MotoGP, one of the world's most prestigious racing events, is set to make its debut on Indian soil as the Buddh International Circuit prepares to host the MotoGP Bharat GP from September 22-24. The event will bring together 22 riders representing 11 renowned teams, including Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia.
The anticipation among MotoGP riders is palpable as they eagerly await the opportunity to showcase their skills on this new track. With two lengthy FP (Free Practice) sessions lasting 70 minutes each scheduled for Friday, riders will be pushing themselves to the limits of their exceptional abilities. Notably, the absence of prior data or references for the circuit in India means that every team and rider is starting on a level playing field, adding an exciting element of unpredictability to the competition.
MotoGP Bharat GP: What Riders think and How are they Preparing for the Indian Grand Prix
Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing said, ‘The Indian event is a question mark for everybody. We’re getting ready with what we can: by playing video games and watching F1 races, and then once there, we’ll try to get to grips with the track as quickly as possible. And then Motegi, which can be very favourable with all its heavy braking areas. We’re coming from two positive, albeit not perfect, weekends, and we’re eager to show our potential and keep growing.’
Fabio Di Giannantonio of Gresini Racing said, ‘I always liked new tracks as they’re a blank slate for everybody, and it’s where the good work done with the team really comes out, without data or previous references. I expect a track with very little grip but also very fast, so it may adapt well to our characteristics.’
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Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda said, ‘I am really excited to meet fans in India. It’s always a nice moment when we bring MotoGP to a new country, new people and new fans to share our sport and our passion. We will need to work a lot to understand everything about the track and about our own situation with the bike. The objective is to put together another weekend like Misano, build over each day and have a good pair of races.’
Joan Mir of Repsol Honda said, ‘Visiting a new place is always really exciting. You see a lot on social media how many fans there are from India, so I think it’s really important and great to go see them. The track itself looks like it will be interesting with a lot of different elements. There are many things to understand when you go to a new circuit, so it’s important to do every step well, from walking the track when we arrive to making the most of every session on the track.’
Fabio Quartararo of Yamaha Racing said, ‘It’s nice that we get to go to a new place, experience a new culture, meet Indian fans, and ride at a circuit we don’t know yet. Looking at the layout, it seems like an interesting track, so we will see what we can do. We tried a lot of things at the Misano Test, and there are a few things that we can try here too. We will do our best as always.’
Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati Team said, ‘Physically, I feel better, but India will be an unknown territory for everyone. We will work as always to try to arrive ready to face the Sprint and the GP on Sunday. Now begins a very intense and important period, so maintaining concentration and avoiding making mistakes will be crucial.’
Michele Pirro of the Ducati Team said, ‘We are going to India, and we will race on a new track, so it will be a surprise for everyone, and only on Friday will find out the characteristics of this track. In any case, I am calm: I will do my best, and as always, it will be an honour to share the garage with the World Champion.’
Also Read: MotoGP Bharat GP: These are the Riders and Teams You Should Keep an Eye on
MotoGP Bharat GP: Fact about Buddh International Circuit
The track is 4.96km long, with a total of thirteen bends – eight right and five left – and a stretch that is one of the longest at 1,006 metres, along with an uphill and a downhill section. This MotoGP event will cover a total of 118.97km over the course of 24 laps. In case you missed it, the BIC hosted three Formula 1 races between 2011 and 2013. The thirteenth race of the MotoGP series will now take place in India.
Several changes were made to BIC in preparation for the major international racing event, including the addition of gravel portions and the construction of safety obstacles, totalling 1800 metres in length (including air fence barriers). The BIC is now one of the very few venues that can host both Formula 1 and MotoGP events, thanks to recent renovations. Other such tracks are Austria's Red Bull Ring, Qatar's Lusail International Circuit, and the United States' Circuit of the Americas.
Turns 1, 3, 4, and 5 now include additional gravel traps for the safety of motorcycles, while the barriers at Turn 12 have been pushed back quite a bit to give motorists more space. In spite of this, the track's basic layout has not changed.
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