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Get set for MotoGP Silverstone!
The British round of the MotoGP world championship is upon us – here’s everything you need to know!
Words by: Phil West
Published on 22 May 2025 | 0 min read
Premier class grand prix motorcycling returns to the UK this weekend when the British round of the MotoGP world championship takes place at Silverstone.
And if that feels like it’s all happening a little earlier than usual that’s because it is, the usual August slot switching to a spring one to avoid clashing with the holiday season. It’s also got a new name, this year being called, rather grandly, the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom. In every other respect, however, British bike sport’s Blue Riband event is as before and features the fastest and most advanced bikes around raced by the quickest riders on the planet. The highlight, of course, is the 20-lap MotoGP race itself, which starts at 1pm on Sunday with Ducati-mounted championship leader Marc Marquez among the favourites. After winning six world championships with Honda the Spaniard seems to finally clicked with the factory Ducati, winning three of the first four races to establish a commanding series lead. However, the last two races have seen the championship become more unpredictable. Marquez’s brother, Alex took his first MotoGP win in Spain on the Gresini Ducati. The French round, held two weeks ago at Le Mans, then saw a record crowd witness the first home win since 1954 when Johan Zarco won aboard the satellite LCR Honda in a rain-ravaged race. With the last four rounds being won by four different riders, the dominant Ducatis facing increasing competition from Honda, KTM, Yamaha and Aprilia, the weather again looking unpredictable and Marquez himself not having won at Silverstone since 2014 the stage looks set for another tremendous race.
And if that feels like it’s all happening a little earlier than usual that’s because it is, the usual August slot switching to a spring one to avoid clashing with the holiday season. It’s also got a new name, this year being called, rather grandly, the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom. In every other respect, however, British bike sport’s Blue Riband event is as before and features the fastest and most advanced bikes around raced by the quickest riders on the planet. The highlight, of course, is the 20-lap MotoGP race itself, which starts at 1pm on Sunday with Ducati-mounted championship leader Marc Marquez among the favourites. After winning six world championships with Honda the Spaniard seems to finally clicked with the factory Ducati, winning three of the first four races to establish a commanding series lead. However, the last two races have seen the championship become more unpredictable. Marquez’s brother, Alex took his first MotoGP win in Spain on the Gresini Ducati. The French round, held two weeks ago at Le Mans, then saw a record crowd witness the first home win since 1954 when Johan Zarco won aboard the satellite LCR Honda in a rain-ravaged race. With the last four rounds being won by four different riders, the dominant Ducatis facing increasing competition from Honda, KTM, Yamaha and Aprilia, the weather again looking unpredictable and Marquez himself not having won at Silverstone since 2014 the stage looks set for another tremendous race.
But the MotoGP round isn’t the only show in town. The 17-lap Moto2 race for Triumph-engined 765cc bikes starts at 11:15am and British hero Jake Dixon is currently third in the series riding for the Marc VDS team after winning in both Argentina and the US. Doubtless he will be looking to repeat his home victory of last year.
There is also British interest in the 15-lap 250cc Moto3 race starting at 2:30pm where the entry list includes 21-year-old Scott Ogden from Doncaster on a KTM and Honda-mounted 18-year-old Eddie O’Shea from Leicester. Nor does the on-track activity stop there. Gates open on Sunday at 8am with the British Talent Cup kicking off the action at 8:45am. MotoGP warm-up takes place at 9:40, followed by the MotoGP riders’ Fan Parade at 10am plus the Pirelli National Superstock Race 2 at 4pm. Race day also sees attractions like the huge Trade and Entertainment Zone, Drift Demos by Monster Energy, fan track and pitlane walks, access to the Silverstone Museum, evening concerts by Casey Lowery and Jake Bugg and much more. And that’s just the highlights of Sunday. Track activities actually start on the Friday, with free and timed practice for all classes, more Drift Demos, the Trade and Entertainment Zone and evening concerts by BL3SS and Mistajam.
There is also British interest in the 15-lap 250cc Moto3 race starting at 2:30pm where the entry list includes 21-year-old Scott Ogden from Doncaster on a KTM and Honda-mounted 18-year-old Eddie O’Shea from Leicester. Nor does the on-track activity stop there. Gates open on Sunday at 8am with the British Talent Cup kicking off the action at 8:45am. MotoGP warm-up takes place at 9:40, followed by the MotoGP riders’ Fan Parade at 10am plus the Pirelli National Superstock Race 2 at 4pm. Race day also sees attractions like the huge Trade and Entertainment Zone, Drift Demos by Monster Energy, fan track and pitlane walks, access to the Silverstone Museum, evening concerts by Casey Lowery and Jake Bugg and much more. And that’s just the highlights of Sunday. Track activities actually start on the Friday, with free and timed practice for all classes, more Drift Demos, the Trade and Entertainment Zone and evening concerts by BL3SS and Mistajam.
The former ‘Day of Champions’, which on the Thursday saw a variety of charity events and auctions involving the stars, now has its activities split over the Friday and Saturday under the Two Wheels for Life banner.
Saturday sees official qualifying for all classes, British Talent Cup and National Superstock races, the half-distance MotoGP Sprint race and a MotoGP riders’ presentation on the main stage at 6pm followed by concerts by Rockology and Hard-Fi. Even now it’s not too late to buy tickets to get in on all the action. As we write, both single-day and three-day general admission tickets are available, starting at £40 for Friday only, £100 for Saturday or £120 for all three days.Grandstand tickets and VIP Hospitality packages are also still available starting with two campsites and new luxury track or countryside ‘Escapade’ accommodation available, too! If you can’t attend in person, you can still catch all of the action on TV. Live coverage of all the main action takes place on TNTSports2 from Friday morning through to Sunday evening, and is interspersed with features, interviews and documentaries, while the main MotoGP race on Sunday is also being shown live on Quest. For all the essential info see the dedicated page on the Silverstone website
Saturday sees official qualifying for all classes, British Talent Cup and National Superstock races, the half-distance MotoGP Sprint race and a MotoGP riders’ presentation on the main stage at 6pm followed by concerts by Rockology and Hard-Fi. Even now it’s not too late to buy tickets to get in on all the action. As we write, both single-day and three-day general admission tickets are available, starting at £40 for Friday only, £100 for Saturday or £120 for all three days.Grandstand tickets and VIP Hospitality packages are also still available starting with two campsites and new luxury track or countryside ‘Escapade’ accommodation available, too! If you can’t attend in person, you can still catch all of the action on TV. Live coverage of all the main action takes place on TNTSports2 from Friday morning through to Sunday evening, and is interspersed with features, interviews and documentaries, while the main MotoGP race on Sunday is also being shown live on Quest. For all the essential info see the dedicated page on the Silverstone website