MotoGP's grueling calendar is limping toward the end, and honestly, it's starting to feel exhausting for everyone involved.
Imagine the intensity of high-speed motorcycle racing pushing riders and teams to their limits week after week—that's MotoGP at its best. But as the season stretches on, you can almost sense the fatigue setting in from miles away. During the Portuguese Grand Prix, reporters were eagerly throwing out provocative questions to the riders, fishing for passionate responses or heated debates. Yet, the competitors seemed utterly drained, struggling to muster even a spark of enthusiasm or firm stances on the topics at hand.
And get this: that Thursday press conference marked the whopping 81st media briefing of the year for a regular rider. That's not including the pre-season tests and other practice sessions, which could easily bump the total number of these interactions up to nearly 100 or more. No wonder the riders came across as somewhat weary and disengaged—it's like attending back-to-back meetings without a break; even the most dedicated pros would start to feel the burnout. For newcomers to MotoGP, think of it this way: these press sessions are essential for sharing insights, but when they're this frequent, they can turn into a routine that saps the excitement from what should be thrilling conversations.
But here's where it gets controversial: is MotoGP's packed schedule—often spanning 20 or more races across the globe—robbing the sport of its raw energy, or is it necessary to keep the global fanbase engaged year-round? Some argue it builds momentum and revenue, while others say it's unsustainable for rider health and performance. What do you think—too many races, or just right?
We'd love to get your input!
Tell us what you'd like to see more of from our coverage moving forward.
Complete our quick survey
- The Autosport.com Crew
Check out these related stories:
*
*
Richard Asher, a seasoned freelance sports writer with deep roots in the Autosport family, spearheads the online MotoGP reporting for the site. He also jumps in on news desk duties and occasionally polishes articles as a sub-editor for the print edition of Autosport magazine. (For more on his work, visit https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/motogp-is-dragging-itself-to-the-finish-of-its-marathon-season-and-its-not-a-good-look/10775927/richardasher.com)
Hailing from South Africa with a journalism degree, Richard first caught the Autosport team's eye through a budding writers' contest back in 2002. Just a year later, in June 2003, he was on the ground helping report Bentley's triumphant Le Mans victory. By fall, he'd secured a full-time spot on the team.
For the subsequent four years, his primary beat was the British Formula 3 series, though he juggled assignments in A1GP, sportscar racing, and editing the magazine's national features. On his rare free weekends, he'd hit UK club tracks to test his skills—admittedly with mixed results—in Formula Vee and Stock Hatch cars, adding a fun, hands-on layer to his reporting.
Determined not to make motorsport his forever career, Richard headed back to Cape Town in 2008 to take the helm at Golf Punk magazine. Since embracing freelancing, this avid sports enthusiast has tackled everything from golf tournaments and cricket matches to rugby showdowns—and, of course, circling back to motorsport events that keep pulling him in.
His adventures have taken him worldwide, including a memorable chapter as a trucker navigating the rugged Australian Outback (check out his book on it here: https://books2read.com/trucking). These days, he calls the vast, open landscapes of eastern Austria home.
Beyond racing, Richard lends his voice as a commentator for Guerilla Cricket, pens insightful pieces for his Posh Sports Precinct newsletter on Substack (https://richardasher.substack.com/), and has authored a collection of travel memoirs (explore them at https://www.richardasher.com/books/).
For a complete rundown of his diverse projects, plus a video CV, head over to his personal site (https://www.richardasher.com/). You can also connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-r-a-dalkey-asher-22b5935).
And this is the part most people miss: while MotoGP's marathon feels like a slog now, could expanding the calendar even further revitalize the sport, or would it push riders to the breaking point? Share your takes in the comments below—do you agree it's dragging, or are you loving the non-stop action? We're all ears!
