A mild and sunny morning greeted teams, riders and the public at the Estoril Circuit to host the opening of the 2025 season of the National Speed Championship (CNV). With a total of 69 entrants for the first race of the year, the Estoril circuit would be the stage for the initial duels in the Superbikes (SBK), Superstock 600 (STK600), Supersport 300 (SSP 300), Premoto 3 (PM3), Naked Bikes (NB), Moto 4 (M4), Moto 5 (M5) and the Dunlop Motoval Cup (CDM) groups.
A day full of action, adrenaline and uncertainty with timed practice sessions in the morning and the first races in the afternoon. The 2nd round of the FIM Sidecar World Championship is also an integral part of this weekend’s sporting programme, which, as always, provides unique images.
PHOTO: João Santos Motorsport
RACE 1 – MOTO4 / MOTO5
Tomás Carneiro scores his first victory of the season in MOTO4 and Tomás Santos is the strongest in MOTO5
With the pelotons lined up by category, in the MOTO4 category, Tomás Carneiro set the fastest time on his BEON with 2:04.011s, while in the MOTO5 category, Tomás Santos, from Rosado Team, was the strongest with a time of 2:08.145s. In the TOP 3 in the MOTO5 category, Tomás Santos, Tomás Canarias and Diego Ribeiro were the strongest, with Tomás Carneiro and Gonçalo Santos being the only ones registered in MOTO4.
As expected, as a result of the difference in pace between the two classes, the grid featured Tomás Carneiro (MOTO4) on Pole accompanied on the front row by Gonçalo Santos (MOTO4) and Tomás Santos (MOTO5). Also worth highlighting was the presence of the Fábio Racing Team drivers, Carolina Azevedo and Lara Pinto, who started in 7th and 8th positions respectively.
The green light for the first race of the season with 10 laps to complete on the Estoril circuit… An exemplary start from Carneiro (MOTO4) who took the lead when braking for turn 1, with Gonçalo Santos (MOTO4) and Tomás Santos (MOTO5) in hot pursuit. The interest and uncertainty of the race were focused on the fight for the lowest place on the podium with Tomás Santos and Diego Ribeiro in contention in the first laps. However, this fight would not last long as Santos was stronger and quickly opened up a good lead over Ribeiro. Further back, João Cancelinha occupied 5th place overall and was 3rd in the MOTO5 category.
With a constant pace and only timid opposition from Gonçalo Santos, Tomás Carneiro led from the first to the last meter, always maintaining a comfortable distance over his opponent. The Beon rider thus marked the start of the championship with his first victory and leaves excellent signs for Sunday’s race. Gonçalo Santos would be 2nd overall with his MIR and Tomás Santos 3rd.
In the TOP3 among the MOTO4, Tomás Carneiro and Gonçalo Santos. Among the MOTO4, Tomás Santos, Diego Ribeiro and Tomás Canarias closing.
RACE 1 – SSP300 / PREMOTO3
Afonso Almeida wins in PREMOTO3 and Vasco Camoesas sets the pace in SSP300
In SSP300, Tomás Alonso imposed his law, with 1:51.594s and in PREMOTO3, Afonso Almeida secured the top spot with 1:52.441s. In the TOP 3 of SSP300, Tomás Alonso, Guilherme Gomes and Vasco Camoesas. In PREMOTO3, the TOP 3 was given to Afonso Almeida, Alexandre Cabá and Frederico Guimarães. For the second race of the day and the first of the current season for the SSP300 and PREMOTO3, Pole position went to Tomás Alonso (SSP300) who shared the front row with Afonso Almeida (SSP300) and Alexandre Cabá (PREMOTO3).
In one of the most interesting and competitive races of the day, the SSP300 and PREMOTO3 launched themselves into the 14 scheduled laps and the “mix” between the classes in terms of the overall classification was always uncertain. The first braking for turn 1 would give the lead to a motivated Tomás Alonso (SSP300), with Afonso Almeida (PREMOTO3) and Alexandre Cabá (PREMOTO3) on his wheel.
Alonso’s very strong pace allowed the CF Moto rider to gain a 3s advantage in the first two laps, but a crash at turn 7 and subsequent retirement suddenly ended expectations of a brilliant result for the opening of the championship. The one who benefited from this situation was Afonso Almeida, who took the lead and quickly got rid of Cabá, as after 7 laps Almeida had a lead of over 20s over his class rival. There was also an interesting battle with Frederico Guimarães and Vasco Camoesas, who were racing and livening up the laps of Estoril, separated by tenths of a second. Until the end Afonso Almeida kept his Honda on the correct trajectories and with good time management and race strategy he crossed the finish line in first, with Alexandre Cabá taking the middle of the podium. Frederico Guimarães and Vasco Camoesas fought for 3rd place until the 12th lap, when Guimarães managed to open up a 2s lead and tried to hold on until the end. This final effort led to the Honda rider’s crash at turn 10, handing Vasco Camoesas the lowest spot on the podium. Overall, the victory would go to Afonso Almeida (PREMOTO3), followed by Alexandre Cabá (PREMOTO3) and Vasco Camoesas (SSP300).
As for the TOP3 by class, among the PREMOTO3, Afonso Almeida, Alexandre Cabá and Tiago João would be the protagonists, with Vasco Camoesas, Martim Garcia and Lourenço Vicente securing the TOP3 in the SSP300.
RACE 1 – NAKED BIKE TROPHY (NB1 / NB2)
Duarte Amaral takes P1 in NB1. Frédèric Bottoglieri from behind to the front in NB2
In a group of 17 registered riders and with the Naked Bikes divided into the NB1 and NB2 classes, Duarte Amaral (NB1) took his BMW S1000R to the top spot in NB1, completing the fastest lap in 1:47.292s and also taking Pole position. Luís Franco and Luís Ferreira closed the TOP3 in the class. In NB2, Frédèric Bottoglieri was the strongest and scored a time of 1:49.832s with Marcos Leal and Augusto Machado closing the TOP3.
Naked Bike grid led by Duarte Amaral (NB1) with Pole position, accompanied by Luís Franco (NB1) and Luís Ferreira (NB1). Frédèric Bottoglieri, the strongest among the NB2s, was in 4th place. Green light and the usual “shrike” until turn 1 where Duarte Amaral took charge of the race with Luís Franco, João Curva (starting from 8th position on the grid) and Marcos Leal (starting from 10th position on the grid) surprising the competition.
Duarte Amaral would not relinquish the lead again during the scheduled 10 laps and it was with authority that he imposed a 10-second advantage over the pack at the finish line, securing his first victory of the season. Luís Franco, despite being unable to keep up with Amaral, managed the race well and climbed to the middle of the podium, 20 seconds ahead of the 3rd overall.
And it was precisely the fight for 3rd overall that was the most exciting part of the race. With constant changes of position, the first laps saw Marcos Leal, João Curva and an emerging Frédèric Bottoglieri arguing for a place on the podium. Leal would end up sinking in the classification while Ricardo Almeida and Nuno Farias joined “the party”… but the pace was on Bottoglieri’s side, who managed to overtake Curva and Almeida in the final laps. The Triumph ST 765RS rider ended up “finding” almost 1s of advantage and took 3rd place overall at the finish line, followed by Curva, Almeida and Farias.
By class, in the TOP3 of NB1, Duarte Amaral, Luís Franco and João Curva, in NB2, Frédèric Bottoglieri, Marcos Leal and Augusto Machado.
RACE 1 – SBK / DUNLOP MOTOVAL CUP (CDM 1 / CDM2) / STK600
Sheridan Morais in P1 of the SBK, Martim Jesus takes the top spot in the STK600
Vasco Silva wins the CDM1 and Manuel Teixeira dominates in the CDM1.
To close the first day of competition, the national SBK, STK 600 and Dunlop Motoval Cup teams had 22 riders on the grid. Absolute pole position went to Sheridan Morais (SBK) with 1:42.44s, with Ricardo Lopes (SBK) and Miguel Romão (SBK) alongside him on the front row for the scheduled 15 laps. Dany Soares, the strongest among the CDM2s, occupied 4th place on the grid. Martim Jesus, from Team Moto Clube Loulé, who prevailed among the STK600s, was 6th and Carlos Pederneira (CMD1) was 10th. The stage was set for the final race of the first day of competition at the start of the CNV 2025.
A very “tight” start with Sheridan Morais, Miguel Romão and Ricardo Lopes (all SBK) swapping positions among themselves at the front of the race in the first corners, with Vasco Silva (CDM2) putting the Yamaha R1 in the fight. At the start of the 2nd lap, Lopes imposed his experience and knowledge of the track and left Romão and Morais 2s behind, while Afonso Cruz (SBK) relegated Vasco Silva to 4th. The atmosphere was “warm” and on the 4th lap Lopes increased his distance, benefiting from the heated battle between Romão and Morais. Meanwhile, Danny Soares was the best among the CDM2s and was in 5th place with Martim Jesus (STK600) in 6th. The best among the CDM1s was Wagner Pederneira in 12th place.
After just one lap, the 5th, Sheridan Morais broke free from Romão and launched an attack for the lead… 0.467s was the difference to Lopes in a duel of titans, with Romão already more than 3s behind. With half the race distance completed, Lopes, who felt the pressure from Sheridan, managed a tiny gap of between 0.134s and 0.384s to Sheridan… who would win?
The fight between the men from RL58-Racing School and Mawiki Racing Team promised to take the decision to the finish line when, on the 14th lap, Sheridan overtook Lopes and “ran away” to victory… and in impressive fashion, with a gain of 3.9s in a lap and a half. Sheridan Morais thus showed what he was made of and in an imperial fashion secured his first victory of the season in SBK. Ricardo Lopes and Miguel Romão (both SBK) are 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In the STK600, Martim Jesus wins, finishing 6th overall, with Vitor Silva (11th overall) and Rui Afonso (12th overall) closing the TOP3. In the CMD2, Vasco Silva (6th overall) was the strongest, with Ricardo Rodrigues (7th overall) and Rui Palma (14th overall) entering the TOP3. In the CMD1, Manuel Teixeira (15th overall) stood out, with Tiago Pires (16th overall) and Afonso de Sousa (18th overall) writing their names in the TOP3.
Circuito Estoril
