MotoGP Bharat gives 2024 a skip, will make its return to India next year

MotoGP Bharat to take place in India in March 2025.

India got its own version of MotoGP, the biggest motorcycle championship in the world, last year. However, the tournament will give 2024 a miss and will take place in March of 2025.

The second edition of the motorcycle race will air on Eurosport, which is the Pay TV channel owned by Warner Bros Discovery.

"MotoGP Bharat last year recorded 40,000 attendance from all over the world which rivals about 25,000-30,000 people which tends to be the count of people that come for a cricket match," said Arjun Nohwar, managing director, South Asia, Warner Bros Discovery during a press conference.

The company also announced three-year agreement with MotoGP.

Dorna Sports, the exclusive commercial rights holder of MotoGP, also confirmed a new contract between MotoGP and the government of Uttar Pradesh reaffirming the Indian Grand Prix for the calendar from 2025.

Eurosport India and MotoGP are looking to leverage this momentum to elevate motorcycle racing in the country, and fans can look forward to more thrilling races, insightful commentary, and exclusive content in the upcoming seasons.

"Inaugural editions of MotoGP in a country is always challenging. These events are massive and need massive preparation. So, some speed bumps are normal. Visa delays were not the fault of the state government. We look forward to a much easier event in 2025," said Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer of Dorna Sports.

Visa issues had hit the inaugural edition of MotoGP race in India as riders and team officials faced delays in getting visa.

The high-pulsating event, which was held from September 22 to 24 last year, recorded a footfall of more than one lakh people from India and around the world while registering a business of over Rs 930 crore, the Uttar Pradesh government had said.

“India is a key market and fanbase for MotoGP. There are millions of motorcycles on the roads, making it vital for the MotoGP manufacturers and many of our partners, and we have a strong established audience that also offers huge opportunities for exponential growth," Ezpeleta said.

To further expand the sport’s reach, Eurosport India has enlisted star cricketer Shikhar Dhawan to broaden its audience beyond the motorcycling community.