MotoGP race at Le Mans to be broadcast live on ITV4 this Sunday

Round five of the 2021 MotoGP season will be broadcast live on free-to-air television for the first time in the UK since 2013 with ITV4. 
MotoGP race at Le Mans to be broadcast live on ITV4 this Sunday

Free-to-air television broadcaster ITV will show round five of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship live this weekend with the French GP at Le Mans. 

Though Dorna is yet to confirm this, ITV’s own television listings show the French MotoGP being aired live on ITV4 - Sunday 16 May from 9.45am to 2.10pm, meaning Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP races are all on the schedule.

Since the 2014 season MotoGP coverage in the UK has been available on a subscription platform only, as BT Sport took over exclusive broadcasting rights from the BBC.

The BBC showed entire race weekends live across their red button and main channels from 2003 through to 2013, with viewership numbers at a high rate during that period

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BT Sport will continue to broadcast MotoGP through 2024, but exposure to a mainstream audience has somewhat declined in recent years since the move to a paid subscription service.

MotoGP isn’t unique in going behind a paywall in the UK as many sports currently operate this way, including F1 which has a similar paid subscription through Sky Sports. 

ITV4 broadcasting this Sunday’s event is not an indication of things to come, or a full-time move back to free-to-air television like is the case with the BTCC on their channel, however, it will be interesting to see the numbers and interest it generates. 

UK viewers will have the chance to watch a Moto2 title favorite in the form of Sam Lowes go for victory at Le Mans, however, the MotoGP race will be shown with no Brits in the premier class following Cal Crutchlow leaving the grid - now Yamaha’s test rider.

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