Jake Dixon’s triumph in the Moto2 event at Silverstone last Sunday brought joy to home supporters. While he urged the crowd for an even louder roar celebrating only his third victory in the series, it also led to a reflection on Britain’s ties with MotoGP.
Perhaps it was understandable that Dixon was not thrilled with the crowd’s initial response – he could hardly hear them. Just four weeks prior, an astonishing 164,000 fans witnessed Lewis Hamilton’s fantastic Formula 1 win at Silverstone, setting a new single-day attendance record for the venue.
In stark contrast, only 42,529 fans attended MotoGP on Sunday, despite the championship drawing large crowds at venues like Le Mans and Jerez earlier this season. So, why the disappointing turnout? Several factors come into play.
As of Saturday night, it was no surprise that tickets for Sunday were still on sale, with prices starting at £110 for adults for general admission. This ticket grants access to specific open-air grandstands, general viewing areas, and the fan zone. When compared to Premier League tickets that begin around £40 for basic seating, this seems quite costly.
The counterargument is that attendees enjoy a full racing schedule, plus a concert and various off-track entertainment. Additionally, the ticket price is only half that of a similar general admission Sunday ticket for the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Another aspect to consider is that the MotoGP race occurred during the summer holidays, which may have led to families being away. Next year, MotoGP will avert this issue by moving the race to May 25, but this decision inadvertently places it on the same day as the F1 Monaco Grand Prix and Indy 500, right before the Isle of Man TT’s start.
Dixon won the Moto2 race on home turf, but the turnout for MotoGP was notably less than F1
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Another factor is that the event is primarily available through a subscription model. The broadcasting rights in the UK belong to TNT, which means viewers must subscribe to watch it.
Although this arrangement generates revenue for MotoGP, it may be constraining its audience. In contrast, Sky F1 has a similar deal but has not seen a decrease in F1 attendance, partly due to Channel 4 providing a free-to-air highlights program.
However, the most critical issue is the scarcity of British riders in MotoGP, and this trend doesn’t seem likely to change soon. Dixon is in his seventh season in Moto2, and at the age of 28, it’s improbable he will make more than the two MotoGP appearances he had with Petronas Yamaha in 2021.
The Spanish system not only favors MotoGP, but the financial structure is there to assist young racers
So, what is preventing British riders from reaching the top tier? The challenge lies in the UK’s youth development system being primarily focused on the British Superbike Championship, whereas Spain has a strong foundation aimed at grand prix racing.
Among the 27 riders competing in MotoGP this season, 12 hail from Spain. In contrast, the World Superbike series features six British riders. Michael Laverty, a former MotoGP competitor, aims to alter this dynamic through his Moto3 team, MLav Racing.
“The issue is our youth framework isn’t designed to channel riders into the MotoGP pathway, which includes the Talent Cup, Red Bull Rookies, Junior GP, and ultimately Moto2,” explains the Northern Irishman. TNT commentator Gavin Emmett concurs.
“Following the Spanish route means you need a support network in Spain: a chaperone, education, and many other considerations,” he emphasizes.
Laverty’s MLav team is trying to promote British talent in Moto3 with Scott Ogden taking its best result of tenth in 2024
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“While the British Talent Cup indeed provides young riders with a platform to display their skills, the unfortunate truth is that they are often several years behind their European peers due to the differences in training and support networks. Even if a couple of British riders make their way to Spain, they face fierce competition from around 100 local kids who have been honing their skills in their own backyard. These young racers can maintain their schooling while still competing without uprooting their whole family,” he explained.
The financial obstacles also play a major role. Laverty points out that the Spanish system not only favors MotoGP but also has a robust economic infrastructure supporting young racers, whereas British riders lack similar funding opportunities to advance their careers.
“We’ve seen promising talent emerge, but they often fall by the wayside due to inadequate funding,” he remarks. “Our current efforts are aimed at nurturing aspiring riders, but it’s a gradual process to bring them into the limelight.
“Our team has focused on this for the last three seasons. We strive to develop as much talent as we can. We receive some support from Dorna [the MotoGP promoter] for our British Talent Team, which helps fund two riders, but we still need to cover a significant portion of that cost ourselves.
“In a broader sense, Spanish companies actively sponsor riders because motorcycle racing is a national passion in Spain, unlike in the UK where it’s more of a niche interest. You can see Marc Marquez’s face on billboards everywhere; there are numerous superstars who are household names, which is not the case in the UK.”
Despite Laverty’s dedicated efforts to cultivate fresh talent, it may still be some time before we witness a new generation of British riders competing in MotoGP. Therefore, it’s essential to celebrate Dixon’s recent achievement.
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British fans may have a lengthy wait to see another home grown talent racing regularly in MotoGP
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
