– The dream of many motorsport fans could soon become at least partially reality. Because it appears that MotoGP and Formula 1 will for the first time appear together during the same race weekend later this year.
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According to Motorsport.com, a partner site of Motorsport-Total.com, the owners of Liberty Media are working on a concept where MotoGP motorcycles are to take to the track during the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin at the end of October.
Currently, no joint race event is planned, but a demonstration. The idea is that several MotoGP bikes will complete some demonstration laps during the Formula 1 weekend. Visitors in Austin should thus have the opportunity to experience the prototypes up close.
MotoGP bikes and no regular riders
Current MotoGP regular riders will not be used, however. The reason: The Formula 1 race in Austin takes place simultaneously with the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, which is also the last running of the event under the current contract with the circuit.
Instead, so-called MotoGP show bikes are to be used. These are fully functional exhibition machines based on current or former MotoGP prototypes. According to an initial concept, former riders of the respective manufacturers or teams could pilot the machines. However, who will ultimately sit on the motorcycles is not yet decided.
The promoter of the world championship, the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (formerly Dorna), has already started talks with the manufacturers. The aim is to explore whether they are willing to participate in the project.
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Both sides, according to Motorsport.com, see the project as an attractive opportunity to gain new fans in one of the most important target markets of the racing series.
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Liberty Media wants to strengthen MotoGP in the USA
Within MotoGP, the planned demo run is considered an important building block of the strategy to further expand the series’ presence in the US market. It is still unclear who will bear the costs for transporting the motorcycles as well as the necessary personnel required for preparation and operation of the machines.
For promotional appearances, teams have so far mostly used production motorcycles designed like their MotoGP racing machines. However, this has changed with the new agreements between the promoter and the teams.
In the future, each manufacturer or team commits to providing fully operational MotoGP prototypes that can be used at show and demonstration events like the planned Austin action.
Since Liberty Media took over Dorna, there has been ongoing speculation in the paddock about whether Formula 1 and MotoGP could move closer together in the future. According to Motorsport.com, corresponding talks at the leadership level have indeed already taken place.
However, there are currently no concrete plans for a joint Grand Prix of Formula 1 and MotoGP. The demonstration run in Austin could, however, be a first step to link both racing series more closely in the future.
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