MotoGP: Racing at the Pinnacle of Bravery
- Damian Hall
- Sep 27, 2025
- 6 min read
Every weekend millions of fans watch MotoGP from their living rooms, but only a fraction will ever make it trackside. According to the MotoGP Global Fan Survey in 2022, just over 40 percent of fans had attended a race in the previous five years, while the vast majority experience the sport through television. That makes the broadcast vital, not only to show the action but to carry the stories that unfold to millions around the world.
MotoGP is the premier class of motorcycle racing, featuring the fastest bikes in the world and the most skilled riders. The machines are purpose-built prototypes capable of speeds over 200 mph, with grids stacked with international talent. Unlike Formula 1, the riders are exposed on two wheels, fighting not only rivals but the elements and physics itself. It is motorsport at its rawest, where fractions of a second separate victory from disaster.
I was fortunate to attend the San Marino Grand Prix at the Misano Circuit in Rimini, Italy with TNT Sports and see first-hand what goes into delivering that spectacle to viewers in the UK and Ireland. The experience gave me a new appreciation for the work behind the broadcast. At the same time, it reinforced something I already felt watching from home: that MotoGP might just be the pinnacle of bravery in sport.
There is no cockpit shielding the riders, no seatbelts to keep them secure, and no margin for hesitation. MotoGP is raw and exposed. These gladiators go into battle alone, cut off from their teams on the pit wall. The only contact comes in the form of a pit board held out over the wall as they fly past, or in some cases, as wild as it sounds, a short text message that flashes up on the tiny display of the bike. At best they might glance at it on a straight for a fraction of a second. For the rest of the time it is just rider against machine, with rivals all around.
What made my experience even more striking is how accessible the riders are. Some of the bigger names, like Marc Márquez, the 32-year-old Spaniard with Ducati Lenovo, naturally have heavier commitments and tighter schedules, but the sport as a whole still feels remarkably down to earth. Even at the very top, the riders are never too far removed from the fans who fill the grandstands.
The theatre of Misano
This year’s San Marino Grand Prix was also my introduction to experiencing an international circuit in a way I had never done before. I have had experience riding, but never on a track of this calibre, and I was given the chance to take a lap of Misano at speed. Outside of the usual sensation of flying that comes with riding, what struck me most was the surface itself. The circuit was so smooth, the grip level so high and the flow of the track so intoxicating that I found myself lost in the moment. It felt as if time stood still, yet it was over far too quickly.
I wanted to see what Turn 8 looked like, to spot the tree on the hill, but even as a pillion my eyes kept searching for braking points and apexes. Leaning over through the corners, it felt like being on my side and looking upward rather than forward, such was the lean angle and sensation. It was an incredible experience.
Television does a great job of showing speed, but only when you are trackside or riding on it do you truly appreciate the camber, elevation and flow of each turn. Misano’s curves challenge every rider, and each braking zone feels like a test of nerve.
That spectacle is faithfully brought to life on screens by the team at TNT Sports and Discovery+, who deliver the championship to viewers in the UK and Ireland. For the millions unable to travel, they make the sacrifice to be on the road, away from their families, so that MotoGP can reach its audience. Many others work remotely, and I could see them diligently operating on screen to maintain that same sense of connection with colleagues on location.
As I was told, the team rotates, and many factors are considered. Some people may not necessarily like being away from home for long stretches, while others embrace the travel. It is a balance, but one that ensures the broadcast runs seamlessly week after week. It is work that is often overlooked, yet the sacrifice and commitment deserve respect. The team itself is a blend of motorsport minds, movie buffs and even past athletes, a mix that creates the perfect storytelling lens.
Rivalries and atmosphere
MotoGP carries an atmosphere closer to football than Formula 1. The crowd is passionate, partisan and deeply connected to the sport’s history. The majority of the grid is European, with a heavy Italian and Spanish presence, and that national pride spills into the stands. Old rivalries run deep, like the infamous tension between Italy’s Valentino Rossi, now a team owner, and Márquez, which dates back to 2015.
That history was clear to see at Misano. When Márquez made a rare mistake and crashed out of Saturday’s sprint race, the overwhelming cheer from the Italian fans sounded like a home team scoring a goal. But on Grand Prix Sunday, Márquez reminded everyone of his quality. He won the race and then celebrated by raising his racing leathers aloft, name facing the crowd, echoing an iconic gesture made by football legend Lionel Messi, who once raised his jersey to say he let his football do the talking.
The boos that followed were deafening. Even if they did not carry clearly through the broadcast, they were unmistakable inside the circuit. It was theatre, sport at its most human, and Márquez had the last word. For the Italian fans, there was still plenty to celebrate with home hero Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing taking victory in Saturday’s sprint and a podium on Sunday.
The spectacle of MotoGP
Beyond the racing and the rivalries, MotoGP still leans into tradition. Grid girls line up before the start, the grandstands shake with energy, and when the lights go out the spectacle is unlike anything else. You are watching riders fight each other, but also battle against physics itself.
And yet, for all its intensity and danger, the sport remains accessible. What also stood out to me is that the personalities we see on the screen are just as genuine off it. Suzi Perry, Gavin Emmett, Neil Hodgson, Sylvain Guintoli and Michael Laverty come across as cool and down to earth, more like a family than a TV crew. They are accommodating with their time and their work often continues long after the track action ends.
I got to be a fly on the wall, as I often enjoy being, when Suzi, Michael and Gavin sat down with Motorcycle News for a round table talk. Even after that wrapped, Gavin headed straight into a live stream for Talk Sport, recorded right in the streets of Rimini. These additional commitments were well beyond their usual schedule, yet the way they carried themselves made it feel effortless. It was clear their love for the sport and talking about it made these moments seem less like work and more like an after-hours gathering of friends. Just some workmates sitting around having fun.
MotoGP is many things: speed, history, competition and theatre. My time with TNT Sports showed me how much work goes into bringing it into living rooms across the UK and Ireland, but it also underlined what I have always felt. This is the true pinnacle of bravery in sport. In its purest form it is man versus machine. There is also a story within the story, and it would be fascinating to see a series dedicated to showing how it all comes together behind the scenes.
MotoGP now moves on to Japan for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi, taking place from 26 to 28 September, and you can watch every practice, qualifying and race live and exclusive on TNT Sports and Discovery+.
Comments