Ducati Lenovo's Enea Bastianini on a practice lap at Silverstone ahead of the MotoGP Grand Prix on Sunday. Photo: Getty Images/Steve Wobser
The 75th MotoGP season is making a comeback in the middle lane after a summer hiatus, with the Grand Prix series more spectacular than its four-wheeled cousin.
A month after Silverstone fell victim to the eighth chapter of the never-ending 2023 Max Verstappen Show, MotoGP presents one of the longest, fastest and most technical motorcycle circuits. The eighth round of 20 sees the series looking through the visor due to a five-week break in the calendar.
Here are three reasons why the Monster Energy British Grand Prix could outshine F1.
1 . The result of the race is still a mystery
Red Bull Racing's design acumen and skills of the reigning world champion mean F1 is locked in a dark blue vise, but MotoGP is akin to open warfare. Of the eight rounds so far, four different riders have won and 12 different faces watched from the podium: the second highest total in the history of the sport. If there's anything like a dominant color in the grid, it's red. The fearsome Ducati Desmosedicis not only outnumber the competition (eight bikes out of 22), but are the reigning champions and have won all but one of the 2023 Grands Prix. first place in the standings was taken by the satellite racer, friend and countryman Marco Besecchi.
In addition to the triumph of Alex Rins at the American Grand Prix for Honda in Texas in April, the Europeans have taken over Japanese brands: Ducati, KTM, GASGAS and Aprilia. Honda and Yamaha have only driven MotoGP once since June 2022 (and Suzuki withdrew from racing at the end of last season); representing an almighty shift in the fabric of sports. Japanese companies have held the premier class in every but one year since 1975 until Ducati's mighty struggle against a 91-point deficit in 2022.
The situation has changed due to post-pandemic logistics, the speed of development and the culture of work. Sunday could very well lead to another Ducati victory, but Red Bull KTM and Aprilia Racing are cutting back on their gains. KTM's RC16 is currently the fastest bike ever to compete in a Grand Prix, with Brad Binder breaking the official top speed record at Mugello in Italy two months ago with 227.4 mph. The consequences of advances in aerodynamics have made life harder for riders when it comes to overtaking and running in close quarters, but MotoGP is still ahead of F1 in this regard. In total, five out of eight Grands Prix were won in less than 3.7 seconds by Verstappen over Lando Norris at Silverstone.
F1 takes precedence with a British accent. It was at the 2016 British Grand Prix that Cal Crutchlow came in second and there hasn't been a driver in the UK with the same presence and potential since he retired as a test driver at the end of 2020. the equally intense Moto2 and Moto3 categories where players like Jake Dixon, Sam Lowes and Scott Ogden can bring some joy home.
British rider Cal Crutchlow retired at the end of 2020. Photo: AFP/Mohd Rasfan 2. Bonus for Saturday's sprint
MotoGP 2023 has 20 rounds, but the number of race starts has doubled with the introduction of the Saturday Sprint concept. Half laps, half points, half fuel, the softest tires and let them go. The sprints represented the biggest structural change in the championship's 74-year history, and MotoGP went all-in for the circuit's first run; eclipsing the F1 program of six Grands Prix that did not include Silverstone.
Saturday's 3pm sprints have greatly added value to MotoGP over the weekend with increased TV viewership and added value for fans considering a two-day visit. The added stress of qualifying, strategy, tire selection and tough action means the format has drawn criticism. More than 10 riders, almost half of the starting grid, have been injured this season.
Back to value, though, and the UK MotoGP Grand Prix is generating just as much interest inside the venue (Kaiser Chiefs and Razorlight play gigs). on the stage of the event) and give Silverstone its first ever electric car race with the fifth of eight stages in the Ducati-designed MotoE Campaign.
General admission is almost a third cheaper than an F1 ticket (£115 compared to £299).
3. Pinnacle technology, but a more spectacular show
MotoGP, like many other sports, is looking to jump into the tide of F1 streaming service success and huge profile growth. The championship is less well known in the UK due to exclusive broadcast rights on TNT Sports and limited airplay on ITV, and a shortage of a British star. Not to mention one attempt at the well-produced but formulaic MotoGP Unlimited series on Amazon Prime, which was mothballed after one season.
“We have a great product; we just need to work on what is happening around the events and leading up to the events themselves, as well as showcasing the personalities of the riders,” said Carlos Espeleta, sporting director of Dorna Sports [MotoGP promoters and rights holders]. “I think we have a lot of values that other motorsports would kill for; it's excitement, risk, danger, heroes, thrill, action, and now we need to work on the storytelling.»
MotoGP is looking for ways to bring out the exciting nature of racing and, like F1, the championship is the pinnacle of motorcycle technology and engineering. theories applied to cars that have more than 60 degrees of inclination and more pitch axes than cars.
Innovation is not limited to bicycles. On-board camera technology is making its way into the helmets and leather suits of riders in real time. Helmet safety standards are more stringent than ever with FIM protocols and anti-concussion design, and airbags from pioneers like Alpinestars are a must.
All this evolution and multi-million dollar investment is taking place on Silverstone's beautiful but open circuit, where riders enjoy the demands — as long as it stays dry. «It's one of those tracks where it can be your favorite some years and your nightmare the next,» HRC's Marc Marquez said Thursday. “If it's sunny, it's a really good track to ride, especially because it's a 'complete' circuit; many different types of corners and possibly different styles of riding on the same lap.”
According to Brembo, the Italian company that supplies the brakes for the entire MotoGP grid, more than a quarter of the lap time is spent slowing bikes through 18 turns, more than doubled in F1. Heading into the Stowe corner, the bikes go from 203 mph to 78 mph in just five seconds.
Watching MotoGP in full flow — rubber marks, knees, elbows and forearms scratching the pavement — connects to age-old ' the military perception of motorcycle racing and the days when Sheen, Roberts, Spencer, Stoner and Rossi were accustomed to chasing curves. “I love tracks with a lot of history and Silverstone is different. wide, with a large selection of trajectories, it’s easy to be slow,” Bagnaya smiles. «Winning here last year was one of my best memories of the season.»
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