BSB races join Silverstone MotoGP lineup

This year’s British MotoGP round at Silverstone will feature a first: BSB Superstock championship races on Saturday and Sunday, with the hope of staging BSB Superbike races at next year’s British motorcycle grand prix.

Silverstone has made the move to increase interest among British fans, due to the lack of local stars in the three MotoGP classes.

The Silverstone Superstock grid already includes top riders like TT stars Peter Hickman, John McGuinness and Davey Todd, while BSB series director Stuart Higgs is trying to convince BSB Superbike teams to put their riders on the Superstock grid.

“It’s an entirely logical move,” says Higgs.

“MotoGP is inherently more exciting than F1”

Superstock teams will operate out of Silverstone’s national paddock – between Woodcote and Copse – which will feature free access for all fans. BSB will also trial a new garage format, with garages flipped around to face the paddock, allowing fans to feel more connected to the action.

“Everyone told me these two worlds [BSB and MotoGP] can’t come together, so why not ask if we can make it happen?” says Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle. “We’re not getting British riders cutting through into MotoGP at the moment, so let’s try and get some home interest this way. We want to get more people in here.”

A unique feature of this year’s British GP is all MotoGP riders and bikes running historic liveries as part of the championship’s 75-year celebrations.

“We are really proud that [MotoGP rights-holder] Dorna has chosen our round to celebrate the anniversary,” adds Pringle.

Next year, Silverstone will be one of five circuits hosting both MotoGP and Formula 1 rounds under the control of American sports-marketing giant Liberty Media, if the company’s purchase of MotoGP is approved by the authorities.

Pringle has worked with Liberty Media since it bought F1 from private-equity firm CVC Capital Partners in 2017.

“Working with Liberty is different in just about every way – their focus is on the fans, rather than just on the paddock. Plus they’ve created a greater fan base with [documentary series] Drive to Survive, F1’s online presence had gone through the roof and they’ve put some effort into managing the technical regulations, instead of just asking the poachers to be the gamekeepers as well.

“Liberty are demanding but demanding in a different way to the previous owners. They’re a sports marketing company, so they get the product and understand what the fans want. They’re trying to build up the sport and they only want to work with people who will help them get there.

“MotoGP is inherently more exciting than F1, so I’m sure Liberty is looking to attract a new generation of fans and that’s what MotoGP needs.”

This year’s full British GP line-up is MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, BSB Superstock and the British Talent Cup. Musical entertainment includes British DJ duo Sigma (Friday), The Kooks (Saturday) and The Darkness (Sunday, after the racing).

British GP practice takes place on Friday August 2; qualifying, the MotoGP sprint and BSB Superstock on Saturday; and Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP GP races, BSB Superstock and British Talent Cup on Sunday.