Now, this is the kind of crossover that actually makes sense. As Crash.net reports, four MotoGP bikes will hit the track for a proper demonstration run at Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix this weekend.
We are talking about machines capable of reaching speeds in excess of 225mph, and the lineup chosen to pilot them is nothing short of brilliant. Thirty-one-time MotoGP winner Dani Pedrosa, reigning World Superbike champion Nicolo Bulega, alongside MotoGP test riders Andrea Dovizioso and Lorenzo Savadori, will take to the iconic Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
This is a fantastic opportunity to put MotoGP in front of one of the biggest crowds in world motorsport,
Timing is everything, and this track action is locked in for Saturday 24 October from 11:40am to 12:00pm local time, which translates to 4:40pm-5pm UK time, slotting in right ahead of the final practice session. That gives fans at the venue a rare, unfiltered look at these beasts in action, with an expected crowd of 400,000 spectators heading to COTA across the weekend.
There is, of course, a bigger picture here. F1 and MotoGP are both owned by Liberty Media, following a €4.2 billion acquisition completed in 2024. Ever since that takeover news dropped, the paddock rumour mill has churned out relentless speculation about a potential joint race event. Meanwhile, MotoGP itself is actually racing on this exact same weekend, contesting its latest round of the 2026 season down at Phillip Island in Australia.
"It's always special to ride a MotoGP bike at COTA, one of the most iconic circuits in the world," Dani Pedrosa said. "The United States Grand Prix is a truly unique and special event on the F1 calendar, attracting an incredible crowd and providing a great opportunity to give fans a taste of what makes MotoGP so exciting. The speed, the sound and the performance of these bikes is something you have to experience in person, and I'm looking forward to sharing that with everyone in Austin."
Nicolo Bulega, who is set to make the switch to MotoGP next year with VR46, shared that enthusiasm. "This is a fantastic opportunity to put MotoGP in front of one of the biggest crowds in world motorsport," Bulega added. "The atmosphere at COTA is always incredible, and to ride a MotoGP bike in front of so many fans will be a special experience. MotoGP bikes are unlike anything else, and hopefully the laps will show just how spectacular our sport is. We're looking forward to putting on a great show and giving fans a glimpse of what they can expect when I return with MotoGP to Austin in 2027."
