Author: Alexandre Fernandes

The Circuito Estoril hosted today, May 24th, the first of two days of the 2nd round of the 2025 Campeonato nacional de Velocidade (CNV) with the Estoril circuit being the stage for new duels on a scorching day, full of action, adrenaline and uncertainty with timed practice sessions in the morning and the first races in the afternoon.

In the MOTO4 category, Tomás Carneiro arrived in Estoril leading the championship with 50 points after having achieved a double in the 1st round in April. The situation was similar for Tomás Santos in the MOTO5 category. In the PREMOTO category, Afonso Almeida (50 points) and in the SSP300 category, Vasco Camoesas (50 points), two more of the riders with double victories in round 1 also leading. The situation is similar in the Naked Bike Trophy, with Duarte Amaral leading the NB1 and Frédèric Bottoglieri in the NB2, both with 50 points.

In the Superbikes group, Sheridan Morais (50pt) returns to Estoril as the overall leader, and in the STK600, Martim Jesus (50pt) holds the top spot in the standings. In the Dunlop Motoval Cup, in the CDM1, the lead is in the hands of Wagner Pederneira (50pt) and Ricardo Rodrigues (45pt) is the strongest in the CDM2.

PHOTO:  Filipe Rosa

 

24 MAY – RACE 1 – MOTO4 / MOTO5

Tomás Carneiro opens CNV#2 with Pole and victory in MOTO4

Tomás Canarias stronger in MOTO5

With the end of the qualifying sessions, Saturday afternoon kicked off with the first race of the 2nd round of CNV 2025, given to the young riders of MOTO4 and MOTO5. Running alone in his category, Tomás Carneiro would set the best time in the class (MOTO4) and overall in 2:06.461s with his BEON, which guaranteed him another pole this season. Among the MOTO5s, Tomás Canarias would be the strongest with 2:08.126s with Diego Ribeiro and João Cancelinha closing the TOP3.

First row of the grid with Tomás Carneiro on Pole accompanied by Tomás Canarias and Diego Ribeiro.

Green light… clean start and braking for turn 1 with Tomas Santos (MOTO5) momentarily surprising Carneiro (MOTO4) and Canarias (MOTO5) taking the lead. Very quickly, Carneiro would regain control and during the first of 10 scheduled laps of Estoril he opened up a gap of around 1.5s over the remaining rivals. The interest of the race focused on the fight for the middle and lowest places on the podium with Santos and Canarias in contention.

With half the distance completed, Carneiro was leading comfortably and in a “walk in the park” format without opposition. Meanwhile, Santos and Canarias were separated by 5s with an advantage for Santos, which immediately suggested the final outcome. However, Tomás Santos’ MIR “stopped” at turn 2 of the 5th lap, forcing the Rosado Team rider to retire. The one who benefited from this was Diego Ribeiro from the FB Racing Team, who took 3rd place overall, but very close behind João Cancelinha. This was where the interest of the race was focused for the final laps.

With no major opposition and racing alone in his class, Tomás Carneiro (MOTO4) led until the end, winning by a margin of more than 28s over Tomás Canarias (first among the MOTO5s). The lowest place on the podium would go to Diego Ribeiro, who managed to overtake João Cancelinha. A word also for Carolina Azevedo and Lara Pinto from Fábio Racing Team who once again took part in MOTO5, finishing 5th and 6th overall respectively.

 

RACE 1 – SSP300 / PREMOTO3

Alexandre Cabá wins in PREMOTO3 for the first time in 2025

Vasco Camoesas takes his 3rd victory of the season in SSP300

Among the SSP300 and PREMOTO3 pelotons, special mention should be made of Pedrinho Matos (currently racing in the FIM JUNIOR GP), Madalena Simões (currently competing in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship) and Tomás Alonso (currently competing in the Supersport300 World Championship). Pedrinho, Madalena and Alonso took advantage of the 2nd round of the CNV to return to Estoril and train, without counting their results from the weekend towards the overall classification.

Therefore, among the SSP300s, the strongest was Vasco Camoesas. The Fábio Racing Team driver clocked an impressive 1:56.178s, guaranteed him the lead in the class and 7th place on the grid. Rodrigo Asensio and Martim Garcia closed the TOP3 in the class. In PREMOTO3, Afonso Almeida secured the best time with 1:51.826s, being the “man on pole”. Alexandre Cabá and Tiago João closed the TOP3 in the class.

Also noteworthy were the presence of Rafaela Peixoto (TEAM RP27) and Carlota Carochinho (AMR TALDEA) 18th and 20th respectively on the starting grid.

First row of the grid with Afonso Almeida and Tomás Alonso (who would not score) and Alexandre Cabá, followed by Tiago João (4th).

A close race with Vasco Camoesas (SSP300), Alexandre Cabá (PREMOTO3), Afonso Almeida (PREMOTO3) and Tiago João (PREMOTO3) showing their braking skills. With 3 of the 14 laps completed, Camoesas was sinking in the classification, dropping to 5th. Afonso Almeida was leading with a 3s advantage over Cabá and 8s over Tiago João.

Without letting up, maintaining the pace but with practically no opposition, Afonso Almeida was gaining distance over the pack, which allowed him to manage the pace with his eyes on the chequered flag after six laps completed. Alexandre Cabá, on the other hand, was doing “his race” and solidified his 2nd place overall, with a huge gap to Tiago João. This trio was in podium positions and were, at this stage, also the TOP3 of the PREMOTO5. On the other hand, among the SSP300s, Camoesas was leading, being 5th overall, and had to go up to 9th and 10th overall to find Henrique Vicente and Rodrigo Asensio, who were 2nd and 3rd in the class.

And when everything seemed to have stabilized, Afonso Almeida’s Honda “stopped” at turn 8 on the 7th lap, leaving Almeida in disbelief and (literally) “dismounted”. Cabá jumped into the lead with a single objective: to manage the 12-second advantage over Tiago João who, with Almeida’s defeat, now took 2nd place overall. The biggest beneficiaries of all this would be Tiago Martins (PREMOTO3), who saw 3rd place overall “fall into his lap” and Vasco Camoesas, who rose to 4th overall.

At the finish line, Alexandre Cabá won and scored his first victory of 2025 in PREMOTO3. The middle of the podium went to Tiago João and the lowest to Tiago Martins, with these riders also making up the TOP3 of the class. Vasco Camoesas followed up on the CNV#1 double from last April, taking his third victory of the season in the SSP300 and finishing fourth overall. Rounding out the top three in the class were Rodrigo Asensio and Henrique Vicente. Still in the SSP300, Carlota Carochinho and Rafaela Peixoto finished eighth and ninth in the class (14th and 15th overall) respectively.

 

RACE 1 – NAKED BIKE TROPHY (NB1 / NB2 / NB3)

Duarte Amaral continues his winning streak with another victory in NB1

Frédèric Bottoglieri’s 3rd victory in NB2 in 2025

Naked Bike Trophy as the 3rd race of the day with Duarte Amaral imposing his BMW S1000R in the time trials. The 1:46.289s secured Pole and P1 among the NB1s. Luís Franco and Luís Ferreira completed the TOP3 in the class. In NB2, Frédèric Bottoglieri continued his performance from April by setting the best time in the class and taking 4th place on the grid, just behind the first three NB1s. The TOP3 in NB2s was completed by Marcos Leal (10th on the grid) and Augusto Machado (12th on the grid). In NB3 and running alone in the class, João Fragoso would be 18th overall.

First row with Amaral (NB1) on Pole, with Luís Franco (NB1) and Luís Ferreira (NB1) at his side.

The race saw a great start from the main contenders for victory… Amaral, Franco, Ferreira, João Curva and Bottoglieri fighting for the brakes. The advantage went to Duarte Amaral, who with a perfect trajectory took the lead, with Franco, Ferreira and Bottoglieri (the best in NB2) in tow. Duarte Amaral (NB1) gradually increased his advantage, 2s, 4s, 5s… and on the 6th of the 10 scheduled laps, he was already 13s ahead of Luís Franco (NB1). But it was 3rd place overall that caught everyone’s attention. The trio Bottoglieri (NB2), Curva (NB1) and Ferreira (NB1) fought it out in this fight, exchanging control of the lowest place on the podium between them during the 7th, 8th and 9th laps.

In the “checkered” Amaral won by a large margin, adding another victory this season, the 3rd, and also being the strongest among the NB1s with Luís Franco (NB1) in 2nd. In a final effort, João Curva (NB1) would end up relegating Luís Ferreira (NB1) to 4th and Bottoglieri, who was winning among the NB2s, would be 5th in the overall classification. Closing the TOP3 among the NB2s, Marcos Leal (9th overall) and Augusto Machado (12th overall).

 

RACE 1 – SBK / DUNLOP MOTOVAL CUP (CDM 1 / CDM2) / STK600

Sheridan Morais the strongest in the SBK

Gonçalo Capote takes victory in the STK600

Dany Soares wins in the CMD2 and Manuel Teixeira the best in the CDM1.

The first day of the 2nd round of CNV#2 was closed by a compact peloton with the SBK, Dunlop Motoval Cup and STK600.

Sheridan Morais dominated in the SBK and overall. With a time of 1:41.840s, Sheridan took pole position. Still in the SBK, Ricardo Lopes and Miguel Romão would be 2nd and 3rd, completing the first row of the grid and the TOP3 of the class. Among the STK600, Gonçalo Capote was the strongest, with Gonçalo Ribeiro and Martim Jesus completing the TOP3. In the Dunlop Motoval Cup in CDM1, Carlos Pederneira imposed his pace and was the strongest. Manuel Teixeira and Tiago Pires secured TOP3 in the class. In CDM2, Dany Soares was the strongest with Ricardo Rodrigues and Vasco Silva in TOP3.

Sheridan Morais took pole position on the front row with Ricardo Lopes and Miguel Romão at his side. The green light was on and a real battle was underway between Morais and Lopes in the fight for victory. The first five laps saw minimal differences and a few attempts by Lopes to take the lead, which Sheridan resisted… a little further back, and in anticipation, Miguel Romão maintained his pace and consolidated 3rd place overall… SBK dominated the podium at this stage and it was expected that it would be the same at the end.

Gonçalo Capote (STK600) and Martim Jesus (STK600) were solidly in 4th and 5th place overall, while Gonçalo Ribeiro (STK600) retired on lap 6. Among the CMD2s, Ricardo Rodrigues, Vasco Silva and Dany Soares were fighting for 6th place overall. Manuel Teixeira was 12th overall and the best among the CMD1s.

Lap after lap and without any major changes, the excitement was focused on the fight for victory, as the difference between Sheridan Morais and Ricardo Lopes was around 2 seconds, and on the fight for 6th place overall.

On the finish line, Sheridan Morais confirmed his dominance and also took his 3rd victory of the season, with Ricardo Lopes in the middle of the podium and Miguel Romão with the lowest. The podium overall was entirely SBK, and he was also the TOP3 in the class.

Gonçalo Capote (STK600) secured 4th overall, with an inspired Dany Soares (CDM2) overcoming his class rivals (Vasco Silva and Ricardo Rodrigues) and even managing to beat Martim Jesus (STK600) to take 5th overall. Jesus had to settle for 6th overall, having finished 2nd in STK600.

As for the TOP3, in SBK, Sheridan Morais, Ricardo Lopes and Miguel Romão. In STK600, Gonçalo Capote, Martim Jesus and Vitor Silva. In CDM2, Dany Soares, Ricardo Rodrigues and Vitor Silva and in CDM1 Manuel Teixeira, Tiago Pires and Jesus Macarro.

Circuito Estoril

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