This forthcoming weekend marks the commencement of the ninth cycle of the 2023 MotoGP season, and we find ourselves once again amidst the hallowed grounds of British motor racing. Historically, Silverstone has consistently bestowed upon us a race brimming with fervent action, and there exists no compelling rationale to presuppose that this year shall witness any deviation from that norm.
However, your presence here is undoubtedly fueled by the desire to ascertain the means by which you may partake in observing the impending race scheduled for this weekend.
Therefore, presented herewith are the pivotal particulars that demand your attention, along with the comprehensive schedule for the year 2023 and an exhaustive array of alternatives to facilitate your engagement, be it through streaming platforms or conventional television broadcasts.
When is the British MotoGP race start time?
- On the designated day of Sunday, the 6th of August, at the hour of 1 o’clock in the afternoon, as per the United Kingdom’s time zone, translating to 8 o’clock in the morning for those situated along the eastern seaboard of the United States, and an early 5 o’clock in the morning for the denizens of the western United States.
The commencement of the weekend witnesses the televised presentation of the preliminary practice sessions on both Friday and Saturday, which subsequently paves the way for the Qualifying phase. The chronological outline for the forthcoming weekend’s proceedings is as follows, with all timings reflecting the local time within the GMT+1 time zone.
- On Friday, the 4th of August, the initial free practice session, denoted as Free Practice 1, is scheduled to transpire from 10:45 to 11:30 in the morning. Subsequently, the second practice session, aptly named Practice 2, is slated to occur from 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.
- As the sun rises on Saturday, the 5th of August, the second free practice session, designated as Free Practice 2, is set to unfold from 10:10 to 10:40 in the morning. Following this preparatory phase, the pivotal Qualifying round is slated to take place from 10:50 to 11:30 AM. Furthermore, as the day matures, the anticipated Sprint event is scheduled for the afternoon hour of 3 o’clock.
- On the auspicious morning of Sunday, the 6th of August, a brief yet crucial warm-up session is set to transpire from 9:45 to 9:55 AM. Subsequently, the momentous race shall commence its proceedings at the stroke of 1 o’clock in the afternoon.
Presented herewith are the globally synchronized initiation timings for the commencement of the race.
Is MotoGP shown on free-to-air TV?
While a select few nations may enjoy this privilege, the majority of locales necessitate the possession of a suitable, subscription-based television package.
To illustrate with the United Kingdom as an instance, it is worth noting that TNT Sports (formerly recognized as BT Sport) retains the exclusive privilege of broadcasting live coverage until the year 2024.
For those seeking a condensed viewing experience, race highlights can be savored via ITV4. Mark your calendars for Monday, the 7th of August, as the airing is set from 8 to 9 PM. Additionally, past race highlights may occasionally be accessible through ITVX.
In the event that you are not subscribed to BT broadband services, an alternative option to acquire TNT Sports entails purchasing the Monthly Pass, with a price tag of £29.99. This subscription not only grants access to TNT Sports but also encompasses a comprehensive experience through the entirety of discovery+ Premium offerings.
However, for individuals who are beneficiaries of BT broadband services, the process of augmenting their entertainment experience with a television package is uncomplicated.
Across the expanse of the United States, the esteemed mantle of exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2023 MotoGP season rests upon NBC’s shoulders. The unfolding coverage shall grace either the NBC or CNBC platforms, simultaneously streamed on the cyber realms of NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. It’s noteworthy, however, that while select races shall be showcased in real-time, the majority shall grace the screens at a later juncture on the same day, post-race.
Herein lies an inventory of broadcasters spanning diverse countries and regions, presumed to host the exhibition of MotoGP races throughout the year 2022.
Mexico: ESPN2
Netherlands: Ziggo Sport
Poland: Polsat Sport
Portugal: Sport TV
Africa: SuperSport
Indonesia: Trans7
Russia: motorsport.tv
Spain: DAZN
Sweden: ViaSat
Switzerland: SRF
Thailand: PPTV HD
UK: TNT Sports
Asia: Fox Sports
Belgium: Canal +
Benelux: Eurosport
Brazil: Fox Sports
Czech Republic Slovakia: Nova Sport
France: C8
Germany: Servus TV
Greece: CosmoteTv
Indian Subcontinent: OSport
USA: NBC & CNBC – full list of broadcast times here
Australia: Foxtel / Kayo Sports
Canada: Rev TV (via cable providers)
Italy:
Japan: G+
Japan: Hulu
Latina America: ESPN
MotoGP VideoPass
Irrespective of your geographical location, the opportunity to access the MotoGP VideoPass beckons. This subscription empowers you to indulge in the live and on-demand streaming of every Grand Prix, accessible across your assorted devices, including television sets that are compatible with Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire TV.
At present, a remarkable markdown of 25% graces the customary 199.99€ fee for a complete season subscription, rendering it at 159.99€ (equivalent to approximately US$175 or £137). The streaming quality is set at Full HD, albeit not reaching the echelons of UHD. An added allure lies in the inclusion of an extensive collection of 45,000 videos, which extends back in time to as early as 1992, awaiting your viewing pleasure.
Enthusiasts may find themselves drawn to the captivating allure of the newly unveiled five-part documentary series chronicling the journey of Marc Marquez. This engrossing series is graciously offered at no cost, available for streaming on Red Bull TV.
Watch MotoGP with a VPN
The strategic utilization of a VPN bestows upon you the privilege of partaking in the MotoGP spectacle even when you find yourself beyond the confines of your native land during race times. Alternatively, this approach might unveil the prospect of witnessing live races without incurring charges, leveraging streaming platforms that broadcast the event on free-to-air television while simultaneously streaming it through their respective websites.
This endeavor entails a straightforward procedure: initiate the VPN, establish a connection to a server within your homeland, and from your distant location, relish the event as if you were ensconced within the comfort of your own abode.
Indeed, this approach exhibits a versatile applicability, functioning reciprocally to enable access to races showcased on television networks that extend their reach through online streaming, albeit limited by geographical constraints. While an account for said television service might still be requisite, the implementation of a robust VPN like NordVPN empowers you to circumvent these territorial barriers with ease.
Regrettably, we are unable to provide an exhaustive guide encompassing the intricate nuances of bypassing the restrictions of every individual streaming service or pinpointing the VPN capable of unblocking each of them. However, we offer a succinct guide to showcase the effortless simplicity of employing a VPN to simulate your presence within the same country as the streaming service, even when your actual location is elsewhere.
It’s important to note that a requisite component for this endeavor is an active account with the streaming service and, if applicable, a valid subscription, particularly for services that are not offered free of charge (as is the case for most).
Sign up for NordVPN
As a default setting, the Complete plan stands pre-selected. However, if your requirement solely revolves around the VPN service, opt for the Get Standard option. Positioned at the uppermost part of the interface, you have the flexibility to select from among the two-year, one-year, or one-month subscription plans.
Proceed through the successive prompts to initiate the creation of your account and finalize the payment process.
Install the NordVPN app
If you’re utilizing a mobile device such as a phone or tablet, simply navigate to its designated app store (Google Play for Android devices) and conduct a search for “NordVPN,” subsequently initiating its installation.
For users operating on a Windows platform, commence by logging into your NordVPN account via a web browser. Proceed to the Downloads segment and locate the “Download app” option adjacent to “Get NordVPN for Windows.” Following the download, execute the acquired file to initiate the installation process.
Launch NordVPN
Initiate the application, and proceed to sign in utilizing the email address and password you provided during the creation of your NordVPN account. If you are using a Windows system, you should be greeted by a screen akin to the one depicted below, and other applications would exhibit a comparable interface.
You have the choice to either utilize the roster of available locations (accessible through the icon denoted by the word) situated at the upper left corner or navigate across the map itself to establish a connection with the country housing the streaming service. In this instance, we are connecting to London, United Kingdom for accessing TNT Sports.
If prompted, grant permission to NordVPN to establish a VPN connection. It’s possible that you might need to input your Windows password or, if you’re using a mobile device, your passcode.
Wait until the VPN is connected
You should observe a notification indicating the successful establishment of the VPN connection. This is denoted by the presence of a green “CONNECTED” status accompanied by a padlock symbol situated above the designation of “United Kingdom.”
Open your streaming service app
Proceed to launch the application corresponding to your chosen streaming service, or alternatively, navigate to its official website.
Log in using your existing account credentials (or establish a new account if you do not possess one) and subsequently direct your navigation towards the MotoGP coverage. The playback experience should unfold seamlessly, attributable to the VPN’s ability to simulate your presence within the United Kingdom, regardless of your actual geographical location across the globe.
MotoGP 2023 calendar
|
Round |
Race Date |
Start time |
Country |
Circuit |
|
1 |
26 March |
2pm BST |
Portugal |
Portimao |
| 2 | 2 April |
6pm BST |
Argentina |
Termas de Rio Hondo |
| 3 |
16 April |
8pm BST |
USA |
Circuit of the Americas |
| 4 |
30 April |
2pm BST |
Spain |
Jerez |
| 5 |
14 May |
1pm BST |
France |
Le Mans |
| 6 |
11 June |
1pm BST |
Italy |
Mugello |
|
7 |
18 June |
1pm BST |
Germany |
Sachsenring |
|
8 |
25 June |
1pm BST |
Netherlands |
Assen |
|
9 |
9 July |
10am BST |
Kazakhstan |
Sokol |
|
10 |
6 August |
1pm BST |
Great Britain |
Silverstone |
|
11 |
20 August |
1pm BST |
Austria |
Red Bull Ring |
| 12 | 3 September | 1pm BSP | Spain | Catalunya |
|
13 |
10 September |
1pm BST |
Italy |
Misano |
|
14 |
24 September |
19.30am BST |
India |
Buddh |
|
15 |
1 October |
7am BST |
Japan |
Motegi |
| 16 | 15 October | 7am BST | Indonesia | Mandalika |
|
17 |
22 October |
4am BST |
Australia |
Phillip Island |
|
18 |
29 October |
7am GMT |
Thailand |
Chang |
|
19 |
12 November |
6am GMT |
Malaysia |
Sepang |
|
20 |
19 November |
5pm GMT |
Qatar |
Lusail |
| 21 | 26 November | 2pm GMT | Spain | Valencia (Ricardo Tormo) |
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