The World Motorcycle Speed Championship is expected to attract more than 150,000 spectators this weekend.

Portugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR) police force will have 200 officers on the road this Saturday and Sunday to ensure the security of the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix and to prevent access to the circuit to anyone who does not have a ticket.

Major Mafalda Almeida, spokesperson and public relations of GNR, revealed that 200 officers would be deployed on each day of the event, with an additional 30 on Sunday, which is expected to be the busiest day.

The force responsible for ensuring the safety of the Portuguese Moto Grand Prix guarantees that their teams “will act preventively and are prepared for all situations that could condition the event’s security.

Mafalda Almeida warned that favourable weather conditions could also contribute to increased circulation in the region.

According to the event organisers, the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix, the premier category of the World Motorcycle Speed Championship, is expected to attract more than 150,000 spectators.

The security operation is being carried out by military personnel from the Faro Territorial Command, with various territorial, traffic, criminal investigation, intervention unit, and inactivation of explosive devices, among others, as well as the National Traffic Unit.

The GNR spokeswoman stressed the importance of spectators arriving “as early as possible” so that security procedures can take place quickly and to ensure “that all spectators are inside the circuit before the races begin”.

She also recalled that all spectators with tickets would be provided with a bus transfer service connecting to the cities of Portimão and Lagos daily, every 30 minutes from 07:30.

“We stress again that we encourage spectators to use the transfers and, above all, two-wheeled vehicles so that there is as little traffic congestion as possible,” said Mafalda Almeida.

The military force warned that there would be “strong constraints” at the exit of the A22 (Via do Infante). Two accesses could be used by drivers, leading to the racetrack, namely the National 266, connecting to the locality of Montes de Cima, and the municipal road connecting Arão to Pereira.

Traffic will be limited on the main road connecting to the racetrack from the A22, at the Mexilhoeira Grande junction, on the roads between the towns of Odiáxere, Arão, Pereira and Folga, and between Rasmalho, Casas Velhas, Moinho da Rocha and Montes de Cima.

The GNR predicts that the most significant traffic restrictions will occur on Saturday between 15:00 and 18:00, and on Sunday, there will be great affluence between 14:30 and 17:30

GNR advised residents of the localities of Pereira, Monte de Cima and other areas near the circuit and citizens who need to pass through these localities to seek “alternative routes”.

MotoGP is the most important category of the World Speed Motorcycling Championship. The 2023 championship kicks off in Portugal this weekend, finishing November 26 in Valencia.