Bezzecchi wins chaotic MotoGP British Grand Prix at Silverstone

Yahoo

25-05-2025

Marco Bezzecchi won a chaotic British Grand Prix on Sunday for Aprilia's first victory of the season in a race that was initially red flagged for an oil spill and riders crashed or retired while in the lead.
The victory was a first for Aprilia since the Grand Prix of the Americas last year. LCR Honda's Johann Zarco came second and Ducati's Marc Marquez pipped Franco Morbidelli to finish third and extend his lead in the world championship.
Both Alex Marquez and his brother Marc crashed while leading before the race was restarted for an oil spill while polesitter Fabio Quartararo took the lead at the second time of asking before being forced to retire due to an issue with his bike.
Bezzecchi's victory was his first since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix and the Italian also became the 11th different winner at Silverstone in the last 11 races.
Reuters
"He just outclassed everybody"Sylvain Guintoli analyses Bez's performance #MotoGP | #BritishGP | Live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ pic.twitter.com/UxlKV7VA8q
— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 25, 2025
"Aprilia trusted in me and honestly I couldn't dream of a better first win with them" ❤️An emotional Bezzecchi reflects on winning the #BritishGP 🇬🇧@nataliequirk 🎙️#MotoGP | Live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ pic.twitter.com/L3pEcwaayw
— TNT Sports Bikes (@bikesontnt) May 25, 2025
Even though the final result was disappointing, the fans have voted Quartararo as RIDER OF THE RACE! 🙌View the results here 👀https://t.co/OIKGFNL9VM#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/OaX4VZAU7f
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Back on winning ways ✅11th different winner in a row at Silverstone ✅First GP win with Aprilia ✅SIMPLY THE BEZ 🏆#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/fJbtpLyro1
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
6-8 June: Grand Prix of Aragon
20-22 June: Grand Prix of Italy
27-29 June: Grand Prix of the Netherlands
11-13 July: Grand Prix of Germany
18-20 July: Grand Prix of Czechia
'It was heartbreaking.' Fabio Quartararo broke down in his media debrief just now. He was asked whether his race-winning form gave him hope for future Grands Prix and was overcome by emotion, needing a minute to gather his thoughts. The 2021 world champion said through tears: 'I never felt that good for a long time and everything was under control. I didn't expect this, but I pushed hard on the front and easy on the rear. It was really windy and understood where I could push and where I had to brake earlier. It is so s**t what happened today. We've improved the bike and we know that when things are in a good way then we are fast.'
Heartbreak for Fabio Quartararo 💔 pic.twitter.com/iNE2aK3bTt
— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) May 25, 2025
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) 196 pts
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati) 172
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) 124
Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) 98
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) 97
Marco Bezzecchi 38:16.037
Johann Zarco +4.088
Marc Marquez +5.929
Franco Morbidelli +5.946
Alex Marquez +6.024
Pedro Acosta +7.109
Jack Miller +7.398
Luca Marini +7.729
Fermin Aldeguer +8.584
Fabio Di Giannantonio +9.764
Thailand: 1. Marc Marquez, 2. Alex Marquez, 3. Franceso Bagnaia
Argentina: 1. Marc Marquez, 2. Alex Marquez, 3. Franco Morbidelli
USA: 1. Francesco Bagnaia, 2. Alex Marquez, 3. Fabio Di Giannantonio
Qatar: 1. Marc Marquez, 2. Francesco Bagnaia, 3. Franco Morbidelli
Spain: 1. Alex Marquez, 2. Fabio Quartararo, 3. Francesco Bagnaia
France: 1. Johann Zarco, 2. Marc Marquez, 3. Fermin Aldeguer
Great Britain: 1. Marco Bezzecchi, 2. Johann Zarco, 3. Marc Marquez
'It is amazing. It has been a really tough time for me in the past few months. I started a new adventure with Aprilia and they trusted me. We never gave up and team did a wonderful job. I want to say thank you to the whole factory and my family and friends for sticking with me.'
'I cannot believe it. It was a really special race. The first start was not the bes. On the second start I got the first three corners perfectly and made up many positions. I tried to get the pace but Bezzecchi was too strong. The last few laps I tried to keep Marc Marquez back and I did well.'
But not for long. Marc, who finished on the podium in third, answers just one question and says he was very lucky today after the mistake he made early on before the reprieve after the red flag. Not a particularly happy bunny.
That's it! Aprilia wins at Silverstone. The RS-GP proves to be the masters of fast corner speed at the track for the second time in three years. Marco Bezzecchi's achievement extends the run to eleven different winners for the UKGP, it is also the first victory for the charismatic Italian since the 2023 Indian Grand Prix. Johann Zarco was immense for a second podium finish in a row for Honda and a blessed Marc Marquez improves his cushion at the top of the MotoGP standings after winning a last corner Ducati tussle with Franco Morbidelli and brother Alex.
Marco Bezzecchi
Johann Zarco
Marc Marquez
Franco Morbidelli
Alex Marquez
The Italian takes victory in one hell of a race. He wins it from tenth on the grid. That is his first victory since 2023 when he won in India.
Behind Marc Marquez retakes third from Morbidelli into Stowe but Morbidelli goes back through into Vale. Marc Marquez is having none of it and takes third back just before the line.
What a race! And breathe!
GOD SAVE THE BEZ 🫡Bezzecchi becomes the 11th different winner in a row at Silverstone! 🏆#BritishGP🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/7JaZawb0CI
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Bezzecchi starts the final lap and his advantage is more than four seconds. Marc Marquez is chasing Zarco for second but has Morbidelli not far behind him.
Morbidelli tries to get past Marc Marquez at Village but the six-time world champion holds third. But into Copse Morbidelli sends it up the inside and gets the move done for the final podium place.
This has been a great battle between Miller and Alex Marquez and finally the latter gets the move done into Copse. Acosta also gets past Miller.
Miller fights with Morbidelli around the final few corners and he ends up being punished as Alex Marquez gets past. But Miller is not having it as he retakes the lead. The fight continues all the way up to Brooklands and Miller somehow keeps fifth place. Stunning racing.
Up ahead Bezzecchi looks like he has sealed the victory, over three seconds clear of Zarco, who is not far ahead of Marc Marquez.
Top five:
Bezzecchi
Zarco
Marc Marquez
Miller
Morbidelli
Quartararo is being consoled in the pit lane but I suspect no words will work. He will be gutted.
The wait continues for Fabio Quartararo. It looks like the Monster Energy Yamaha's rear ride height device failed. The leader tried to brake hard and release the mechanism but his race is over when he had an advantage of almost five seconds over Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi. The ride height tech – which could disappear from MotoGP with the 2027 regulations – has robbed Yamaha of a great shout of a first win at Silverstone in 2021. Bezzecchi now heads MotoGP in his first season with Aprilia. The Italian firm from Noale has been surrounded by controversy and gossip thanks to their unsettled situation with absent and injury reigning world champion Jorge Martin. Up until Johann Zarco's emotional success for Honda at Le Mans two weeks ago, Aprilia were the last firm to interrupt Ducati's dominance with Maverick Viñales triumph at COTA for the USGP in April 2024.
Oh no! Quartararo has problems! He had a near five-second lead but drops down the order. Bezzecchi takes the lead of the race, Zarco is second and Marc Marquez is into third. Quartararo is out and is banging the ground in anger. He cannot believe it.
FABIO QUARTARARO HAS AN ISSUE! ⚠️BEZZECCHI INHERITS THE LEAD! #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/3PKJS8GRg5
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
UTTER HEARTACHE. 💔#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/JYHaSnwACx
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Marc Marquez making up more places and is up into fourth as he passes Morbidelli at Brooklands. He is nine seconds off the led and three seconds off the podium.
Late charge mode: ON! ✅@marcmarquez93 takes 4th from Franky ⚔️#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/F91X43Cyx6
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Quartararo's lead had grown out to over five seconds but Bezzecchi is starting to close up. The gap is now down to under four and a half seconds.
One Marquez brother gets past another as Marc passes Alex at Vale. Before the lap is up Marc moves into fifth as he gets past Miller.
Back in the garage Bagnaia is devastated and looks pretty emotional having crashed out.
💪@marcmarquez93 up to 6th! A podium may not be out of reach yet 👀#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/60x80lpAur
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Into Brooklands Marc Marquez gets the move done on Mir and moves up to seventh. The six-time world champion had been eyeing that move up for a few corners and gets it done.
Crazy scenes in the UKGP so far. A mix of brands sees Ducati, who have won all but three Grands Prix since the start of 2023, with only one bike in the top five thanks to the fortunate Alex Marquez. The Catalan is steering the Gresini GP24 with friction burns from that lap one crash. Tyre wear will play a part in the second half of this distance and those with the Soft Michelin front will be crossing their fingers that the inevitable performance drop happens as last as possible. Keep an eye on Marc Marquez, looming with intent.
Morbidelli pulls off an audacious and bold move on Miller into Maggotts and takes fourth.
Quartararo has built a five-second gap back to Miller, who is passed by Bezzecchi into Stowe and then Zarco takes his chance of passing Miller. Bezzecchi into second, Zarco third, Miller fourth.
This three-way battle for 2nd is cooking 🔥🔥🔥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/q6UaVgm8rF
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Top five:
Quartararo
Miller
Bezzecchi
Zarco
Alex Marquez
Bagnaia is out! He goes off at Brooklands and he is into the gravel. He cannot believe it. The yellow flags were out in sector two but they have now been cleared.
MAJOR HEARTBREAK 💔@peccobagnaia crashes out 💥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/zzG8KKRw3H
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Quartararo has checked out in front but behind the drama is increasing with every turn. Miller and Zarco have moved up into second and third respectively before Marc Marquez gets a cheeky move done on Bagnaia.
However into Copse both Marquez and Bagnaia, like they were synchronised, go wide and drop down to ninth and tenth.
Yamahas 1-2! We're struggling to remember when two M1s led the MotoGP field but both Fabio Quartararo and Jack Miller are using the soft Michelin tyre: will the rubber last? The Frenchman set off from Pole Position as the Japanese giant continues their technical resurgence in Grand Prix racing. Quartararo, the 2021 world champion, has not won a race since the summer of 2022.
LOOK AT THE YAMAHAS GO! 🚀Fabio Quartararo leads @jackmilleraus! 🔥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/Z0jwJAtNdl
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Down to 9th & 10th 📉The @ducaticorse duo are having an absolute nightmare! #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/SJmxuiYb7g
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
The Marquez brothers had a slice of luck upon the red flag but this restart has not served them well. Marc Marquez is passed by Miller, who then gets an unreal move done on Bagnaia into Brooklands.
Marc Marquez then comes so close to going into the back of Bagnaia at Copse and goes wide, allowing Zarco to get past into fourth.
🤯 @marcmarquez93 loses ground behind @PeccoBagnaia as the Yamahas (on the Soft front tyre) extend their gap #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/X4o0vWfKIL
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
It is another great start from Alex Marquez as he gets the initial getaway on Quartararo. However he is understandably cautious into turn one and Bagnaia takes the lead. However Quartararo gets back the lead of the race at Village.
Alex Marquez has now dropped back into fifth but is now sixth by the end of the first lap on the restart as Zarco passes him.
Take two! Will we see yet more drama? I think I can almost guarantee that!
While we wait for the restart, Dorna Sports and Silverstone have released attendance figures for the Grand Prix at the total of 99,328. It's the first sub-100k total in the last decade. The total was around 100,000 in 2022. Too close to the TT? Too risky with the weather? Reverting back to August in 2026 might provide a boost and what will a Liberty Media MotoGP scene look like by then?
Out the riders go for one sighting lap and then we will be ready to go again. The riders have just 60 seconds to make their way out of the pit lane. Quartararo is the last man out and is working his tyres to get more heat into them, which will be essential at the start.
Then the riders head round for another warm-up lap.
Pit lane is OPEN! ✅#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/bNbcMrk4J0
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
'Quick restart procedure starts at 1.20pm. Pit lane exit to open for 60 seconds only ahead of sighting lap. Original grid positions. All riders eligible for the restart. Race reduced to 19 laps.'
Alex Marquez has had enough time to have a change of race suit. We go back to the original grid, so here is how the top five looks:
Quartararo
A Marquez
Bagnaia
M Marquez
Aldeguer
An incredible effort by @AleixEspargaro to run almost half the track and return to the garage. pic.twitter.com/ZkDfArGSyr
— Honda HRC Castrol - MotoGP (@HRC_MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Alex Marquez will seemingly have a reprieve as he is racing through the paddock and he may well be able to get back in this as three racing laps were not completed.
Sensational scenes and the Marquez brothers light up MotoGP once more. We have a red flag with Alex and Marc having scraped the Silverstone asphalt in the first two laps. It looks like Marc will be able to restart having made it back to the pits on his damaged Ducati. The race will run for 19-laps. Alex Marquez will also get another shot thanks to the three-lap rule but he has to get back to the pitbox. We'll have a reset basically, but the Marquez's will have to use second bikes and might be limited with their tyre options. There is bound to be more crashes here, with the temperatures hovering around 15-16 degrees.
Wasting no time 🏃 @alexmarquez73 #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/ZAzYzvekAB
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
'All riders actively racing are eligible for the restart as three laps race distance had not been completed before the red flag.'
The oil spillage, which has caused the red flag, is at turn 17.
Yet more drama for the Marquez brothers! Marc Marquez was in the lead but he slides off at Becketts. He is back up but no-one saw that coming. In just a couple of laps both Marquez brothers have gone down.
There is an oil spillage out on the track so the red flag is out. We had before all that a yellow flag out as Espargaro and Morbidelli had come together.
INCREDIBLE 😱@marcmarquez93 has crashed out of the lead 💥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/wE7lyYhBt7
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Alex Marquez makes a stunning start off the line, going straight past Quartararo but as he goes to Abbey at turn one he has not heat in the tyre and slides off and out. His brother Marc Marquez started fourth but goes up the inside and takes first place. Disaster for one brother, delight for the other.
Early drama after lights out 😱@alexmarquez73 crashes out at T1 and @marcmarquez93 inherits the lead 💥💥💥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/gfhOOqLEh8
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
We are off!
The grid is cleared and we are nearly ready for action in the Silverstone sunshine. Will Quartararo be able to convert pole into a win, which he was not able to do yesterday? Can Alex Marquez close the gap in the standings to his brother Marc? All those questions will be answered over the next 20 laps.
Off we go on the warm-up lap, where all the riders will want to get some heat into the tyres. Quartararo has gone for a soft on the front with medium at the rear. A Marquez and Bagnaia have mediums on both.
Back to August for 2026. The final United Kingdom Grand Prix in the current contract with Silverstone will switch back to a summer fixture in 2026. The weekend of August 7th-9th has already been confirmed for next year and is bound to slide MotoGP after F1 in the calendar. No word on the official attendance here today yet but the vast capacity of the site means spectators are quite spread out. 'Having listened to feedback from the fans we know that bringing the summer vibe back to the British Grand Prix will be a popular move,' said Silverstone MD Stuart Pringle in the press release.
Fabio Quartararo 1:57.233
Alex Marquez 1:57.542
Francesco Bagnaia 1:57.822
Marc Marquez 1:57.914
Fermin Aldeguer 1:58.073
Jack Miller 1:58.105
Fabio di Giannatonio 1:58.126
Luca Marini 1:58.135
Johann Zarco 1:58.140
Marco Bezzecchi 1:58.343
The sun is starting to burst through at Silverstone but still a little chilly with the wind quite blustery. We are just 10 minutes away from the start.
Here is a fun fact for you; we have had 10 different winners at Silverstone in the last 10 races.
Spaniard Pedro Acosta turns 21 today and he starts 14th.
Birthday boy alert! 🎂@37_pedroacosta #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/D2ThnLTqMp
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
The riders have been out for some reconnaissance laps, with the wind quite strong at the open Silverstone track. Not only will they have to be conscious of the wind and the degradation of the tyres, they will also have to think about the fuel, which they will have to manage.
Alex Marquez, who starts second today, has just spoken to TNT Sports about getting to grips with the wind on the sighting laps. He has also spoken about the choice of tyre. Is he bluffing by saying all tyres are in play?
🥇#TissotSprint winner on SaturdayWhat's in store for @alexmarquez73 on Sunday? 👀#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/4xN9EACpid
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
2024- Enea Bastianini2023- Aleix Espargaro2022- Francesco Bagnaia2021- Fabio Quartararo2019- Aleix Rins2017- Andrea Dovizioso
High five and ready to go! 🙌 @marcmarquez93#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/IDA0mAsHGE
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Thailand: 1. Marc Marquez, 2. Alex Marquez, 3. Franceso Bagnaia
Argentina: 1. Marc Marquez, 2. Alex Marquez, 3. Franco Morbidelli
USA: 1. Francesco Bagnaia, 2. Alex Marquez, 3. Fabio Di Giannantonio
Qatar: 1. Marc Marquez, 2. Francesco Bagnaia, 3. Franco Morbidelli
Spain: 1. Alex Marquez, 2. Fabio Quartararo, 3. Francesco Bagnaia
France: 1. Johann Zarco, 2. Marc Marquez, 3. Fermin Aldeguer
I know you all love to discuss tyres! In the Sprint yesterday, the front tyres in particular looked shot after just 10 laps and today's race is double that at 20 laps. Those soft tyres struggled towards the end so will we see the mediums today? However on Friday in cool conditions the mediums struggled and today it is even cooler. Some big decisions ahead for the teams and riders.
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) 180 pts
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Ducati) 161
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) 124
Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) 75
Fabio di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) 81
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) 77
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) 59
Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Ducati) 48
A dry race ahead. We arrived at Silverstone this morning in pouring rain but the strong winds here have helped blow the clouds away and dry the asphalt. Moto2 has already warmed-up the damp crowd that have found a moist grassy spot or a seat in a sea of grandstand choice: five riders were split by just half a second at the flag and Senna Agius became the first Australian GP winner since Remy Gardner in 2021. Local hope Jake Dixon managed 9th place.
The MotoGP premier class will soon get away and it looks like there will be no repeat of the changeable and difficult wet/dry conditions experienced in the recent French and US Grands Prix. 'We're not expecting any more showers according to the satellite but you never know with wind like this,' said Paul Trevathan, Crew Chief for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Pedro Acosta; the Austrian team's lead rider and celebrating his 21st birthday today as the youngest racer in MotoGP. 'It's more about tyre choice and coping with the strong gusts,' the Kiwi offered.
Silverstone first hosted the British Grand Prix (now the Grand Prix of the United Kingdom) way back in 1977 when it moved to the mainland from the Isle of Man (the TT also gets underway this week) but the 2025 edition is the fifteenth since MotoGP made the circuit its home again in 2010. Can Acosta produce a surprise and be the fifth different Spaniard to win at Silverstone in that time frame? If so, then the victory will represent the eleventh different winner in the last eleven years in Northamptonshire; showing how technical and demanding the 5.9km and 18-corner layout can be for the bikes.
The likelihood thought is that round seven will belong to another Spanish faction: the Marquez family. Eight times world champion Marc has ruled three GPs to-date this season on the factory Ducati Lenovo GP25 but he has been chased by younger brother Alex, riding the year-old Gresini Ducati GP24, who has four podium finishes, a Spanish GP winner's trophy and conquered the Saturday Sprint despite a massive crash out of Stowe corner yesterday morning.
Alex Marquez 19m 53sec
Marc Marquez +3.511s
Fabio Di Giannantonio +5.072s
Marco Bezzecchi +5.658s
Johann Zarco +6.707s
Francesco Bagnaia +7.057s
Fabio Quartararo +7.231s
Pedro Acosta +9.186s
Jack Miller +9.923s
Luca Marini +10.206s
Well worth the watch. Thrilling!
UTTERLY BONKERS 🤯THIS IS HOW SENNA AGIUS GOT A CRAZY #Moto2 VICTORY 🔥#BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/4RauqV00ue
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 25, 2025
Fabio Quartararo 1:57.233
Alex Marquez 1:57.542
Francesco Bagnaia 1:57.822
Marc Marquez 1:57.914
Fermin Aldeguer 1:58.073
Jack Miller 1:58.105
Fabio di Giannatonio 1:58.126
Luca Marini 1:58.135
Johann Zarco 1:58.140
Marco Bezzecchi 1:58.343
One of the talking points coming into the UKGP has involved the attendance figures: does the speed and spectacle really have much impact if there is nobody around to see it? MotoGP TV production and the TNT Sports coverage is both first-class and comprehensive but the Grand Prix continues to divide fans' opinions for viewing and access, despite the fact that the riders themselves rave about the technical blend of corners and varying pace.
Official figures for the British round climbed slightly in 2023 and 2024 and numbered over 117,400 last year where MotoGP celebrated a 75th anniversary. However, a homegrown British rider has not appeared on the MotoGP grid at Silverstone since 2021. That Grand Prix was the final outing for the UK's last outstanding rider, Cal Crutchlow. The ex-factory Honda man had helped spin the turnstiles in 2016 when he qualified on pole position and then finished as runner-up on Sunday. Over 155,000 went to Silverstone that weekend: the highest accumulation from the last decade.
By 2022 the total had dropped by a third with Crutchlow nearly two seasons into retirement, Valentino Rossi also hanging up the florescent leathers in 2021 and Marc Marquez struggling with injury and a stubborn factory Honda. The race benefitted from the marketing activation of energy drink company Monster Energy for four years but the crowd was still less than a quarter of the 2024 F1 attendance. The total haul across all three days last summer for MotoGP was well under Sunday's crowd for the cars and this year looks likely to drop once more.
'The sport lack visibility in the United Kingdom,' opined Silverstone MD Stuart Pringle, speaking exclusively to Telegraph Sport. 'There are no British riders in the premier class and there are no British teams in the premier class. From other forms of motorsport, like Formula One, Silverstone understands the benefit of having British teams and British talent. It's true of any sport. Any promoter will tell you that it becomes easier when there is home interest for the fans. This is what we lack in MotoGP.
'We need that again and it's not a quick fix,' he adds. MotoGP rights-holders Dorna Sports are in the middle of a fervent process of modernisation and transformation. The series itself is weeks away from a protracted multi-billion-dollar acquisition by Liberty Media - controllers of F1 and the architects of the current swell of interest – pending a verdict from the European Antitrust authorities. Dorna have continually probed for British (and American) talent to constitute some of the grid demographic.
There might be a small boost today thanks to the fresh memory of Jake Dixon's emotional victory last year in Moto2 and the fact that he has claimed two chequered flags already this season. 'Dorna, to be fair to them, have been very supportive of British riders in the junior categories,' Pringle, who is a biker himself, says. 'We have to recognise the world that we are in. Any talk of motorcycle sales going up is entirely driven by scooters and those riders are not necessarily fans of racing.
'I have written to the European Commission enquiry,' he explains. 'As a bloke with a database of fans in both two wheels and four wheels - and we are one of the few circuits that host both F1 and MotoGP –there is no crossover. That was my message to them, and it will not create a monopoly situation. There are entirely different groups of fans. If Liberty Media could sprinkle their magic dust on MotoGP as they have done in Formula One then it would make this promoter very happy indeed.'
In comparison to F1's British core, MotoGP is predominantly Spanish and Italian. The paddock features 11 teams running 2-million-euro motorcycles from Italian, Japanese and Austrian manufacturers and there has only been one non-Spaniard or non-Italian world champion since 2011. Whereas fans seem to be attracted to the personalities and the teams of Formula One, MotoGP draws more on visually stunning athleticism and the close action: there have been ten different winners of the British Grand Prix in the last ten years. Marc Marquez and his profile aside, it needs to work harder to build the skills, bravery and characters of the protagonists. 'Better social media presence is the answer to most things and to raise the profile of the riders,' Pringle offers when asked how MotoGP could become more popular. 'If Liberty Media do take over then I think the riders will get a wake-up about what a championship expects by why of media participation. It is my observation that Formula One drivers are more engaged than MotoGP riders in media duties.'
Other factors: the GP ticket price is comparable to others on the continent, bike parking is free (cars are not) and there are national races on the support card. Viewing preferences are subjective: some love Silverstone's flat, lengthy layout, others yearn for the undulations of Donington Park. Another aspectfor 2025 is the calendar. The UK Grand Prix's May date is the earliest since Silverstone reclaimed the fixture from Donington in 2010. The GP had been held in August each year since 2017, dipping into September in 2013 and 2016. The current slot is only six weeks ahead of the fence-busting F1.
The switch will have to be judged in the aftermath. Not only for the gamble with the late Spring climate – which has varied greatly so far - but the fact that it occurs on the eve of the Isle of Man TT and even on the same weekend as the popular Bike Shed Show in London; two events that could eat into audience potential. 'We didn't argue against it and were happy to make a change,' Pringle reveals. 'It's the same in terms of interest although having less time to sell might yet have an impact. It's fairly typical buying-behaviour from motorcyclists to wait, and I include myself there. There is not enough in the ticket price to offer a large discount for early booking, compared to say Formula 1.'
We are at the home of Britsh Motorsport for round seven of the MotoGP World Championship as Silverstone plays host to what should be a thrilling race. Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) starts on pole today ahead of Alex Marquez (Ducati) and Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati). Championship leader Marc Marquez starts in fourth with Fermin Aldeguer one place behind him in fifth. This is Quartararo's third main pole of the season after poles in Spain and France.
Marc Marquez leads the way in the standings on 180 points, 19 points ahead of his brother Alex Marquez. The Sprint yesterday went to Alex Marquez for the first time this term followed by his brother Marc, who had taken the spoils in the previous six in Thailand, Argentina, USA, Qatar, Spain and France. Speaking after the Sprint, Alex Marquez was delighted with his efforts.
'I am super happy. We did everything perfectly. We made a mistake at the start. When he went wide, I said ok. I need to go to the end. It was a good feeling on the bike. It was too short, I felt good. Tomorrow [today] is the most important day though, so we need to focus.'
Quartararo, who starts on pole for today's main race, also began on pole for yesterday's Sprint but slipped down the order to finish down in seventh, so the Frenchman will be hoping for different fortunes today but he did not sound too confident after the Sprint yesterday.
'On the first lap Alex Marquez overtook me before the finish line,' said Quartararo. 'I am not stupid, I know how to ride – but [people] overtaking me in this situation, in this position, is frustrating. Yes, there were some positives today [yesterday], but if you check my top speed, I am last by far. The grip for us was really, really critical and I could not be fast. We had a lot of chatter. There was a big gap between the feeling of the morning and the performance of the afternoon. If there is a small difference on the grip, we feel it like 10 times more than the others. The pace we had in the sprint race compared to what we [did earlier] was super slow. We have to understand why we drop so much when conditions drop, and [why] we do not generate any kind of grip.'
Off the track, it has been confirmed that the 2026 British GP will take place from 7-9 August next year. There have been changeable conditions this weekend, with rain and plenty of wind around, and there will be plenty of focus on the tyres, which could cause plenty of headaches for the teams and riders. With Silverstone being such an open track, the blustery winds could cause significant issues for the riders. We are all set for an enthralling race, which gets going at 1pm, over 20 laps around the Silverstone circuit.