British MotoGP: BBC gets record 2.9 million viewers

The BBC had a record audience for yesterday’s dramatic British MotoGP race at Donington Park.

Audience figures peaked at 2.9 million viewers as an enthralling 30-lap race unfolded, with the BBC reporting an impressive average audience share of 23 per cent.

The average audience for the race, which saw Andrea Dovizioso claim a maiden MotoGP victory after Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo both crashed out of the lead, was 2.8m.

The viewing figures represent a stunning 50 per cent increase on the Beeb’s normal MotoGP audience. And the figures smash the previous best average audience by a million viewers.

MotoGP series producer Belinda Moore told MCN: “These record-breaking figures are outstanding and highlight the huge popularity that MotoGP has in the UK.

“The BBC is delighted with these fantastic viewing figures because it means that MotoGP is being exposed to a much more mainstream audience, and that has always been one of the key objectives in our long and successful partnership with Dorna.”

The later race start at 3.30pm is one reason for the huge surge in viewers, with the race delayed from to accommodate the Hungarian Formula One race.

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