Marco Bezzecchi
Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has claimed that MotoGP could go to some Formula 1 street circuits, in what is the latest suggestion to bring the two sports closer together.
Following Liberty Media’s acquisition of MotoGP, excitement has grown around the premier class. Many are expecting the two-wheeled series to have the same success and growth as their four-wheeled counterpart.
Several F1-inspired ideas have already been suggested, including a Netflix-style documentary series, which F1 have used to skyrocket their global audience, notably in America.
KTM are pushing for a cost cap system in MotoGP, while team Pit Beirer has called for a joint-race weekend between F1 and MotoGP, where the two sports and fans come together at a Grand Prix. However, there have been some suggestions that have seen huge pushback.
MotoGP fans ‘baffled’ by Carmelo Ezpeleta’s claim that the sport could race on some F1 street circuits
Recently, Ezpeleta suggested that MotoGP could use some F1 street circuits while he was at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He did not specify which tracks the sport could go to, but did stress that run-off areas for riders are the main problem.
Naturally, street circuits present a huge danger for riders, given the narrow layouts and barriers, which are often armco barriers or concrete walls. After seeing Ezpeleta’s comments, many MotoGP fans are not impressed as they expressed their views on Reddit.
“I don’t think they have air barriers good enough to truly protect the riders in these situations, do they? And even if they did, they’d have 7-8 red flags each race,” said one fan.
“If an F1 driver hits a wall the driver stays protected inside the car, if a MotoGP rider hits a wall it’s game over,” wrote another, pointing out the obvious danger of street circuits.
Several fans agreed that the idea was asinine, with one saying: “I grew up on a city circuit. It was great. Also it was a death sentence lottery for riders and drivers alike. Stupid idea. Very stupid idea.”
Another agreed: “This is idiotic. 4 deaths per practice session before Sunday races get started. Bumper ticket sales though…”
“In the same way I’m always baffled that the Macau Motorcycle GP keeps happening tbh,” said one user. Macau is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous street circuits in the world, and its motorcycle race should be a warning for MotoGP.
Finally, another fan was not impressed with the lack of thought for rider safety: “Just go back to Isle of Man if you are throwing safety out the window and going to race on tracks with walls being the side of the track. Oh and bring back unsafe tracks like Suzuka k thx bye.”
READ MORE: All you need to know about the 2026 MotoGP season from calendar to riders
MotoGP circuits are dangerous enough as it is without street circuits
MotoGP fans previously said they would be ‘out’ if Liberty introduced street circuits to the calendar, and it is not surprising why. The dangers are incredibly high, and the chances of making an F1 track safe enough for the premier class are unlikely.
There are some which could be plausible, such as Albert Park and Montreal, given the run-off areas on those circuits. However, further changes would almost certainly be needed, while other circuits like Monaco and Baku would be impossible to race on.
There is already a huge debate around rider safety in MotoGP, sparked by the multitude of serious crashes in 2025. Fans were outraged at the Dutch Grand Prix as multiple riders suffered huge accidents throughout the weekend – only 10 riders finished the race.
The same was said about Sachsenring, with Neil Hodgson agreeing with Pedro Acosta about the German GP and how dangerous the track is for MotoGP. If Ezpeleta is serious about adding street circuits to the calendar, he first needs to improve safety at tracks the sport already races at.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
