The next race will take place on Australian soil. The riders’ standings see the leaders, Pecco and Fabio, separated by just two points. Marquez is back in shape following injury. An Aprilia is also in the title fight. But despite a situation that should have everyone on the edge of their seats, the championship does not have the spectator/follower numbers that rival championship Formula 1 enjoys. As an example, this year’s Mugello GP brought only 74,078 paying fans to the track over the weekend, compared to 140,000 three years ago. And it’s not just Italy. The Catalunya GP welcomed 114,000 spectators in 2022 but 160,000 in 2019.

The likely reasons

With reforms in progress, a calendar that is growing and a format that is changing, Dorna and the FIM are trying to make the two-wheel world championship even more appealing. The European races have seen fluctuating crowd figures and in Italy, as we’ve said, there hasn’t been the following we’ve seen in previous years.

One reason might be that those who follow MotoGP are getting older, as only real “veterans” watch this sport. Younger fans are more attracted by the extreme technology of F1, perhaps not understanding that the bikes are equally fascinating despite their relative simplicity. Then, there’s the fact that the idea of having a steering wheel in your hands is more accessible than a handlebar, so viewers perhaps identify more with the car drivers.

But there is another likely reason. In the past, there were riders who would bring huge swathes of fans to the track and, following their inevitable decline and retirement, people prefer to do something other than watch MotoGP on a Sunday. We’re talking about the age of the "magnificent four" – Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo and Pedrosa – and the likes of Dovizioso and Marquez. Those riders attracted the fans with their charisma and their talent on track. There is no shortage of talent today, but what is lacking is that ‘fandom’, that something extra that makes kids say “I want to go and see that live”.

What can be done?

The world championship circus is tackling the problem, following the kind of line Formula 1 has been taking. Or rather, changing up the format and introducing more races with the Sprint. With this change, they are hoping to make the race weekend even more appealing. And also by bringing the paddock to more countries with a new calendar, thereby expanding the user pool. As for the fans, it will take time for the public to embrace these new riders as heroes they can follow to the top of the world, but it’s happened before and – we hope – it will happen again now.

Traslated by Heather Watson

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