KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group SL is looking to expand its fan base in Southeast Asia through content and commercial opportunities, with no additional races in the region currently under consideration, said its deputy chief executive officer Carlos Ezpeleta.
He said Malaysia remained a key market for MotoGP, with the championship's growing regional following expected to attract more spectators to Sepang.
"As fandom continues to evolve in the region, it doesn't necessarily need to be through a race. It can be through content, through commercial opportunities. All that will bring more and more fans to Sepang," he said in an interview with Bernama over the weekend at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia.
Ezpeleta identified Vietnam and the Philippines as important markets where MotoGP Group could expand its following without staging races.
He said MotoGP was not currently in discussions with additional Southeast Asian countries about hosting races, although interest could emerge in the coming years.
Asked whether races in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia competed for sponsorship and spending by international visitors, he said having more races in the region helped expand audiences rather than create competition between markets.
"In fact, from the data that we have, we are seeing more and more MotoGP fans travelling from one market to another, so more international visitors. Also, even in Japan, they are seeing more and more fans from Southeast Asia coming to the races there," he said.
Ezpeleta said Southeast Asia's large fan base and widespread motorcycle use made it an attractive market, with manufacturers supporting efforts to reach more fans.
On Malaysia's position, he said Sepang's proximity to an international airport and Kuala Lumpur, coupled with the country's hospitality and longstanding association with MotoGP, set it apart from other venues.
"Malaysia has been a part of the calendar for over 25 years, and Sepang feels like home for MotoGP, for our fans and for the millions of fans watching on TV," he said.
Ezpeleta said MotoGP Group had granted promoters greater rights to commercialise their events, while expanded opportunities for interaction between riders and fans would be introduced next year.
He said content remained central to MotoGP Group's broader growth strategy, including telling riders' stories and giving fans greater insight into teams and racing strategies to strengthen engagement with existing supporters while attracting new audiences.
Asked whether a docuseries-style approach similar to Formula One's Drive to Survive could place too much emphasis on entertainment, Ezpeleta stressed that racing would remain at the heart of MotoGP.
"For us, the sport is and will always be at the centre of what we do. We have magnificent racing, we have the most exciting sport on earth and we're very proud of that. It's just how we continue to invest to showcase what a fantastic sport it is and how to engage with our fans better," he said.
