MotoGP could be heading towards a more urban future, with Trackhouse Racing team principal Davide Brivio backing the idea of bringing the championship closer to the heart of major cities.
Brivio believes street circuits could play an important role in growing MotoGP's global appeal, particularly as the sport looks to attract new fans and create a stronger connection with the public.
The Italian is particularly excited about Adelaide joining the calendar in 2027, viewing the Australian city's planned street race as an opportunity to demonstrate what MotoGP can achieve outside traditional racing venues.
"I'm not worried about Adelaide, on the contrary, it excites me a lot," Brivio said.
He pointed to Formula 1's growing presence in major cities such as Miami, Las Vegas and Madrid as an example of how bringing motorsport closer to urban audiences can create greater visibility and excitement.
For MotoGP, Brivio believes the same approach could help the championship reach people who may not otherwise travel to circuits located far from major population centres.
Source: Reuters
However, he recognises that bringing MotoGP into cities comes with significant safety challenges. Motorcycle racing presents different demands compared with Formula 1, particularly when it comes to run-off areas, barriers and the consequences of crashes. Recent concerns surrounding circuits such as Goiania have also highlighted the importance of proper track preparation and safety infrastructure.
Despite those concerns, Brivio believes the challenges can be addressed through careful planning and strict safety standards.
"Of course, MotoGP is more complicated because it's a motorcycle, but I think it's possible to build a street circuit with safety," he said.
Rather than viewing safety as a reason to avoid urban venues altogether, Brivio believes organisers, circuit designers and safety officials should work together to ensure new street tracks meet the standards required for MotoGP.
The Adelaide project could become an important test for the concept. Brivio hopes the 2027 event will prove that a carefully designed street circuit can work for MotoGP and potentially encourage other major cities to explore hosting races of their own.
"I hope Adelaide's example can also be replicated by other cities," he said.
Brivio does not expect MotoGP to replace traditional circuits with a calendar dominated by street races. Instead, he sees room for several urban events, perhaps two, three or even five, alongside the championship's established venues.
That could give MotoGP a more varied calendar while allowing the sport to expand its presence in major population centres.
At the heart of Brivio's argument is the fan experience. Traditional racing circuits can offer spectacular facilities and challenging layouts, but their distance from city centres can make attending a race difficult for casual fans. Street races, by contrast, can place the bikes, teams and atmosphere directly among the public.
For Brivio, that proximity could be key to introducing MotoGP to a wider audience. The sight and sound of MotoGP bikes racing against a city skyline could create a different kind of spectacle while making the championship more accessible to people who may never have attended a race before.
With Adelaide scheduled to become part of MotoGP's future calendar in 2027, Brivio will be hoping it can demonstrate that taking the sport to the streets is more than just an exciting idea. It could become another important step in MotoGP's push to reach a new generation of fans.
