Table of Contents
- 1 Even with a uniform counting method: Le Mans remains the front runner
- 2 Sachsenring defends P2 in the spectator statistics
- 3 Assen with the second most spectators on Sunday
- 4 Lusail, at the bottom, loses the start of the 2025 season
- 5 Viewer numbers in the 2024 MotoGP season (Thursday to Sunday):
- 6 Viewership numbers in the 2024 MotoGP season (Sunday only):
- 7 **Considering the varying viewership numbers across different Grands Prix, what strategies could MotoGP organizers use to promote less popular races and ensure a more even distribution of audience interest throughout the season?**
(Motorsport-Total.com) – The Motorcycle World Championship concluded the 2024 season with a new record in terms of the number of on-site spectators at the racetracks.
The 2024 MotoGP season was well attended locally (Photo: Finale in Barcelona) Zoom
20 race weekends (the same number as in 2023) were held in the 2024 MotoGP season from mid-March to mid-November. And for the first time in many years, the audience figures have now been released for the America weekend at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
Die Total on-site spectators in the 2024 MotoGP season lies by 3.033.255. This means that the three million mark has been broken for the first time. For comparison: In the 2023 MotoGP season, a total of 2,857,925 spectators were counted at the racetracks.
Even with a uniform counting method: Le Mans remains the front runner
But there are reasons for the record mark in 2024. On the one hand, as already mentioned, the season that ended a week ago is the first in many years for which viewership figures from Austin are also available. Above all, the 2024 season is the first ever in which the on-site spectators were counted for each individual race weekend not only on Sunday, Saturday and Friday, but also on Thursday.
In previous years, Thursday was traditionally only counted on the France weekend in Le Mans, but not on the other race weekends in the MotoGP calendar. In 2024, MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports has standardized the counting method in every respect. This makes it all the more worthwhile to take a detailed look at the numbers.
Like 2023, so too 2024: Most spectators were recorded at Le Mans Zoom
Interesting: Although the four-day counting principle was applied to all race weekends for the first time, the French Grand Prix at Le Mans will again have the most on-site spectators in the 2024 MotoGP season. This applies to all four days 297.471 and just for Sunday with 119,145.
Sachsenring defends P2 in the spectator statistics
Calculated across all four days, second place in the 2024 MotoGP viewership statistics goes to German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring with 252.826. The cult event in Hohenstein-Ernstthal had already taken second place in the 2023 MotoGP viewership statistics, with 233,196 (excluding Thursday).
The Sachsenring in Hohenstein-Ernstthal remains a spectator magnet Zoom
In third place in terms of on-site spectators in the 2024 MotoGP season Thailand-Grand-Prix in Buriram with 205.343 away. The year before, it was the season finale that had the third highest number of viewers.
The season finale took place in Valencia in 2023, but was quickly moved to Barcelona for 2024 due to the flooding there. There, however, not all of the stands were set up due to the short lead time of just two weeks. The contingent of grandstand seats that was released was still sold out. The stated goal was thus achieved. The proceeds were donated to the Valencia Region.
Assen with the second most spectators on Sunday
If you look at the viewer numbers for Sunday only across the entire 2024 MotoGP season, the best-attended races are sometimes different than when you look at the total viewer numbers from Thursday to Sunday.
Because On-site spectators on Sundays were also in Le Mans Most of them are noted, as already mentioned 119.145. Sachsenring and Buriram do not follow in second and third place, but first Assen in the Netherlands with 108.770 and then that Sachsenring with 98.015.
Assen (Netherlands) was heavily attended in 2024, Spielberg (Austria) less so
The Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg ranks in both ratings (on the one hand Thursday to Sunday, on the other hand only Sunday) on P11 out of 20 in the MotoGP viewership statistics 2024.
Lusail, at the bottom, loses the start of the 2025 season
A look at the lower end of the viewer numbers in the 2024 MotoGP season shows: both calculated over all four days and only based on Sunday Katar-Grand-Prix in Lusail clearly the bottom. At the start of the season in mid-March there were only 40.343 Viewers registered from Thursday to Sunday, and only on Sunday itself 15.165.
Very few fans go to the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar Zoom
Also not exactly overwhelmingly attended were the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi with 80,131 spectators across all four days (including 42,018 on Sunday) and the second race weekend in Misano with 82,024 spectators across all four days (including 45,467 on Sunday).
For comparison: The first race weekend in Misano, which took place two weeks earlier, performed significantly better with 163,558 spectators across all four days and 89,678 on Sunday. The Sunday value is even enough for P4 directly behind the Sachsenring.
The 2025 MotoGP season begins in March for the first time in Buriram (Thailand) Zoom
As for bottom-placed Qatar, it should be remembered that this Grand Prix will no longer be the season opener on the 2025 MotoGP calendar. Instead we have the opening weekend of the new season, scheduled for 1st/2nd. March 2025, awarded to the well-attended Buriram International Circuit in Thailand in 2024.
It remains to be seen whether the time gap of just four months (end of October 2024 to beginning of March 2025) will have a negative impact on viewership in Thailand or not.
Viewer numbers in the 2024 MotoGP season (Thursday to Sunday):
French Grand Prix (Le Mans) – 297,471
Grand Prix of Germany (Sachsenring) – 252,826
Grand Prix of Thailand (Buriram) – 205,343
Grand Prix of the Netherlands (Assen) – 192,554
Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang) – 184,923
Grand Prix von Spanien (Jerez) – 181,289
Catalan Grand Prix (Barcelona 1) – 176,684
Grand Prix of Portugal (Portimao) – 174,614
Grand Prix of San Marino (Misano 1) – 163,558
Italian Grand Prix (Mugello) – 156,676
Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg) – 150,187
Grand Prix of Solidarity (Barcelona 2) – 134,848
American Grand Prix (Austin) – 122,559
Indonesian Grand Prix (Mandalika) – 121,252
British Grand Prix (Silverstone) – 117,867
Grand Prix of Aragon (Alcaniz) – 107,421
Australian Grand Prix (Phillip Island) – 90,685
Grand Prix der Emilia-Romagna (Misano 2) – 82,024
Japanese Grand Prix (Motegi) – 80,131
Qatar Grand Prix (Lusail) – 40,343
Viewership numbers in the 2024 MotoGP season (Sunday only):
French Grand Prix (Le Mans) – 119,145
Grand Prix of the Netherlands (Assen) – 108,770
Grand Prix of Germany (Sachsenring) – 98,015
Grand Prix of San Marino (Misano 1) – 89,678
Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang) – 88,571
Grand Prix of Thailand (Buriram) – 85,466
Italian Grand Prix (Mugello) – 81,627
Grand Prix von Spanien (Jerez) – 81,139
Catalan Grand Prix (Barcelona 1) – 76,124
Grand Prix of Portugal (Portimao) – 72,549
Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg) – 67,271
Grand Prix of Solidarity (Barcelona 2) – 62,123
Indonesian Grand Prix (Mandalika) – 60,709
Grand Prix of Aragon (Alcaniz) – 55,977
Grand Prix der Emilia-Romagna (Misano 2) – 45,467
American Grand Prix (Austin) – 44,271
British Grand Prix (Silverstone) – 42,529
Japanese Grand Prix (Motegi) – 42,018
Australian Grand Prix (Phillip Island) – 36,481
Qatar Grand Prix (Lusail) – 15,165
**Considering the varying viewership numbers across different Grands Prix, what strategies could MotoGP organizers use to promote less popular races and ensure a more even distribution of audience interest throughout the season?**
## Open-Ended Discussion Questions on 2024 MotoGP Viewership
This article provides a ton of data on MotoGP viewership. Let’s use it to spark some interesting conversations!
**I. The Popularity of MotoGP:**
* **Beyond Numbers:** The article focuses on viewer numbers. What other factors might contribute to the popularity or lack thereof for a specific Grand Prix? Consider things like the circuit itself, local culture, marketing efforts, and the performance of home riders.
* **The Appeal of Live vs. Digital:** How do you think the rise of digital streaming services impacts MotoGP viewership? Does it grow the audience or cannibalize traditional attendance?
* **Making Grand Prix More Accessible:** What could MotoGP organizers do to attract new fans, particularly younger generations?
**II.
Comparing Specific Races:**
* **Sachsenring Success:** The Sachsenring consistently ranks high. What makes this track so popular with spectators? What lessons can other organizers learn from its success?
* **The Thailand Effect:** The Grand Prix in Buriram saw a significant increase in attendance from the previous year. What factors likely contributed to this surge, and is it sustainable?
* **The Case of Qatar:** Why do you think the Qatar Grand Prix received the lowest viewership numbers? How might MotoGP organizers address this issue in the future?
**III.
The Calendar and the Fan Experience:**
* **Impact of the Calendar:** How does the timing and sequencing of races on the MotoGP calendar potentially influence attendance? Is there an optimal way to structure the season?
* **Improving the Spectatorial Experience:** What are some things that Grand Prix organizers can do to improve the fan experience, both on and off the track?
* **Balancing Act:** MotoGP organizers need to balance the interests of teams, riders, broadcasters, and fans. How can they best achieve this equilibrium?
**IV. Looking Ahead to the Future:**
* **Predictions for 2025:** Based on the trends observed in 2024, how do you think MotoGP viewership will evolve in the coming years?
* **Keeping MotoGP Relevant:** What challenges and opportunities does MotoGP face in the future?
How can it stay relevant and exciting in a crowded sports landscape?
