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MotoGP has developed to become one of the biggest international sports in terms of audience, yet its commercial potential is still talked about behind football, Formula 1 and major US sports.
But that may be about to change as the championship increases its digital footprint, creates more engaging fan experiences and seeks new global sponsorship categories.
The sport is a global phenomenon with a growing young fan base that already watches MotoGP on television, social media and digital platforms. For iGaming brands looking to Play Now in regulated markets, it’s hard to duplicate.
How big is MotoGP’s audience?
The sport’s global audience has expanded to over 650 million fans, providing commercial partners with access to audiences across Europe, Asia, the Americas and other key markets.
That came on top of a solid 2025 season. According to MotoGP, there were 632 million fans worldwide that year, which was itself an increase of 12% from the previous year.
The 2025 season also saw a record number of 3.6 million spectators at race weekends. The French Grand Prix at Le Mans attracted 311,797 spectators over the weekend, the highest MotoGP attendance ever. Those numbers put the championship well beyond the definition of ‘niche’.
Why does the audience suit digital brands?
MotoGP has a growing younger digital audience. By the end of the 2025 season, over 60 million people had followed MotoGP on social media, and engagement on its platforms rose by 61%. During that year, over one billion minutes of MotoGP content were also viewed on its official YouTube channel.
More importantly for digital entertainment companies, over 50% of MotoGP fans and followers were under 35 years of age for the fifth consecutive year.
Those viewers naturally overlap with people who are used to watching entertainment on their phones. A Grand Prix weekend sees fans already switching between race broadcasts, live timing, social platforms, video content and second-screen experiences.
Why are race weekends valuable for iGaming?
MotoGP is not reliant on one big 90-minute race. The practice, qualifying, sprint and main Grand Prix are typical parts of a race weekend. New information is generated at each session on aspects of rider performance, tyre behaviour, weather, crashes and race pace.
That provides several opportunities for fan attention to be raised. Sprint racing has made this model more robust. Sprint television audiences rose 26% in 2025 and average Grand Prix television audiences rose 9%, according to MotoGP.
It gives regulated betting operators the option to remain open for more than one pre-event betting window.
Is MotoGP becoming more commercially ambitious?
The organisation is working to expand its commercial platform. MotoGP appointed CAA Sports as its exclusive global sponsorship agency in June 2026. The goal was to bring high-value partnerships on board, new commercial categories and more value to international brands.
Earlier this year, Dorna Sports also rebranded itself as MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group. The rebrand was important because it made it clear that MotoGP was more than just a motorcycle championship. The organisation stated that digital innovation, immersive fan engagement, global storytelling and new entertainment formats would be part of its future plans, in addition to racing.
For instance, that broad positioning helps clarify where digital gaming businesses could fit in.
Can MotoGP engage fans away from the track?
Recent activations indicate that it can. In June 2026, MotoGP activated Outernet in London, captivating over 20,000 spectators with the Dutch Grand Prix broadcast on massive digital screens and engaging content.
Part of the idea behind the event was to draw in those who weren’t already hardcore MotoGP fans.
That’s important commercially as sports properties are increasingly being judged by their ability to keep people entertained between events. A fan who engages with MotoGP via social media, watch parties and streaming products is part of a much bigger digital world.
MotoGP is also planning a new direct-to-fan streaming platform for 2027, in collaboration with Accenture, which will include MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 and WorldSBK.
Why could MotoGP still be undervalued?
The obvious choice for many iGaming companies is football, but it’s also the most expensive and crowded option.
MotoGP is a different story. It has 650 million-plus fans, over half of its audience is under 35 and digital engagement is growing. Meanwhile, race weekends offer multiple opportunities for fans to experience live sports action.
iGaming businesses have to take into consideration regulatory restrictions, such as gambling marketing and responsible promotion. Partnerships must be carefully designed for the specific licensed market.
But the commercial path is hard to miss. As the audience continues to grow and become more digitally savvy, MotoGP is actively making itself a worldwide sports entertainment company.
If there’s any market that’s gained popularity over the last few years, it’s sports sponsorship, and for regulated iGaming brands, there are 650 million fans who could make motorcycle racing a lot more valuable than it’s ever been.
