HODGSON DEFENDS MOTOGP SHOWCASE AT THE US FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX
23 Oct 2026·
MotoGP bikes are set to make a high-profile appearance at the United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, as Liberty Media looks to introduce its motorcycle racing series to a large new audience. Four MotoGP prototypes will run a high-speed demonstration at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend, while the championship’s Australian Grand Prix is taking place at Phillip Island. More than 400,000 people are expected at the Texas event.
The plan has drawn mixed reactions from MotoGP fans, but pundit Neil Hodgson was unimpressed by the criticism he saw online. Speaking during TNT Sports’ coverage of Australian Grand Prix practice, he said he had checked the responses after the announcement and found them “absolutely ridiculous.” Hodgson cited comments accusing Liberty Media of damaging the sport and warning that the two championships might eventually race on the same weekends.
He argued that the Austin crowd made the demonstration a valuable opportunity to show off MotoGP. “We should showcase what we have,” Hodgson said, adding that fans would see how good the bikes look and sound around the circuit. He also pointed to the scale of the audience, describing the venue as a huge track likely to host hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Fellow pundit Michael Laverty backed the promotional move, highlighting the contrast between the sound of the two categories. Recalling a visit to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, he said Formula 1 cars could sound “a bit flat” by comparison. A MotoGP bike, he predicted, would “roar past” the grandstands and capture the attention of spectators.
The appearance is an early example of cooperation between the championships, both owned by Liberty Media. The company had another potential opportunity to promote MotoGP at Silverstone, where the motorcycle series also races, during this year’s F1 British Grand Prix, but no comparable showcase took place. The collaboration is still at an early stage, leaving open what further cross-promotion may follow as both series pursue growth.