BBC Sport have confirmed they will continue to show
MotoGP through to 2013 after extending their deal to have the exclusive UK TV rights of the championship.
Although not a surprise after the announcement that Eurosport had lost their pan-European coverage in favour of national distributors, the BBC will continue to show all the races – 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP - live, as well as the qualifying sessions.
Of these, only MotoGP will continue to be shown live on BBC Television, with the 125cc, 250cc races and qualifying broadcast on their interactive service.
In addition, MotoGP will now be available to watch on
BBC's popular iPlayer, which offers the chance for viewers to catch up on the race through the BBC website if they miss it on television.
The decision to continue showing MotoGP on BBC will buoy the channel's motorsport coverage further after the announcement earlier this year that they have won the rights to show the
Formula 1 World Championship too.
“We are delighted to have secured, for the first time, fully exclusive rights to the world's premier, and most watched motorbike competition,” Dominic Coles, BBC Sport's Director of Sport Rights, said.
“Alongside our recent acquisition of
Formula One, BBC Sport has become the home of motorsport in the UK; a one-stop shop for fans of the very best two wheel and four wheel, adrenalin-fuelled sport action across TV, radio and online services.”
With
James Toseland, Bradely Smith and Scott Redding all having contributed to a 21 per cent audience rise on this time last year, Coles was pleased the BBC will now be able to follow their rise up the ranks.
“With James Toseland making a very promising start to his MotoGP career, Bradley Smith shining in the 125s, and Scott Redding making history in that series recently at
Donington Park, the future for British riders in MotoGP looks good, and the BBC will be there all the way to tell their story.”
Manel Arroyo, Dorna's Managing Director, added they were pleased to have secured a deal with one of the world's foremost television broadcasters.
