Portugal will also see the debut of the Ilmor team, brainchild of former Formula One engine designer Mario Illien and former rider Eskil Suter.

Australian Garry McCoy, a winner at Estoril on a Red Bull Yamaha six years ago, will ride in a race that amounts to a test run for a bike designed for next year's reduction in capacity from 990cc to 800.

In the 250cc championship, Spanish teenager Jorge Lorenzo has a 27 point lead and will win the title if he finishes ahead of Honda's Italian Andrea Dovizioso. The 19-year-old Aprilia rider has won eight of the 15 races so far this season.

Spaniard Alvaro Bautista has already won the 125cc crown on an Aprilia.

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