Eleven of the world’s fastest gamers are gearing up for the third round of the 2023 MotoGP™ eSport’s Global Series, which starts this week on Friday 6th October at 16.00 CET.
Eleven gamers representing one of MotoGP™’s current teams will go head-to-head over four rounds to determine the winner of this year’s series.
And each round will pack a greater punch than before. To mirror the changes to MotoGP™ in 2023, gamers will compete in a Sprint race during each round (generally held over half race distance), as well as two longer-length races.
The Algarve International Circuit in Portugal is the venue for the third Sprint of the year, before Australia’s legendary Phillip Island and Thailand’s Chang International Circuit host race 1 and 2 respectively. And there will be an added challenge thrown in. Race 2 will be a Flag-to-Flag race, meaning riders must enter the pits and change bike – the first of its kind in MotoGP™ eSport history!
As the tension mounts ahead of the lastest Global Series round, here are guides for all three circuits in Round 2.
Algarve International Circuit
Few tracks on the current MotoGP™ calendar set the pulse racing like the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal. Phillip Island may come close with it's seaside setting and fifth gear curves but in terms of physicality, undulations and variety of turns the venue also known as Portimao sets it apart.
If a rider can be quick here, they can be quick just about anywhere. The layout is technical and challenging. And its fast, flowing nature leads it to routinely serve up some memorable racing.
Nestled in the beautiful setting of Portugal’s Algarve, the 100,000 capacity Autodromo Internacional do Algarve – known more colloquially as Portimao, after the port city it sits half an hour outside of – was opened on the 2nd of November, 2008. The circuit was inaugurated by WorldSBK when they headed to Portugal for their final round of that season – but it’s not just a racetrack. The Algarve Motorsports Park is a state-of-the-art complex which boasts the stunning race track, a go-kart track, an off-road park, a hotel, an apartment complex, a technology park and a sports complex – it really is the bee’s knees.
In terms of the actual circuit layout, the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve has 15 corners – nine right, six left. The undulation in Portimao is incredible and the front straight will allow the MotoGP™ riders to really stretch the legs of their machines, before a unique downhill descend into Turn 1. There's a reason it gets called a high-speed rollercoaster, it's a thrill for riders and fans alike.
It all starts with a fast run down to turn one. Go back to third gear before accelerating through turn two. Go back down to first gear for the turn three hairpin. Feather the throttle through the fast turn four left, and be careful not to lose the front as you brake and shift back to first gear at turn five.
Then you start building speed. Full throttle is required through turn six and then ease your way through seven before braking down to first gear at turn eight. Be careful with acceleration as you descend down through turn nine, feathering the throttle on the way. And trail brake through turn ten, into eleven, again back down to first gear.
Turn twelve is almost flat out and again shift back to first for the turn 13 hairpin (a great overtaking spot on the track). Then comes the rollercoaster. Patience is required through turn 14 as you gently accelerate through second and third gears, and take the long, final turn 15 in fourth gear before powering your way onto the front straight.
Phillip Island
The brilliant Australian track is a rider favourite. It has long been considered one of the jewels on the current calendar. Its series of long, flowing curves, taken in third and fourth gear are spread across 2.7 miles of glorious, undulating tarmac. Its proximity to the Bass Straight means it gives Mugello a run for its money in terms of the most spectacular setting of the year.
With an average speed of 110mph across the fastest MotoGP laps, it’s the second quickest track on the calendar, behind Austria’s Red Bull Ring. Bravery is a requisite, as is front-end feel. Any bike with high top speed should find advantage along the awesome 0.55-mile Gardner Straight that sees riders regularly surpass 200mph.
From there it’s a brave dash into the fearsome turn one, Doohan Corner. Taken in excess of 100mph, gamers should trail brake into the corner, dropping three gears. Finding a line through the middle of the track will give the gamer a good chance of setting up an overtaking move at turn two.
Southern Loop is taken in second gear and requires a smooth, arching line. Throttle control will be tested to the maximum on corner exit as the gas is applied steadily while gradually picking the bike up. A short blast takes you to the awesome Stoner Corner, taken in third gear. No braking is needed; simply feather the throttle before applying gradually all the way to turn four.
Drop down to first gear for the tight hairpin. The same applies to the Siberia hairpin soon after. Then it gets really interesting: Throttle control is once again key exiting Siberia, as you gradually apply the gas while steadily picking the bike up.
Then once up to speed quickly flick from left to right in fourth gear, into the Hayshed. Run the bike out wide before braking and shifting back two gears for the brilliant Lukey Heights. Remember to be patient with the throttle before accelerating down to the turn ten hairpin taken in first gear.
A fast right-left transition is needed for turn eleven, taken with increasing speed. Continue applying the throttle gently through eleven and only the slightest touch of brake is needed entering turn twelve, as you perfect your line. Aim for a late apex as you gradually shift up through the gears and aim for the white line on exit as you build toward 200mph on the main straight.
Chang International Circuit
In March 2015, Thailand became the latest Asian country to host a world-class motorcycling event, with the Superbike World Championship held at the state-of-the-art Chang International Circuit.
The venue was opened in 2014, earning FIM Grade A and FIA Grade 1 classifications, and now strives to attract the biggest names in two and four-wheel motorsports.
2018 marked the first year MotoGP™ made its way to the Chang International Circuit.
Designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the Buriram International Circuit opened in 2014 and will see MotoGP™ making its debut this season. Located around 410km northeast from the country’s capital of Bangkok, the town of Buriram in the Buriram province literally translates into “city of happiness”, and its typically hot and humid weather is a key feature of its Southeast Asian location.
The 4.554km layout incorporates 12 turns and has seen the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship racing at the venue since 2015. Its state-of-the-art facilities, include a total capacity for 100,000 people with various grandstands around the circuit providing incredible viewing opportunities for spectators.
It’s a track of two halves – two long straights out of turn one and three dominate the first part. Then comes your chance to make up real time in the twisty bits, with overtaking opportunities arriving at turns five, nine and twelve.¡
