Portugese 'Pig

We booked this trip some time ago, so we were pretty excited by the time it came to get on the plane! Three days at the brand new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve...warm weather, grippy tarmac and our Guinea Pig buddy in tow.




We landed and went straight to the track, checking out the brand new road into it, which was impressive enough in itself (thanks to Couch for the random pose)...



..but we were stopped by security. Oh well, off to the hotel and beach it is then! The hotel was opposite the huge beach, just down the road from the touristy strip of restaurants and pubs.





Checked out some pretty flowers outside the Casino hotel opposite, where the posh people stayed.



Next day and it's raining. However, the circuit facilities are stunning. The whole place is just massive, new and top spec. Huge garages with power, toilets and hook up points for air tools, a swimming pool, a cafe etc etc. It really does put our UK offerings to shame.





We get out for some sighting laps in the hire cars, then swap the wheels for wets in Couch's 675. We both get some wet laps in to try and learn the very technical circuit. Luckily it dried out over the next two days and we got some decent track time in.





Guinea Pig didn't get out on the circuit, but he met some new friends in the paddock, some of who you might just recognise ;-)







After his star treatment, he reluctantly mingled with us less talented riders, but did choose to sit on some of the most expensive bikes in the paddock, one being the Pierobon Ducati, recently built for a friend by JHP.







The best thing about taking Guinea Pig with you is that you can hand him to anyone and they'll stand and smile with him for a photo, no questions! He made some more friends in the paddock and took a liking to our waitress on the last evening.





He met some furrier friends in the Casino lobby. We have no idea why the Rabbits were there, but they were gone by Sunday evening, possibly made into stew? Who knows.



Found a Triumph engine in one of the Steak Houses, considered bolting it into the 675 for increased performance ;-)



Had to take him away from Ducati Pete when he started playing with his KTM matches. Doesn't he know Guinea Pig's are flammable!



All in all, a brilliant trip and a circuit that any trackday nut should go and check out. It makes anything else seem flat and easy to learn in comparison! Plus you'll just walk round in awe at how brilliant the whole set up is. Two cheesy thumbs up and a big grin to Portimao!