British race fans will be able to watch MotoGP on terrestrial television this year after Channel 5 announced that it is to cover the world championships in 2017.
The broadcaster will air a highlights package at ‘prime time’ on the day after each race, meaning that there will be a free-to-air option for fans to watch the racing following the recent announcement that ITV4, which has shown highlights of the series for the past two years, would no longer show the championship highlights.
This season’s MotoGP world championship is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years. New Yamaha signing Maverick Vinales ended this week’s final winter test at the top of the pile. The 22-year-old, who won last year’s British Grand Prix on a Suzuki, has been fastest in each of the official tests and goes into the new season as the bookmaker’s second favourite, behind reigning champion Marc Marquez.
Much of the intrigue revolves around how the various factories will respond to the new technical regulations banning the use of external aerodynamic winglets on the bikes. All have shown some kind of ‘inboard’ solution but Ducati, pioneers of the original wings, used the final Qatar tests to unveil it’s radical ‘hammerhead’ design which features a narrow main cockpit with large internal aerodynamic devices that give the appearance of a hammerhead shark.
All races and practice sessions can also be watched live through subscription channels, either on BT Sport or through the official MotoGP website.
Where to watch bike racing on TV in 2017
MotoGP
Live: BT Sport or www.motogp.com
Highlights: Channel 5
World Superbikes
Live: British Eurosport or www.worldsbk.com
Highlights: ITV4
British Superbikes
Live: British Eurosport
Highlights: ITV4
Isle of Man TT
Highlights: ITV4
