MotoGP Bharat: India To Host Its First MotoGP Race This Weekend
India is eagerly preparing to host its first-ever MotoGP Bharat event this weekend, with Fairstreet Sports, the Indian promoters, displaying optimism about the racing series” potential to captivate the country”s fans in the long term. Fairstreet Sports holds the rights to organise the race in India, licensed by Dorna Sports, for a seven-year period until 2029. The event is scheduled to take place from September 22 to 24 at the Buddh International Circuit in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and will be broadcast on Sports18 and streamed on JioCinema.
Vaibhav Sinha, CEO of Fairstreet Sports, expressed confidence in the venture”s potential, stating, “We believe there is a huge potential to channelise the interest of the large number of biking enthusiasts in the country through MotoGP Bharat. We are looking at this from a long-term perspective. India is the largest market for bikes, and the premium bike segment has been experiencing strong growth.”
Sinha highlighted the participation of renowned motorcycle brands like Yamaha, Honda, Ducati, and KTM in the racing series, noting that these brands have a strong connection with a large base of biking enthusiasts in India. He believes that MotoGP has the ability to appeal to the common man, which has been the case in other markets, and expects to see a similar growth trajectory in India.
According to Nielsen estimates, India already boasts a fanbase of approximately 54 million for the racing series. As with many sporting ventures, Sinha acknowledged that there would be a gestation period before profitability is achieved. Fairstreet Sports anticipates MotoGP Bharat to become profitable by its third year. IndianOil has signed on as the title sponsor for the inaugural MotoGP Bharat event. Other event sponsors include Red Bull India, OLA, 24seven, and R.E. Rogers India.
Regarding viewership expectations, Sinha mentioned that they anticipate strong traction, especially on JioCinema, due to its recent success with a portfolio of sporting events. They are optimistic about MotoGP Bharat”s reach in the country. Fairstreet Sports has made tickets available at various price points, with lower-priced tickets already sold out and higher-priced ones selling fast. Corporate boxes have also received a strong response.
Addressing concerns about visa issues, the company assured that most visas have already been processed, with more in progress. They emphasised their commitment to ensuring that all participants, including riders and technical officials, receive their visas promptly.
