MotoGP: BT Sport extend deal until 2021 as Laverty joins team

BT Sport will remain as the exclusive live broadcaster of the MotoGP world championship in the U.K. and Ireland until at least the end of the 2021season, after announcing a three-year extension to their deal with series organisers Dorna today.

Promising greater coverage than ever as they finally ended months of speculation about where the coverage would end up wen their current contract ends this season, the channel will now produce a full live show on all three days of ever one of 19 Grand Prix weekends as well as a new Friday night highlights package.

They’ll also be joined by British Superbike racer Michael Laverty as a new expert analyst, helping to deliver their coverage of the new British Talent Cup from the BSB paddock as well as attending six races to help with their live coverage.

However, there’ll be no new addition to the team to replace the retiring Julian Ryder, with 2003 world champion Neill Hodgson instead stepping up to take over commentary duties for MotoGP alongside Keith Heuwan.

Andy Haworth, Managing Director, BT Consumer, TV & Sport Content Strategy, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to continue as the home of MotoGP in the UK and Ireland. Over the past four seasons we have given MotoGP fans the very best race coverage ever seen on TV in the UK. We have a fantastic team working on MotoGP with Suzi Perry, Craig Doyle, Colin Edwards, Neil Hodgson, James Toseland, Keith Huewen, Gavin Emmett and a big welcome to Michael Laverty who will be joining the BT Sport team. The team will bring every single minute of the action from this fantastic sport to our viewers for another three more years.”

Manel Arroyo, Managing Director at Dorna Sports, commented: “We are delighted to have extended our agreement with BT Sport for another three years. During our current agreement with BT Sport, MotoGP™ fans in the UK and Ireland have been treated to live coverage of all sessions of all Grands Prix on the BT Sport channels, with a fantastic team of presenters onsite to bring all the behind the scenes news and action from the paddock. 

“We look forward to BT Sport continuing to provide fans in the UK and Ireland with such high quality coverage of the Championship during the 2019 – 2021 seasons, as well as their promotion of the MotoGP World Championship to a wider audience.  We also look forward to cooperating with BT Sport around the newly launched British Talent Cup, which will debut in 2018.  This is an example of BT Sport and Dorna working together to support and develop young riders in the first step on their journey towards the MotoGP World Championship.”