João Fernandes (born 7 March 1977 in Lisbon, Portugal) is a Portuguese former Grand Prix motorcycle racer and endurance racing specialist. He is best known for his participation in the Macau Grand Prix, the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), and various national championships in Portugal and China.
Career Overview
Fernandes began his racing career in the late 1990s in the Portuguese national championship, winning the Honda CBR600 Trophy in 1998. He demonstrated versatility across multiple disciplines, including road racing, endurance racing, and national championships.
In 2006, he competed in the 250cc class of the Grand Prix World Championship riding for the China Zongshen team, but did not score any championship points.
Major Achievements
- 1998 – Champion, Portuguese National Championship (Honda CBR600 Trophy)
- 2005 – Champion, Chinese National Championship (Superbikes 1000cc)
- 2006 – Champion, Chinese National Championship (SuperSport 600cc)
- 2007 – World Champion, FIM Endurance World Championship (SuperProduction class); 5th place overall in EWC. Won the 6 Hours of Albacete and the 8 Hours of Suzuka in the SuperProduction class.
- 2008 – Champion, Chinese National Championship (SuperSport 600cc); 3rd place, Macau Grand Prix (Supersport 600cc)
- 2009 – 3rd place, Macau Grand Prix (Supersport 600cc)
Macau Grand Prix
Fernandes had a notable presence at the Macau Grand Prix between 2003 and 2012, competing on the demanding Guia Circuit street course. His best results were two third-place finishes in the Supersport 600cc class (2008 and 2009) and a fourth-place finish (2005 and 2007).
Later Career
In 2012, Fernandes rode for the German Penz13 team at the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix on a BMW HP4, but did not finish the race (DNF). This was his last documented international appearance. He also competed in the Chinese National Championship through 2010, finishing 2nd in Superbikes 1000cc that year.
Personal Life
Fernandes was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and later relocated to Macau, which facilitated his regular participation in the Macau Grand Prix. Limited public information is available about his personal life or post-racing activities.
