FOX Sports has signed a multiyear deal with Dorna Sports for broadcast rights to the world’s most prestigious motorcycle racing series, the MotoGP World Championship, with races to air on SPEED and the newly announced, multisport FOX Sports 1 in 2013.
MotoGP, with three events in the United States in 2013, is highlighted during the high-profile FOX Sports 1 August launch weekend, with the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix scheduled for Aug. 18 as one of the first live events on the new network.
“With an international event lineup that includes three US stops, MotoGP brings an immediate world-class motor sports presence to the FOX Sports 1 lineup,” said Bill Wanger, EVP Programming & Research for FOX Sports. “Having the race from iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway fall on our FS1 launch weekend is a bonus, and one of which we plan to take full advantage.”
Said Manel Arroyo, Managing Director of the Media Area at Dorna: “We're very proud of this new agreement with FOX Sports, and we are looking forward to being part of this huge project that is Fox Sports 1. Through this agreement, MotoGP will continue to be watched by our extensive American fan base, via SPEED until August and from then on, via the new FOX Sports 1 channel. Our 15-year partnership is arriving now to a very exciting MotoGP season with three GPs on US soil and the promise of some thrilling action on track. We will deliver the very highest standard of TV coverage of the Championship, using the latest production technologies, which is what our fans in the US and around the world and also our Global media partners like the FOX Sports Group, deserve.”
The season opens April 7 on SPEED with the Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar live at 3 p.m. ET, with Moto2 at 11 p.m. ET and Moto3 airing April 9 at noon 1 p.m. ET. Qualifying is available on SPEED2, the authenticated broadband network.
For US rounds, Bob Varsha hosts; Ralph Sheheen and Jonathan Green split play-by-play duties; Scott Russell provides analysis; and Greg White reports from the pits. The team of Gavin Emmett and Nick Harris call international races, with Varsha, Sheheen, Greg Creamer and Dave Despain sharing the role of studio host.
Other US highlights include the second event of the season, the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at newly built Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on April 21 and a return to Laguna Seca for the US Grand Prix on July 21. Coverage from Austin includes qualifying on April 20 at 9 p.m. ET; race coverage, including pre-race activities begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on April 21. On-board camera access is available on SPEED.com for all US rounds, with qualifying practice sessions on SPEED2.
The new deal, continuing a successful relationship that began on SPEED in 1997, when the series was known as the FIM World GP 500, also includes coverage of Moto2 and Moto3, as well as expanded digital rights.
For more information on the MotoGP World Championship and a full schedule of events, please visit http://www.motogp.com/en and follow hashtag #MotoGPonSPEED on Twitter.
