Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP fans voiced their opinion on Dorna advising broadcasters to emphasise MotoGP achievements more prominently than those of the lower categories of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
The move means that Marc Marquez will be crowned as a seven-time world champion at the Japanese Grand Prix, if successful, without reference to his earlier world titles claimed in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories.
A swathe of legendary figures in the sport will lose their status as world champions under the new advice, completely undermining the introduction of MotoGP’s new Hall of Fame.
For example, Dani Pedrosa, an inductee of the new Hall of Fame, will now be classed as a rider with no world championships, even though he won three world titles across the 125cc and 250cc classes in the early 2000s.
READ MORE: MotoGP fans say ‘they’re out’ if the sport copies one F1 trend in the Liberty Media era
MotoGP fans are in agreement as they slam Dorna’s decision to discount Moto2 and Moto3 titles
Fans took to social media to express their dismay over Dorna’s latest communication to broadcasters, furious that the lower categories will now be seen as ‘feeder-series’ in a similar fashion to how Formula 1 views Formula 2.
“Moto3 and Moto2 will always be a world championship to me, and to MotoGP fans. We will not be calling it a feeder series. This is not F1,” one fan said on X (formerly Twitter).
Another X user referenced Angel Nieto, a seven-time world champion in the 125cc class and six-time world champion in the 50cc class, saying, “So, Angel Nieto hasn’t won any world titles?”
One fan shared their fury by arguing the case of Pedrosa, “This is disgusting! To me, at least. Are we going to erase some of the Hall of Fame riders that have earned their name in lower classes as well?”
Another Grand Prix motorcycle fan stressed the importance of the lower categories as the foundation of the sport, commenting, “The titles are all important. All of the Grand Prix classes are important. If they ditch them, they will kill the sport: roots upwards.”
In an act of rebellion, some fans refuse to abide by Dorna’s wishes, with one user posting, “I don’t care, I’ll be calling him a nine-time champion regardless,” whilst another fan shared their thoughts in a simpler fashion, commenting, “This is so stupid.”
The advice is one of many decisions Dorna have put in place to make MotoGP more like F1
The decision to make MotoGP more in line with how F1 views their lower categories is just one of many that the company have made in hopes of growing the sport and making it easier for new fans to get into motorcycle racing.
The idea of MotoGP joining F1 on ‘mega’ race weekends has been floated. The scheme has been met with some positivity, with KTM’s Pit Beirer open to the idea at some point in the future.
After Liberty Media’s takeover of the premier class was announced, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali outlined his plans for MotoGP. The former Ferrari man explained how important it was for the company to have a hand in both of the elite categories in world motorsport.
Upon the news of the acquisition, KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister was eager for a cost cap to be introduced into MotoGP, similar to how it has been present on the F1 grid since 2021.
Dorna risks losing out on die-hard fans of the sport if it continues to make concessions for new fans in hopes of growing the sport in the future.
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