SILVERSTONE EXTENDS MOTO GP DEAL THROUGH 2028 AS BOSS TARGETS BIGGER UK CROWD

Silverstone chief executive Stuart Pringle says MotoGP’s future at the British Grand Prix is brighter than ever after the circuit secured a new two-year extension with Dorna, keeping the event at the UK venue until the end of 2028. MotoGP has been at Silverstone since 2010, but its long-term status had been questioned in the past amid talk of a possible move back to Donington. That uncertainty has now been resolved, and Pringle believes the sport’s racing product is strong enough to grow significantly in the UK.

Pringle described MotoGP as “pound for pound the best racing we put on in the year,” arguing that the spectacle is often misunderstood by casual observers. He pointed to how fans may assume motorcycles are at their best only when they are “cranked over going slowly round slow corners,” when the reality is that MotoGP is a fast-track, high-intensity show with constant overtaking. He highlighted the pace and frequency of action, saying riders are “popping in and out, slipstreaming like hell” and that lead changes can come “four times a lap.”

The extension comes as Silverstone looks to rebuild its MotoGP profile following several lean years at the gate. Pringle noted that crowds have fallen from the era when Silverstone regularly welcomed more than 150,000 people, to under 100,000 last season. He linked part of the challenge to the calendar shift: MotoGP’s move to a May date reduced the time available for promotion. He also cited other factors affecting visibility, including the impact of Valentino Rossi’s retirement on interest, MotoGP being “behind a paywall” on the UK’s TNT Sport deal, and the fact there is currently no full-time British rider on the grid.

Even so, Pringle said the core issue is awareness rather than the quality of the racing. “Awareness is the issue,” he added, stressing that it “doesn’t happen overnight.” He argued that the length of the new deal gives Silverstone and Dorna time to work “hand in hand” to improve the event’s profile, with the promoter then tasked with selling tickets and raising attendance.

Silverstone is expecting a 22% increase in attendance compared to last year, though Pringle was clear that the numbers will not immediately match Formula 1’s scale. He said MotoGP has “other offers” if the partnership does not deliver by the end of 2028, and that Dorna also has other options for hosting the race.

Pringle also framed MotoGP’s value proposition for spectators, pointing to ticket pricing relative to F1. He said that if fans attend on Saturday they can see the sprint race and qualifying for “£60,” and argued that the overall day offers far more than that cost suggests. He described the weekend as “terrific value,” adding that the event is still largely aimed at a traditional audience, but that the crowd is not exclusively made up of “grey-beard bikers.”

A key part of Silverstone’s growth plan is widening the audience and getting riders more visible beyond the track. Pringle suggested that Liberty Media’s involvement could help, saying Liberty “haven’t paid a lot of money for MotoGP to sit there and not do anything with it” and that they want to grow the series. He said he believes Liberty’s approach because he has seen how it worked in F1, and he described the current situation as “the best of both worlds,” combining the sport’s established knowledge and history with “fresh thinking” from people outside the paddock.

That “fresh thinking” was reflected in the lead-up to the British Grand Prix, with the pre-event press conference held in London at the Outernet. Pringle said he wants that kind of activity expanded further, taking MotoGP around the UK to create a broader national conversation. He suggested bringing “half a dozen” riders into London and argued that bikes are easier to transport than cars, proposing riders could be sent to cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool ahead of the race.

Finally, Pringle said Silverstone believes the current August slot fits well within the wider sporting calendar. He described it as a “nice window” after Wimbledon and after the main summer tournament period, while acknowledging that some people are on holiday in August. His message was that the date works, so Silverstone intends to keep it: “So, let’s stick with this one and PR the arse off it!”