What is MotoGP and Why Does it Matter?

February 28, 2025

You may not have any desire to race, so what could you possibly learn from watching MotoGP? Today, I’m going to get you up to speed on MotoGP so you can start enjoying the sport straight away! And by straight away, I mean now—because the 2025 racing season is kicking off!

Racing Series: Local to Global

Racing series are structured in tiers—local, national, and global—with stakes increasing at each level.

Local Racing: If you have a racetrack nearby, there’s likely a local race organization. For example, in Utah, it’s the Utah Sport Bike Association. It’s a mix of riders who buy a sport bike, prep it for racing, and chase a local title. Anyone with the funds and passion can participate.
National Racing: These are countrywide series, such as MotoAmerica in the U.S. or British Superbike (BSB) in the UK. The bikes resemble those in showrooms but are fitted with advanced components. More money, more talent.
Global Racing: The top two global motorcycle racing series are World Superbike (WSBK) and MotoGP.
- World Superbike (WSBK): Uses production-based bikes heavily modified for competition.
- MotoGP: Prototype racing. These machines are completely custom-built, unattainable for consumers, and estimated to cost around $2,000,000 per bike. MotoGP is the Formula 1 of motorcycles—but with even more excitement.

The Bikes: Engineering Marvels

MotoGP bikes feature 1000cc naturally aspirated engines (no turbos or superchargers), producing over 300 horsepower. To give perspective on their insane power-to-weight ratio:

A supercar: ~500 hp per ton
An F1 car: ~1300 hp per ton
A MotoGP bike: ~2000 hp per ton!

Teams are limited to a small number of engines per season—if they blow up, they’re done.

Aero and Ride Height Devices

MotoGP bikes have wings that don’t move—instead, the bikes themselves adjust via a ride height device:

Exiting corners: The rear lowers to reduce drag.
Approaching corners: The rear lifts, allowing the wings to create downforce, pushing the front tire into the track.

Some corners require almost zero front brake pressure—the wings do the work!

The Human Factor: More Than Just Machines

Unlike car racing, where the vehicle is 80% of the equation, in MotoGP, 80% is the rider. How they position their body impacts the bike’s aerodynamics, handling, and braking. Crashes feel personal—when a rider goes down, you see it happen and hope they’re okay. The stakes are real.

Leveling the Playing Field

All MotoGP bikes use:

The same ECU (electronic control unit)
The same tires (Michelin-spec soft and hard compounds)

But the front tire is notoriously weak, forcing teams to rethink bike balance. Riders even have a dashboard light warning them when the front tire overheats, telling them to back off!

The Teams: Factory vs. Satellite

Factory Teams: Directly backed by manufacturers (Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, KTM, Aprilia).
Satellite Teams: Sponsored by third parties but receive bikes from factory teams.

Each manufacturer supplies one satellite team, except Ducati, which supplies two—a major factor in Ducati’s recent dominance.

The MotoGP Race Weekend

Understanding MotoGP’s race format can be tricky. Here’s how it works:

Friday: Pre-Qualifying Practice – Teams fine-tune setups.
Saturday: Qualifying + Sprint Race
- Riders are split into two groups. The slowest half goes to Q1, where the top 2 riders advance to Q2.
- Q2 determines pole position.
- Sprint Race (shorter, aggressive, with half points).
Sunday: The Main Race – The full-distance, high-stakes event where strategies and drama unfold.

Who to Watch in 2025

MotoGP is a summer-long drama, with legendary rivalries. Here are some key riders:

Marc Marquez (Ducati Factory) – A GOAT contender, aggressive yet polarizing, and moving to the dominant Ducati.
Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Factory) – The 2022 and 2023 champion, brilliant but prone to mistakes.
Jorge Martin (Aprilia Factory) – 2023 title contender, snubbed by Ducati, now out for revenge.
Pedro Acosta (KTM) – A generational talent, potentially the next MotoGP legend.
Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha Factory) – The last non-Ducati champion, but Yamaha is struggling.
Honda Riders – Honda has gone from dominance to last place, struggling with bike performance.

Why You Should Watch MotoGP

Even if you never plan to race, MotoGP offers valuable lessons for everyday riders. Unlike car racing, our understanding of motorcycles isn’t backed by large-scale scientific studies—MotoGP is our real-world research lab.

By watching the best riders in the world, we can learn about: