Now, this is how you start using new leverage. As The Race reports, MotoGP teams will carry out demo laps during F1's United States Grand Prix weekend at Austin, marking what is likely the first of many moves to use F1's massive fanbase for MotoGP promotion since Liberty Media acquired both series.
The lineup for these Saturday morning demo laps ahead of F1 practice three features Ducati's 2027 MotoGP signing and runaway World Superbike champion Nicolo Bulega, KTM and Yamaha's veteran grand prix winning test riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, and Aprilia's test rider Lorenzo Savadori running with American team Trackhouse.
Unfortunately, the timing creates quite a logistical headache for the MotoGP factories involved and may seem curious. It directly clashes with MotoGP's Australian GP at Phillip Island, which means 2026 race riders cannot participate in the Austin demonstrations.
Even so, it makes complete sense that Liberty wants this run to happen at Austin. Revitalising MotoGP's fanbase in the US is a major priority, and the paddock expects great things here given Liberty's massive success in galvanising American enthusiasm for F1. A weekend crowd of over 400,000 people is expected for F1 at Austin. Because it is also an established MotoGP circuit, drawing a direct link between the two series and promoting 2027 MotoGP ticket-buying opportunities becomes remarkably easy.
Furthermore, F1's other US venues in Miami and Las Vegas are street tracks, which makes Austin the wisest choice for MotoGP to showcase itself properly in front of a vast F1 audience. And, with no offence intended to Savadori, in Pedrosa, Dovizioso and Bulega MotoGP has secured three extremely good alternatives to 2026 riders for this marketing mission.
