CNV III at Estoril – First National Champions of 2026 and Posthumous Tributes
On the morning of Sunday, September 6th, the Estoril Circuit hosted warm-up sessions for all racing classes—CNV Junior, Naked Bike, Moto4, SSP300, Sportbike, Superbikes, SSP, and Copa Motoval—under mild, windless conditions. These sessions preceded the day’s main sporting program, which featured the second races of the weekend.
As no further qualifying sessions were held, the starting grids for this second day of CNV III at Estoril remained unchanged from the previous day’s lineups.
The day was highlighted by the crowning of the season’s first National Champions. Frédèric Bottoglieri repeated his victory in the Naked Bike 2 class, thereby securing the title. In the SPB category, Tiago “Rafa” João also clinched the 2026 National SPB Championship title, having achieved a double victory over the weekend. Martim Jesus, following an excellent performance, was also crowned the 2026 National SSP Champion.
A minute of silence was observed to honor the recent passing of two members of the Motor Clube do Estoril’s “Laranjinhas” (track marshals)—Paulo Henriques and Pedro Laginha. These recently deceased marshals had contributed for years to great races and memorable moments in motorsport at the Estoril Circuit and are deeply missed by all. We extend our heartfelt condolences to them and their families, and bid them a final farewell.
Minute of silence – Photo: André Kezman Ferreira
CNV JUNIOR
Tiago Tomé scores a double win in PREMOTO4 / Simão Viegas dominates the JUNIOR class
Based on Saturday’s qualifying results, Tiago Tomé (PREMOTO4) once again lined up his BEON 150 in pole position. Following yesterday’s commanding and undisputed victory, Tomé started the race with his sights set on a “double win” in his return to Estoril. Lining up alongside him once again were Simão Viegas and Carolina Azevedo; both were competing in the CNV JUNIOR class but riding the agile MIR 150s.
The 10-lap race got off to a clean start. Tiago Tomé, racing solo in the PREMOTO4 category, immediately took charge, opening up a lead of over nine seconds on the rest of the field during the very first lap. In the JUNIOR category, Simão Viegas pulled ahead to take the lead—running second overall—while Carolina Azevedo and Frederico Morais battled for the remaining podium spots in the JUNIOR class.
Also noteworthy was the presence of female riders Ana Martins, Lara Morais, and Margarida Venâncio, who added a special touch to the JUNIOR category, riding consistently between 5th and 7th place.
At the finish line, Tiago Tomé secured a dominant victory in PREMOTO4, marking the first “double win” of the CNV III weekend. In the JUNIOR category, Simão Viegas also claimed a commanding and convincing victory. Carolina Azevedo repeated her result from the previous day, taking the middle step of the podium. The battle for third place in the JUNIOR class was a close contest between Frederico Morais and Ana Martins, with the advantage going to the Fabio Racing Team rider; young Morais secured the position ahead of Ana Martins to finish third in the class.
CNV NAKED BIKE
Duarte Amaral leads unchallenged from green flag to checkered flag. / Frédèric Bottoglieri is the 2026 NB2 National Champion.
Frédèric Bottoglieri – National Champion NB2 2026 – Photo: André Kezman Ferreira
In the Naked Bike category, Duarte Amaral (NB1)—who was beaten on the final lap yesterday by Luís Franco (NB1)—once again lined up his BMW S1000R at the front of the grid, having set the fastest time (1:47.482s) in yesterday’s qualifying. Beside him was yesterday’s winner, Luís Franco, also on a BMW S1000R. Joining them on the front row was Rodrigo Amaral (NB1) on his Honda Hornet 1000.
In the NB2 class, Frédèric Bottoglieri—who won the class yesterday while finishing 4th overall—returned to his original grid spot (7th) for another lively battle against the “1000cc” riders. Augusto Machado (NB2) and Anselmo Vilardebó (NB2), who had taken 2nd and 3rd place on the podium yesterday, lined up again in 9th (Machado) and 11th (Vilardebó) positions on the grid.
The race consisted of another scheduled 10 laps at Estoril, with Duarte Amaral (NB1) “launching like a bullet” to take the lead at Turn 1, with Ricardo Almeida (NB1), António Maximiano (NB1), and Luís Franco (NB1) in pursuit. In the NB2 class, Bottoglieri secured 5th place overall, leading his class.
With precise and consistent driving, Duarte Amaral quickly pulled away in P1, establishing a gap of over three seconds between himself and Ricardo Almeida by the end of the second lap. Although unable to keep pace with the leader, Almeida managed to open a slight gap over Maximiano. The fiercest battle was unfolding among Frédèric Bottoglieri (NB2), António Maximiano (NB1), Luís Franco (NB1), and Rodrigo Amaral (NB1). Meanwhile, one had to look as far back as 10th and 11th place overall to find the second and third-placed drivers in the NB2 class: Augusto Machado and Anselmo Vilardebó.
At the halfway mark, Amaral was showing no mercy to the field, leading unchallenged with a gap of over six seconds. Almeida and Franco broke away from the rest of the pack, engaging in a head-to-head duel for the podium and NB1 class honors. Bottoglieri consolidated fourth place overall, facing no opposition from his NB2 rivals. António Maximiano, however, lost ground, slipping to seventh in the standings as Nuno Farias and Rodrigo Amaral pulled away.
Duarte Amaral maintained an uncontested lead to the finish, redeeming his performance from the previous day with a commanding victory—taking the win both overall and in the NB1 class. Luís Franco, meanwhile, mastered the inside line of the Parabolica corner on the eighth lap to overtake Ricardo Almeida, securing second place overall and in the class for the remainder of the race. Ricardo Almeida rounded out the podium in both the overall standings and his class.
Bottoglieri secured a repeat victory in the NB2 category, finishing 4th overall and clinching the Naked Bike 2 National Championship title today. Meanwhile, Augusto Machado and Anselmo Vilardebó joined the friendly French Triumph 765RS rider on the podium, finishing 9th and 11th overall, respectively.
António Moreira, the sole entrant in the NB3 class, won his category and finished last overall.
MOTO4 / SSP300 / SPORTBIKE
Double win and National Championship title for Tiago “Rafa” João in Sportbike / Alexandre Cabá secures another double victory in Moto4 / Lourenço Vicente comes out on top in SSP300
Tiago “Rafa” João – National Champion SPB 2026 – Photo: André Kezman Ferreira
The field comprised 13 riders across the Moto4, SSP300, and Sportbike classes. Tiago João (Sportbike)—yesterday’s clear winner—returned to the top spot by placing his Aprilia 660 on pole position. Beside him was Alexandre Cabá (Moto4), who clocked the second-fastest overall time in qualifying with his Honda 250. Rounding out the front row was Tomás Carneiro (Moto4), once again. In the SSP300 class, yesterday’s winner Vasco Camoesas secured the fifth-fastest time on the grid.
With 14 laps scheduled at Estoril, Tiago João (Sportbike) once again gave his rivals no chance to take the lead at the start. He made a powerful launch from pole, immediately pulling away toward the finish line. At a slightly more measured pace, Cabá, Carneiro, and Ramirez managed the gaps between them while battling for the Moto4 podium. Meanwhile, in the SSP300 class, Vasco Camoesas and Lourenço Vicente were locked in a tight, intense duel, fighting for every meter of the Estoril tarmac.
At the halfway point—five of the ten scheduled laps—Tiago João (SPB) was maintaining a lead of approximately five seconds over the pack; for the young Aprilia 660 rider, it looked like a walk in the park. Alexandre Cabá (MOTO4) was dictating the pace and managing the gap to Tiago João while keeping his pursuers at bay, having left Tomás Carneiro (MOTO4) more than ten seconds behind; Carneiro, in turn, was pulling a similar gap on Abel Ramirez (MOTO4). Barring any unforeseen incidents, the “natural order” of the SPB and MOTO4 classes seemed firmly established.
However, still at the halfway mark, Ramirez found himself locked in a battle with Camoesas and Vicente. Beyond fighting each other for the SSP300 lead, they were also making their intentions clear regarding the fourth overall position. A lap later, Henrique Vicente (SSP300) joined this trio. The stage was set for an exciting finish: Ramirez was fighting for the overall position while contending with the top three SSP300 riders, who were battling for both the category podium and the overall standings.
With two laps to go, Vasco Camoesas (SSP300) executed a late-braking maneuver into Turn 1 to overtake Ramirez (MOTO4). He claimed fourth place overall—leading his category—and left the young MOTO4 rider sandwiched between himself and his SPB rivals, Carneiro and Vicente.
Unsurprisingly, Tiago João led from start to finish to secure another double win in CNV III, taking the overall victory and being crowned the 2026 National Champion in the SPB class. Carlota Carochinho finished 2nd in the category, placing 10th overall.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Cabá achieved a double win in the MOTO4 class, finishing 2nd overall. Behind him came Tomás Carneiro, 2nd in the class and 3rd overall. In the SSP300 class, Camoesas crossed the finish line first; however, a track limits penalty on the final lap caused the VC#19 Racing Team rider to drop one position in both the overall standings and the category. Victory in the SSP300 class thus went to Lourenço Vicente, who was joined on the podium by Camoesas and Henrique Vicente.
By category:
SPB – Tiago João (1st overall); Carlota Carochinho (10th overall)
MOTO 4 – Alexandre Cabá (2nd overall); Tomás Carneiro (3rd overall); Abel Ramirez (4th overall)
SSP300 – Lourenço Vicente (5th overall); Vasco Camoesas (6th overall); Henrique Vicente (7th overall)
SUPERBIKE / SUPERSPORT / MOTOVAL CUP
Ricardo Lopes scores another double win in SBK / Martim Jesus – Another National Champion in SSP / Dany Soares unchallenged in CDM2.
Martim Jesus – National Champion SSP 2026 – Photo: André Kezman Ferreira
In the Superbike / Supersport / Motoval Cup field, Ricardo Lopes (SBK) once again took pole position, having set the fastest time—1:42.835—during yesterday’s qualifying sessions. Alongside him was the fastest SSP rider, Martim Jesus, with Dany Soares (CDM2) rounding out the front row. Raúl Felgueiras, the fastest in the CDM1 class, posted the fifth-fastest time, securing the same starting position for today’s race.
This was the final race of the CNV III program, featuring a 14-lap contest on the Estoril circuit. Ricardo Lopes (SBK) made a perfect start, getting the better of Dany Soares (CDM2) under braking for Turn 1. Luís Ferreira (SBK) and Martim Jesus (SSP) battled for third place overall, while Isaac Rosa, Celestin Masy, and Daniel Coelho rode in a close group, watching the duel between Ferreira and Jesus unfold ahead of them.
Gradually and at his own pace, Ricardo Lopes (SBK) asserted his dominance on his Honda 1000; by the halfway point, he had already built a 7-second lead and remained firmly in control of the race. Dany Soares (CDM2) continued to lead the CDM2 class—running second overall—while managing a 2-second gap over Martim Jesus (SSP) and Luís Ferreira (SBK).
The gaps remained stable until the end, with Lopes crossing the finish line as the overall and SBK winner. In the same category, Luís Ferreira took second place (fourth overall), while Daniel Coelho rounded out the Superbike podium, finishing fifth overall.
Dany Soares rode a steady race to win the CDM2 class and finish second overall. He took the top spot on the podium alongside Raúl Felgueiras (sixth overall) and Rui Palma (ninth overall).
In the always-exciting SSP class, victory went to Martim Jesus (third overall); the Honda 600 rider celebrated securing the 2026 National Championship, with Isaac Rosa (seventh overall) and Celestin Masy (eighth overall) taking second and third place on the podium, respectively.
Circuito Estoril