The MotoGP World Championship boosted a new season attendance record of over🍌 three million fans in 2024.

Headꦺing the list was a new ‘official’ weekend re﷽cord of 297,471 for the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

“I'm very happy to see that the [spectator] numbers are coming back to, let me say, the 𒁏‘Valentino era’ where the grandstands were full of people,” commented Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola during the season-ending Barcelona post-race test.

So how close was MotoGP 2024 to theꦉ fan numbers seen in the ‘Valentino era’?

Rossi raced in the premier class from 2000 to 2021 and, while the accuracy of spectator figures is always the sub💝ject of debate (especially the weekend totals, when the same fan attending over three days is counted as three spectators) official figures are at least publish🔜ed from 2006 onwards.

Nevertheless, the following table comparesꦡ this year’s Sunday and weekend totals with the maximum provided for the same circuits from 2006-2019, the last ‘normal’ ꧃Rossi season before the Covid pandemic.

Although only Assen and Qatar joined Le Mans in setting a new Sunday high this year, the popularity of the Saturday Sprint races could explain why three other venues (Sachsenring, Misano and Sepang) beat their 2006-19 weekend𝕴 best.

“I see that we have a huge potential,” Rivola added. “And I hope that Liberty Media can bring additiona♑l value [in 2025].

“The show we offer is quite unique. I think next year will be even better with so many [rider] changes and the Japaneꦿse brands competi🍨tive [again]. So really, really looking forward to that.”

*Repeat (replacement) event.