The F1 and MotoGP races at Silverstone are a stark distinction by way of recognition, however Steiner says this isn’t as a consequence of a “lack of will”.
In 2026, Silverstone’s F1 race attracted almost 600,000 followers, however MotoGP races have struggled as compared.
In 2025, the variety of spectators for British MotoGP was down, with simply 99,328 spectators.
Bearman takes on Pink Bull’s Hajar at Silverstone
It does not take a math genius to calculate from these numbers that F1 races on the Northamptonshire circuit are round six occasions extra common than MotoGP races. After all, MotoGP’s attendance figures for 2026 aren’t but generally known as the races haven’t but taken place, however in a 12 months when enthusiasm for F1 racing was at its lowest, a file 600,000 individuals attended F1 in early July.
It have to be mentioned that latest MotoGP races have additionally not generated a lot enthusiasm, with tire pressures, aerodynamics and journey top adjustment units all contributing to a dispersed contest with little overtaking.
However maybe F1’s numbers are simply one other indicator that the success of a race (by way of variety of members) has little to do with the anticipated high quality of the race.
Miguel Oliveira leads Maverick Vinales, Enes Bastianini on the 2025 MotoGP British Grand Prix…
© Gold & Goose
The cultural influence of the occasion is now a key promoting level, which is why subsequent 12 months’s MotoGP races will likely be held in Buenos Aires and Adelaide somewhat than Termas de Rio Hondo and Phillip Island.
However Silverstone confirmed by way of the F1 race {that a} conventional circuit constructed round a windy outdated airfield a number of miles from the town heart can nonetheless change into one of many world’s largest annual occasions.
So why hasn’t that labored for MotoGP? Former F1 crew boss and present Pink Bull KTM Tech3 CEO Günter Steiner believes the issue shouldn’t be with the occasion itself, however somewhat that MotoGP’s recognition within the UK shouldn’t be robust sufficient to draw lots of of 1000’s of followers over three days in the meanwhile.
“I do not suppose they deal with them any otherwise,” Steiner mentioned of the F1 and MotoGP races at Silverstone.
“It is like Components 1, we won’t promote something in the meanwhile. If we had a Components 1 race right here (Sachsenring) we would have 500,000 spectators. That is certainly one of them.”
“After all, promoters can at all times assist promote races and get them out to the general public, however I believe we have to create extra curiosity in MotoGP within the UK typically and that is a kind of issues.”
Günter Steiner, Carmelo Ezpeleta.
© Gold & Goose
“Clearly Silverstone will help. Can they do extra? They will at all times do extra. I’ve an excellent relationship with Stuart Pringle and they’re attempting to make it occur, but it surely’s not simple.
“I believe that in F1 in the meanwhile, even with out promotion, there’ll nonetheless be offered out spectators, as a result of F1 is an emotional sport (…) and this sport wants some assist. So I believe naturally they’re attempting to assist.”
“I believe we’re doing one thing. Thursday (press convention in London), we’re doing one thing like this. They’re doing it. You understand, they’re doing it.”
“They’re attempting to maneuver it ahead, that’s the one factor you are able to do.
“I do not suppose it is a lack of will. It isn’t that we’re not attempting to make it occur, as a result of it is vital that Silverstone is a MotoGP race.”
