The sand of the beach Monte Gordo, in Vila Real de Santo António will host, from the 17th to the 19th of November, the FIM Sand Racing World Cup, an unprecedented competition in Portugal.
This will be the Portuguese stage of the new Sand Racing World Cup, introduced this year by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM).
The circuit of around 5 kilometers, entirely in sand, is the highlight of the festival.
Some of the most famous names in the sport are already confirmed in the Monte Gordo Sand Experience, like the current World Cup leader, Tod Kellet (Yamaha).
The Briton has won both events in the competition so far, competing for the world title in Monte Gordo with Belgian Yentel Martens (Honda), current runner-up and son of former Motocross World Champion, Jacky Martens. Another sand star who will be in Portugal is Frenchman Milko Potisek (Yamaha), triple winner of the Enduropale du Toquet.
Paulo Alberto (Yamaha) will be one of the biggest attractions for the Portuguese public in Monte Gordo. The Portuguese and Brazilian multi-time Motocross and Supercross champion will interrupt his season in Brazil to travel to the Algarve, where he will compete with the world's best sand racing specialists. A strong national contingent is expected at the World Cup debut in Portugal, although registration is still ongoing.
With a shorter circuit than the two previous races, visibility for the public is one of the great attractions of the Monte Gordo Sand Experience.
Three locations will be available with a privileged view of the entire competition area: rooftops for a higher vision; a huge walkway on the beach and a reserved area on the sand, where one of the main reasons for interest is the proximity to the pilots.
Along the coastal avenue of Monte Gordo, several activities dedicated to the public will be promoted, who will also have a Fun Park at their disposal for the whole family.
To avoid any environmental impact, a technical team was created responsible for preparing, implementing and monitoring the Environmental Valorization Plan.
This plan brings together a set of projects and actions considered important in reducing the carbon footprint associated with the event and in controlling any impacts that the activities may generate.
Actions such as the planting of pine trees, the distribution of information on good practices and the reinforcement of equipment for collecting unsorted and recyclable waste are also planned. The circuit will also be designed to allow the public to access it easily, using the existing access points (walkways) and not others.
Furthermore, the test also brings together all the opinions necessary for its completion, issued by the competent authorities.
In order to monitor the quality of the sand and water, analyzes will be carried out on microbiological parameters and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs).
The collection of sand samples will be carried out at three different times, namely, before moving the sand, necessary to create the competition circuit, on the working day immediately following the event and after the sand has been regularized. All sand movements to be carried out will be as minimal as possible, and will be replaced on site as soon as the test is completed.
During the official presentation of the event, this Wednesday, in Lisbon, Carlos Barbosa highlighted the local authority's investment in the ACP team.
«The Vila Real de Santo António Chamber made a big commitment by creating this event in November and I am sure that we will have thousands of people in Monte Gordo, including Spaniards. The ACP is not just about cars, we have the capacity to organize these motorcycle events and we will guarantee a great end to the World Cup», stated the president of the ACP.
Álvaro Araújo, president of the Chamber of Vila Real de Santo António, revealed the strategy that led to the Monte Gordo Sand Experience.
«We wanted to create a new anchor event that is simultaneously a hub for attracting people to the municipality in the month of November, in the low season, generating a significant impact on the local economy and promoting our territory in dozens of countries, through this global competition», pointed out Álvaro Araújo, who also highlighted the Environmental Enhancement Plan created for the event.
«We have the best beach in the world and we will continue to have the best beach in the world», he guaranteed.
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