2021 Portimao MotoGP, Portugal - Race Day Updates LIVE!

After a pair of back-to-back season-openers in Qatar, won by Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP has arrived back in Europe for this weekend's Portimao event.

The big news is that eight-time world champion Marc Marquez is making his return to MotoGP action, for the first time since last July, and will start today's race from sixth on the grid.

Marquez's arm will face a tough test over the 25-laps, which will begin with a front row of Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins and world championship leader Johann Zarco.

 Miguel Oliveira, Francesco Bagnaia and Maverick Vinales will have to fight their way through from the fourth row of the grid after accidents and penalties in qualifying - with Valentino Rossi starting just 17th...

CLICK HERE for live updates from race day at the 2021 Portimao MotoGP...

Marquez has been sidelined due to complications from a broken right arm, requiring a total of three operations, meaning he also he missed last November's inaugural Portimao round, dominated by home star Miguel Oliveira (KTM).

Oliveira is one of five riders to have become MotoGP race winners since Marquez's initial Jerez accident, including Suzuki's reigning world champion Joan Mir, but how will the rising stars measure-up against a recovering Marquez?

The MotoGP race day action begins with warm-up at 9:30 and then the race - between Moto3 and Moto3 - at 13:00 local time.