F1 and MotoGP announce historic first-of-its-kind event at United States GP
MotoGP bikes will take to the track during an F1 weekend (Credit: Apex Agency)
Updated:
0 Comments
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Liberty Media will be showcasing their two crown jewels when MotoGP puts on a display at the Formula United States Grand Prix.
In a first of its kind between the two sports, a quartet of the MotoGP's past and present will complete laps on Saturday before F1 cars take to the Austin track before Free Practice 3.
MotoGP have announced that the appearance will include fan activations throughout the circuit and an opportunity to get up close with the riders and bikes in the Fan Zone.
Four MotoGP manufacturers represented in historic F1 crossover
ADVERTISEMENT
Four of MotoGP’s five manufacturers will be represented, with Hall of Fame rider Dani Pedrosa representing KTM and WorldSBK and 2027 VR46 Racing star Nicolo Bulega on board a Ducati.
For Yamaha, three-time MotoGP runner-up Andrea Dovizioso will be appearing, while Aprilia’s satellite team Trackhouse will field Lorenzo Savadori.
What Dani Pedrosa and Nicolo Bulega said about the F1 appearance
Commenting on the opportunity, legendary Spaniard Pedrosa said: "It's always special to ride a MotoGP bike at COTA, one of the most iconic circuits in the world.
"The United States Grand Prix is a truly unique and special event on the F1 calendar, attracting an incredible crowd and providing a great opportunity to give fans a taste of what makes MotoGP so exciting.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The speed, the sound and the performance of these bikes is something you have to experience in person, and I'm looking forward to sharing that with everyone in Austin."
MotoGP has raced in Austin since 2014 (Credit: Apex Agency)
Bulega added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to put MotoGP in front of one of the biggest crowds in world motorsport.
“The atmosphere at COTA is always incredible, and to ride a MotoGP bike in front of so many fans will be a special experience.
“MotoGP bikes are unlike anything else, and hopefully the laps will show just how spectacular our sport is.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We're looking forward to putting on a great show and giving fans a glimpse of what they can expect when I return with MotoGP to Austin in 2027.”
Why Liberty Media is bringing its two championships together
MotoGP also races at COTA, but earlier in the season, with this year’s edition running from March 27-30 and won by Marco Bezzecchi.
Next year’s event runs from April 23-25, and MotoGP will be hoping to capitalise on F1’s huge success in Austin.
ADVERTISEMENT
The track has one of the highest capacities in world motorsport, and looks set to be another 400,000 sell out.
Liberty Media bought Formula 1 in 2017, and in 2025 added MotoGP and WSBK to its stable with an 84 per cent acquisition of Dorna Sports.
The sports regularly cross over in other ways, with legends of both, Valentino Rossi and Max Verstappen competing in the GT World Challenge Europe finale in Portugal last weekend.
Before that, MotoGP championship contender Marco Bezzecchi visited the Monza Grand Prix, and paid tribute to his good friend and F1 title leader Kimi Antonelli with a unique celebration in his last victory.
Read also
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google