We told you so but it's now official: A large part of the current MotoGP™ grid will be heading to the Festival of Speed at Goodwood!
Ladies and gentlemen, NOTE THE DATE! The Goodwood Festival of Speed will host its biggest celebration of MotoGP™ from July 13-16, with much of the current grid set to make their debut on the legendary hill climb. They will be joined by a whole host of MotoGP™ legends, including Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz et Casey Stoner, and other drivers and teams are yet to be confirmed.
The first ever Festival of Speed kicked off with the Duke of Richmond racing up the hill on a Ducati, and the 30th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to put two wheels at the center of attention once again. Grand Prix riders and machines will make up the entire motorcycle contingent in 2023, with an almighty team ready to take to the hill.
Current grid teams already confirmed at the event include Ducati Lenovo Team, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, LCR Honda and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, as well as GASGAS Aspar Moto2™ with the British rider Jake Dixon.
They will be joined by an incredible line-up of famous faces, with Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Jorge Lorenzo, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Gardner, Kenny Roberts Jr, Alex Crivillé and Randy Mamola already confirmed – holding an incredible total of 35 world championships between them.
The MotoGP™ contingent will be located in the Paddock Ballroom, just a stone's throw from the Drivers' Club – the perfect showcase for fans to get an impressive overview of the teams preparing the machines.
The Festival of Speed has always been the place to see motorsport megastars. In 2022, Giacomo Agostini celebrated its 80th anniversary at the event, and last year the Festival celebrated another milestone: Wayne Rainey rode his 500 champion Yamaha YZR1992 for the first time since the crash that ended his career in 1993, joined on the hill by Kenny roberts, Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan.
Motorcycles have always been an integral part of the Festival of Speed. The entry of motorcycles into the very first Festival was organized by a legend who himself bridged two worlds: John Surtees, the only person to have been crowned two- and four-wheel Grand Prix world champion.
The Duke of Richmond : " I am absolutely delighted that the Festival of Speed is hosting its biggest celebration of MotoGP this year. I thank Dorna Sports, the teams and the drivers for including us in their busy schedule – it means a lot to everyone at Goodwood and to all our fans that they will be there to celebrate with us” »
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “
We are very proud to announce this celebration of MotoGP at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It is an honor for us to play a key role in the 30th anniversary and to be invited to showcase the best of our sport, sharing the stage with our other speed icons. This will be something truly unique, and I want to thank our teams, drivers and legends for the enthusiasm they have shown in participating in this event. We hope we can put on an incredible show for the fans – and the Duke of Richmond! We are forever honored by his unwavering passion for our sport. Thanks for the invitation !
We recently celebrated the 1000th FIM Grand Prix and next season will mark the 75th anniversary of the creation of the first motorsport world championship in 1949. At the same time, 2023 is a landmark year of a different kind, with more than MotoGP than ever, as the Tissot Sprint makes its debut on the calendar. At the intersection of history and innovation, the Festival of Speed 2023 is the perfect opportunity to celebrate both the rich heritage of the sport and the heroes of the incredible spectacle we enjoy every weekend in this modern era. »
