YOU only have to go to a MotoGP once to appreciate the difference between being there and watching it on TV.
Whether you prefer the experience comes down to which element of the racing you enjoy. If you want to see every overtake and keep abreast of the entire field then the telly option certainly has its advantages, but even the most expensive sound system can’t replicate the real-life noise of the real thing. Then there are the smells, the shared experience and the different perception of speed that comes with actually being there – it’s easy to understand why millions go to races every year.
But which race is the most popular? The figures tell the story, not only reflecting which races are most favoured by visitors but, by extension, also showing which countries have the most avid MotoGP fans.
In case you’re wondering, a total of 2,473,624 people attended MotoGP events in 2014, although that figure may be inflated since it – like the rest of these numbers – includes the crowds on Fridays and Saturdays (or, in the case of Assen, Thursday and Friday) as well as race day. This is how the figures break down among the ten most popular races.
10. Sepang, Malaysia: 130,925
Only two MotoGPs outside Europe reach this top 10, and the only eastern one is Sepang in Malaysia. With just under 131,000 attendees over the course of the weekend, it nearly makes it into ninth spot, only to be pipped by Assen.
