After a few dramatic weeks at the Red Bull Ring – both on and off the track – MotoGP is returning to the UK for the first time since 2019 after last year’s race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent calendar change.
After Brad Binder’s breathtaking MotoGP win in Austria with a slick tire game in the late rain shower, the focus shifted to Maverick Vinales’ split from Yamaha following his initial suspension.
With Vinales out and the Spaniard possibly moving to Aprilia later this season, having already signed with the Italian manufacturer for 2022, Yamaha have called test rider and British home favorite Cal Crutchlow as his replacement for the factory team this weekend.
Cal Crutchlow, Petronas Yamaha SRT
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
While Franco Morbidelli is still recovering from knee surgery, Moto2 regular Jake Dixon will make a sensational premier class debut in the SRT Yamaha squad for his home game.
MotoGP is gearing up for another breathtaking Silverstone weekend following the exhilarating 2019 race in which Alex Rins defeated Marc Marquez by just 0.013 seconds as attention increased to the battle for the title.
Fabio Quartararo left the Austrian double headed player 47 points clear of Francesco Bagnaia and Joan Mir, with the remainder of the 2021 schedule currently spanning six more rounds after the Malaysian GP was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alex Rins, Team Suzuki MotoGP, wins, Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team` with hand on head
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Dates of the British MotoGP session 2021
MotoGP will run their standard British GP schedule on Friday and Saturday, with two training sessions on Friday lasting 45 minutes each. The third practice session on Saturday will also last 45 minutes, with the top 10 of the combined FP1-2-3 time table automatically entering Q2 of qualifying. A final 30-minute FP4 session takes place on Saturday afternoon before qualifying.
In Q1 of the qualifying, all drivers who did not end up in the top 10 of the combined training times take part, with the two first-placed drivers entering Q2 alongside the top 10 who have achieved an automatic place through their training times.
Q2 is the pole position shootout that determines the order of the first four rows, with the remainder of the grid organized on Q1 times for the British GP on Sunday.
Due to clashes with the Belgian Formula 1 GP in Spa-Francorchamps, the MotoGP race takes place on the Sunday before Moto2. Moto2 and Moto3 are also in action at the British GP.
Friday, August 27, 2021
Free practice 1: 9: 55-10: 40 a.m. BST (9: 55-10: 40 a.m. local time)
Free practice 2: 10-2: 55 p.m. BST (2: 10-2: 55 p.m. local)
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Free practice 3: 9: 55-10: 40 a.m. BST (9: 55-10: 40 a.m. local time)
Free practice 4: 1.30pm-2.00pm BST (1.30pm-2.00pm local time)
Qualifying: 2: 10-2: 50 p.m. BST (2: 10-2: 50 p.m. local)
Sunday 29th August 2021
Warm up: 9:30 am – 9:50 am BST (9:30 am – 9:50 am local)
Race: 1:00 p.m. BST (1:00 p.m. local time)
Pol Espargaro, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
How can I see the UK MotoGP?
• Channel: BT Sport 2
• Channel numbers: Sky – 414 (BT Sport 2)
• Channel numbers: Virgin Media – 528 (BT Sport 2)
BT Sport’s live coverage of the action on Sunday begins with the warm-up sessions at 9:00 a.m. taken from the world feed before they start at 10.30 a.m. for the pre-race show in front of the Moto3 Switch race to its own broadcast.
The construction of the MotoGP race starts at 12:30 p.m. or if the Moto3 race ends before the lights go out at 1:00 p.m.
UK MotoGP will also be broadcast live on free to air television in the UK on ITV. At the beginning of the year ITV broadcast the French MotoGP race live on its sister channel ITV4.
Channel: ITV
Channel numbers: Freeview – 3
Channel numbers: Sky – 103 HD, 803 SD
Channel numbers: Virgin Media – 103 HD / SD
Channel numbers: Freesat – 103 SD, 111 HD
ITV will broadcast the British MotoGP race live (only in the Premier Class), with coverage from 12.30 p.m. and end at 2.30 p.m.
ITV4, which currently shows the highlights of every Grand Prix weekend on the Monday after a race, also shows the highlights of the British race on Monday between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. after the weekend.
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Can I stream the UK MotoGP?
UK viewers can also stream the UK GP by purchasing a video pass from MotoGP.com. A one-time video pass for the remainder of the 2021 MotoGP season costs £ 85.57.
The video pass provides access to every live session, qualifying and race, as well as world feed content and the ability to watch previous races.
British MotoGP weather forecast
Silverstone is set for warm and dry conditions throughout the weekend, starting with cloudy Friday, but with a better chance of sunny spells on Saturday and Sunday. On race day, maximum values of 19 degrees Celsius are forecast, which is around five degrees cooler than at the Austrian GP.
Most British MotoGP winners (premier class only)
Valentino Rossi: 6 wins (500cc – 2000, 2001 MotoGP – 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015)
Kevin Schwantz: 4 victories (500ccm – 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994)
Jorge Lorenzo: 3 wins (MotoGP – 2010, 2012, 2013)
Casey Stoner: 3 wins (MotoGP – 2007, 2008, 2011)
Mick Doohan: 3 victories (500cc – 1995, 1996, 1997)
Kenny Roberts: 3 victories (500cc – 1978, 1979, 1983)