MotoGP Gossip: ITV4 attracts peak audience, Ciabatti admits 8 Ducati’s possible
Last week’s MotoGP of Le Mans was the first time that British free-to-air TV showed a live race in seven years. So… how did it do?
Well, the Grand Prix was certainly a spectacular one and a good representation of the sport for starters, as the first flag-to-flag race since Brno 2017 attracted over 400,000 viewers.
As reported by Motorsport Magazine, the exact figure was 425,000. These numbers are according to BARB from Overnights.tv.
Le Mans is not the only race that will be aired on ITV this season as the British Grand Prix at Silverstone has also been announced.
The figure of 425,000 is impressive given it doubled what BT Sport’s coverage typically attracts which is 150,000 to 250,000 viewers per race. [MotorsportMagazine.com].
Ducati Sporting Director Paolo Ciabbati says the chances of eight Ducati bikes is a very real possibility as Valentino Rossi has narrowed his choice down to Yamaha or Ducati for the Aramco-backed VR46 team.
The Italian team are negotiating with VR46 and team Gresini, while Dorna have already given the go-ahead to having an extra two seats on the 2022 grid.
Ciabbati said: "We have already done it in the past, we think we can manage it." [Gpone.com]. If Ducati are to agree terms for another two bikes on the grid, it will be a continuation of the good few weeks for the Bologna team with Miller taking back-to-back wins and Francesco Bagnaia one point of the title lead.
The Australian’s stunning form is rumoured to result in a contract extension from the team - announcement expected at the next Mugello MotoGP round.
Finally in today’s MotoGP column we have the subject of flag-to-flag races. Le Mans provided one of the craziest races in recent memory, but for Valentino Rossi it’s a format of racing he’s not a fan of.
On the idea of flag-to-flag races Rossi said: "Personally, I don't like the flag-to-flag races - not because it's stressful, but because they are difficult and above all are more dangerous."
Rossi finished the race in 11th position after qualifying in ninth and specified what makes it so ‘dangerous’ in his mind. "If you go out on the track with rain tires and it dries, it's not dangerous. It is then a matter of switching to slicks as early as possible in order to lose as little time as possible. The problem is the slick tires, then it gets dangerous," added the nine-time world champion. [Speedweek.com].
