Milestone and quality motorcycle go hand-in-hand and MotoGP 21 is no exception. To read our full review for MotoGP 21, click here. For more general tips and tricks for the new official MotoGP game, head over to our beginner's guide.
If you choose to go with the "official calendar", the Portuguese Grand Prix is the third race you'll call at. Portugal's Portimao circuit joined the calendar as a backup option for the canceled races in 2020.
Portimao has been called up in 2021 to replace the Argentine and Americas GPs. There will also be a second race at this circuit to replace the Australian GP later this year too, titled the "Algarve GP".
Table of Contents
Milestone were quick to act in adding Portimao to MotoGP 21 and it's the first time we've gone here in this game series.
Tyres
Portimao may be a smooth circuit, but its long, winding corners end up shredding your rubber. You can opt for a medium on the front and rear, but a hard on the rear axle will help you see out the race.
Suspension
Portimao has a lot of sharp elevation changes which favour a more stable bike. As such, front pre-load is down at 2, with the front swingarm extension and compression both at 3. Oil quantity should be set to 4, with the front spring hardness at 5.
On the rear, values need to also be on the low side to be quick. 3 for rear spring hardness and both shock absorber compression and extension are what you need. Rear-pre-load though, has to be up at 6 to help on-throttle acceleration.
Vehicle geometry
Steering head inclination has to be high at 6, again to help stability. The trail has to also be on the high side at 5. Steering plate position is at 3, once again, this aids stability. Lastly, the rear swingarm length needs to be around middle of the road at 4.
Transmission
The gears have to be middle of the road to help acceleration but also not allow over revving.
Because the engine braking is high, the slipper clutch can be low to increase responsiveness.
Brake System
As usual, you'll need the strongest brakes available in dry conditions at Portimao. The Turn 1 braking zone alone is a huge stopping area and one you'll need the best anchors for.
ECU
It's no exaggeration to say that the electronic aids available in MotoGP will come in handy at Portimao. There aren't many big traction zones, so TC can be set to 3. 4 engine braking and anti-wheelie assist is needed to keep the bike stable.
Power mapping is best at 3 for a flying lap, but you’ll need to turn this around during some points in the race.
All of these can be adjusted out on track using the HUD in the bottom-right of the screen.
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