the first time to Portugal’s Portimao track.

The 2023 Portuguese GP will mark the first time the MotoGP calendar has begun in Europe since 2006 and will be only the third season opener held in Europe in more than three decades.

It will also be the first time Portugal has ever hosted the first race of the year, with expectation ahead of the new season set to hit full speed on the Algarve as the grid debut with their new colours and machinery, and the first trophies of the season are awarded.

There will also be official pre-season tests held at Portimão during the weeks before the event, the dates of which will be confirmed soon.