Estoril Kicks Off Second Half of Season with CNV Round 3
With temperatures exceeding 38°C and the summer break over, the Estoril circuit hosts the start of the second phase of the National Speed Championship (CNV) season this first weekend of September. Saturday morning is dedicated entirely to timed practice sessions, featuring the CNV Junior, Naked Bike, Moto4, SSP300, Sportbike, Superbike, SSP, and Copa Motoval grids.
Tiago Tomé (Sportbike) / Photo: Pedro Ribeiro
CNV JUNIOR
Tiago Tomé Dominates CNV JUNIOR
Following the two qualifying sessions for the young CNV JUNIOR riders, Tiago Tomé—the only PREMOTO4 rider—secured pole position with a time of 2:00.029s, leaving his rivals more than 10 seconds behind. Joining him on the front row of the grid were Simão Viegas and Carolina Azevedo.
The race got off to a clean start for the scheduled 10 laps of the Estoril circuit, with Tiago Tomé immediately asserting his dominance by taking the lead, leaving Simão Viegas and Carolina Azevedo to battle for the remaining podium spots. The race was uneventful regarding the lead, as Tiago Tomé had already built a 15-second advantage after just two laps. Meanwhile, Simão Viegas and Carolina Azevedo fought for the other podium positions. The second lap also saw Frederico Morais retire from the race.
Unsurprisingly, Tiago Tomé took the top spot on the podium at the finish line. Simão Viegas claimed second place, relegating Carolina Azevedo to third overall.
NAKED BIKE TROPHY
Luís Franco snatches NB1 victory by a mere 0.236s. / Frédèric Bottoglieri dominates the NB2 class.
Among the Naked Bike riders, it was Duarte Amaral (NB1) who signaled his intentions for the weekend by clocking a 1:47.482s lap, relegating Luís Franco (NB1) to the middle spot on the front row by just 0.550s. Rodrigo Amaral (NB1) joined the Amaral-Franco duo on the front row, trailing by another 0.775s. In the NB2 class, the previously unbeaten Frédèric Bottoglieri was the fastest, though he started 7th on the grid, with Augusto Machado in 9th and Anselmo Vilardebó in 11th. Also noteworthy was the presence of António Moreira, competing solo in the NB3 class.
The race at Estoril was scheduled for 10 laps, with Duarte Amaral (NB1) asserting his dominance under braking for Turn 1. Hot on his heels were Ricardo Almeida (NB1) and Rodrigo Amaral; the three engaged in a battle for the lead, while Luís Franco lost ground at the start, dropping to 5th overall. Frédèric Bottoglieri, the pacesetter in NB2, was running in 4th.
Four laps in, Duarte Amaral (NB1) continued to lead, with Ricardo Almeida (NB1) challenging him directly, while Rodrigo Amaral (NB1) fell back to begin a duel with Luís Franco (NB1), who was making a strong recovery. Two laps later, Franco overtook Amaral; clearly losing pace, Amaral dropped to 5th, also being passed by Bottoglieri (NB2).
With three laps remaining, Luís Franco (NB1) was lapping at a blistering pace, trailing race leader Duarte Amaral (NB1) by just 0.185 seconds. Ricardo Almeida (NB1) held a solid third place overall, while Bottoglieri (NB2) continued to run in fourth—a position he would maintain until the finish.
Driving dominantly, Luís Franco took the lead as the final lap began and went on to claim victory at the checkered flag, beating Duarte Amaral by a mere 0.236 seconds. Ricardo Almeida secured third place overall. Meanwhile, the affable French driver Frédèric Bottoglieri was the top performer in the NB2 class, finishing fourth.
By class, the NB1 results were Luís Franco (1st), Duarte Amaral (2nd), and Ricardo Almeida (3rd). In the NB2 class, the order was Frédèric Bottoglieri (4th), Augusto Machado (9th), and Anselmo Vilardebó (10th). António Moreira finished 11th and last in the NB3 class.
MOTO4 / SSP300 / SPORTBIKE
Tiago Tomé claims victory in SPB / Alexandre Cabá keeps his momentum going in MOTO4 / Vasco Camoesas proves strongest in SSP300
The field consisted of 13 riders across the MOTO4, SSP300, and SPORTBIKE classes, with Tiago João (Sportbike) securing pole position by setting the fastest lap at Estoril with a time of 1:49.712. Alongside him was Alexandre Cabá, qualifying 2nd overall and leading the MOTO4 class. Tomás Carneiro (MOTO4) rounded out the front row. In the SSP300 category, Vasco Camoesas once again proved to be the strongest, qualifying 5th fastest on the grid.
The race was scheduled for 14 laps at Estoril. When the lights went out, Tiago Tomás (SPB) made a lightning-fast start, putting his Aprilia 660 in the lead before the braking zone for Turn 1. Meanwhile, Alexandre Cabá (MOTO4) was caught off guard by rivals Abel Ramirez and Tomás Carneiro, who took over 2nd and 3rd place overall. Further back, Vasco Camoesas (SSP300) positioned his Kawasaki in 5th place.
By the end of the first lap, Tiago Tomás (SPB) had already opened up a 4-second gap over the pack, leaving the battle behind him to Tomás Carneiro (MOTO4) and Cabá (MOTO4), with the latter managing to pull away from Ramirez (MOTO4).
After five laps, Tiago Tomé was comfortably leading the race, heading toward victory with a 10-second advantage. Meanwhile, Cabá and Carneiro were battling each other for the MOTO4 lead and podium spots. Camoesas (SSP300) had moved up to fourth place.
At the finish line, Tiago Tomé took a comfortable overall and SPB victory. Alexandra Cabá finished second overall and topped the MOTO4 class, while Tomás Carneiro (MOTO4) rounded out the podium. Vasco Camoesas was the top SPB rider and finished fourth overall.
Regarding the podiums by category: in SPB, Tiago Tomé (1st overall) and Carlota Carochinho (9th overall). In MOTO4, Alexandre Cabá (2nd overall), Tomás Carneiro (3rd overall), and Abel Ramirez (8th overall). In SSP300, Vasco Camoesas (4th overall), Lourenço Vicente (5th overall), and Alexandre Canarias (overall ranking).
SUPERBIKE / SUPERSPORT / MOTOVAL CUP
Ricardo Lopes wins in SBK / Martim Jesus dominates in SSP / Dany Soares tops the CDM2 class.
In the Superbike / Supersport / Motoval Cup field, Ricardo Lopes (SBK) set the fastest lap time of 1:42.835s, securing pole position. Alongside him was the fastest SSP rider, Martim Jesus. Dany Soares (CDM2) rounded out the front row. Raúl Felgueiras, the fastest in the CDM1 class, posted the fifth-fastest time overall.
Dany Soares (CDM2) made a perfect start, taking the lead with Luís Ferreira (SBK) and Ricardo Lopes (SBK) right on his tail. Martim Jesus (SSP) held fourth place overall, leading his category.
After two laps, Soares (CDM2) had opened up a two-second gap over his rivals, leaving Ferreira and Lopes locked in a tight battle on their Superbikes. Meanwhile, Jesus (SSP) stayed in close pursuit of the Superbike duo.
With seven laps completed, Soares’ (CDM2) lead came under threat from Ricardo Lopes (SBK), who managed to pick up the pace and close the gap to just 0.252 seconds behind Soares. Meanwhile, Martim Jesus (SSP) managed to overtake Luís Ferreira (SBK), who appeared to be losing momentum. It took just two more laps for Lopes (SBK) to assert his dominance, overtaking Soares (CDM2) and quickly opening up a lead of over three seconds on the RL Performance 58 rider. Martim Jesus (SSP), however, could not hold off a resurgent Luís Ferreira (SBK) and dropped to fourth place overall, though he continued to lead the SSP class.
Ricardo Lopes charged through the final lap to secure the overall victory and first place in the SBK class. Despite winning the CDM2 category, Dany Soares had to settle for second place overall. Luís Ferreira finished third overall—taking second in the SBK class—while Martim Jesus finished fourth and was the top rider in the SSP class.
By category: in SBK, Ricardo Lopes (1st overall), Luís Ferreira (3rd overall), and Nelson Cruz (8th overall). In SSP, Martim Jesus (4th overall), Isaac Rosa (6th overall), and Celestin Masy (7th overall). In CDM2, Dany Soares (2nd overall), Raul Felgueiras (5th overall), and Carlos Pinheiro (10th overall).
Circuito Estoril