By Riccardo Tafà| Posted February 27, 2025 | In MotoGP
The 2025 MotoGP calendar marks a turning point for the racing world, with an approach that embraces new geographies and enhances established motorsport traditions.
The season, which kicks off this Sunday in Thailand, is set to deliver strong thrills and further broaden the sport’s global appeal. With the addition of two races in EAST Europe – the Czech Republic and Hungary – MotoGP is consolidating its presence in fast-growing markets where the passion for racing and the sport’s heritage are well established.
The choice of Thailand (where 87 percent of the population owns a motorcycle) as a launching pad for the 2025 season is no accident. Asia, long considered a target market for MotoGP, continues to demonstrate significant growth in terms of audience and investment.
The first race in Thailand is a perfect showcase to showcase the power and beauty of the sport in a region that loves adrenaline and innovation.
The Launch of the 2025 Championship, with an event that saw all the players on the same stage in downtown Bangkok, is the first sign of the renewed approach to marketing that MotoGP will offer us from now on.
In recent years, Asian interest in MotoGP has grown exponentially, thanks in part to promotional initiatives and significant investment in motorsports. With more than 270 million motorcycles on the road and growth prospects for the electric segment, Asia is a key region not only for sales of traditional motorcycles but also for technological and environmental innovations, a very positive picture therefore for manufacturers, investors and enthusiasts that reinforces Asia’s role as a key driver in the global two-wheeled mobility landscape.
This growing attention not only positively impacts television and digital audiences, but also stimulates significant economic investment, with positive effects on the local economy and tourism.
The other new addition to the 2025 calendar is the introduction of two stages in Eastern Europe, with races to be held in the Czech Republic and Hungary. These additions are not just about geographic expansion, but reflect a strategy aimed at embracing regions where the motorsport tradition is alive and where the desire for high-level sporting events is palpable.
Eastern Europe has a long-standing motorsport tradition, the passion for motorsports in the Czech Republic and Hungary is the result of an established tradition, and local families and communities have always supported sporting events, contributing to the development of top-notch talent and infrastructure.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the motorcycle scene in Eastern Europe saw the presence of historic brands such as Jawa and ČZ, which not only produced everyday motorcycles but also sport versions intended for track racing. These companies, born in the context of a planned economy, managed to gain an international reputation through their performance in competitions.
In Hungary, although there have been no major indigenous brands as in the Czech Republic, local participation in track racing has always played an important role. Hungarian teams and drivers, supported by infrastructure such as the Hungaroring, have competed internationally, contributing to a competitive culture and a deep love of motorsport.
Statistics show significant growth in the motorcycle industry in this region with the numbers of motorcycles sold in Hungary and the Czech Republic steadily increasing.
Eastern Europe is emerging as a dynamic hub for the industry, thanks in part to a young population, a growing passion for motorsports and increased spending power.
The Czech Republic has a rich history in motorsport. The famous Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix (known as the Czechoslovak Motorcycle Grand Prix before 1993) has been part of the motorcycle Grand Prix season since 1965.
In fact, Brno has hosted the most World Motorcycle Championship races in the history of the sport since the TT Circuit Assen. The race has been absent from the championship since 2021 due to economic difficulties exacerbated by the Pandemic, so this is a return rather than a debut on the calendar.
Historically, the country has hosted numerous competitions featuring local brands such as ČZ and Jawa. These companies, established in the 1920s and 1930s, helped spread the two-wheeler culture throughout Eastern Europe, not only in terms of production but also as protagonists in track races. The legacy of these companies is reflected today in the passion for racing and the active participation of local enthusiasts.
Hungary also has an important tradition and a strong passion for motors, including hosting an F1 Grand Prix since 1986.
Although Hungary has not produced world-renowned motorcycle brands as much as the Czech Republic, the country has always shown a strong enthusiasm for racing.
The debut of MotoGP at the Balaton Park circuit goes further to strengthen this nation’s connection to motor sports
Interest in motorcycles in Eastern Europe is likely to remain high, driven by a combination of economic growth, investment in the industry and a deep cultural tradition in motorsport.
The Czech Republic and Hungary, with their histories and infrastructure, play key roles in spreading motorcycle culture, and the region should remain central to the motorcycle market.
Expansion into Eastern Europe is accompanied by strong interest from international sponsors, who see considerable growth potential in these regions.
Business operators are betting on a market in turmoil, where sports tradition is married to new business opportunities.
MotoGP 2025 promises to be a revolutionary season. The opening in Thailand, combined with expansion into Eastern Europe with races in the Czech Republic and Hungary, testifies to a global strategy that looks to the future, enhancing both established traditions and new market opportunities.
These changes not only enrich the sports calendar, but also represent a strong signal to investors and sponsors, ready to bet on steady growth and an increasingly demanding and connected audience.
In conclusion, MotoGP 2025 is not simply a racing season: it is a manifesto of the globalization of motorsport, where innovation, tradition and economic data intertwine to create a must-see event.
Experience the power and put your brand in front of millions with motorsport sponsorship. Whether it's Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, IndyCar, or WEC, RTR Sports give your brand the opportunity to appear on television at the most prestigious race tracks in the world.
Sponsor a motorsport team today
Managing Director for RTR Sports, Riccardo graduated in law at the University of Bologna. He began his career in London in PR, then started working in two and four-wheelers. A brief move to Monaco followed before returning to Italy. There he founded RTR, first a consulting firm and then a sports marketing company which, eventually, he moved back to London.
The online platform where you can discover the latest trends, strategies and insights from the exciting world of sports marketing.
View our blog
July 25, 2025
The 2026 MotoGP calendar is preparing to make history: for the first time in more than two decades, the Circus will return to race in Goiânia, Brazil, with a possible South American exp[...]
Read More
June 26, 2025
The European Commission has provided Liberty Media Corporation with unconditional approval to complete the acquisition of the MotoGP World Championship. The process of annexing the top motorc[...]
Read More
June 17, 2025
Starting in 2027, MotoGP is preparing for a momentous change that will redefine the face of motorcycling’s premier class. The new technical rules, announced by the Grand Prix Commission[...]
Read MoreIn an era where it is possible to get anywhere with a click, there is a strong temptation to approach teams and properties directly for sponsorship projects.
By doing so, we are convinced that we are shortening the value chain, saving time and money. However, these DYI methods are anything but risk-free and what initially appears to be a competitive advantage soon turns into a problem that is difficult to resolve. That’s why there are agencies. And this is why you should rely on us for your sponsorships.
When first approaching a motorsport sponsorship project, it is difficult to know immediately which stakeholders are correct, what the decision flow is, and what the right timelines are for each process. Motorsport is a very specialized field of action, and fitting effectively into its paths can take a lot of time and therefore money. We, on the other hand, know referents and spheres of action and know who to talk to, when and how. So you are also more effective.
Motorsport is an immense passion, and for our heart colors we would be willing to do anything. But business is a different business, and it is important to make the best possible strategic decisions based on independent research, statistics and reliable data. A motorsport sponsorship agency like RTR has an objective, 360-degree picture of the scenario and can tell you what is really best for you: which racing series, which athlete, which team. This is because we possess a great deal of data and information on ratings, segmentation and attitudes. Because the numbers don’t lie. Never.
Activations are the real heart of motorsport sponsorship. Without them, there remains only a blank sticker on a motorcycle, car or uniform and no contact with the public, no emotional connection, no impact on the bottom line. Then how do you do it? It certainly won’t be the teams or the athletes who will help you leverage sponsorship and enjoy the many marketing rights you have paid for. To bring out the best in a motorsport marketing project, you need an agency that knows how to use sponsorship to engage the fanbase online, to reach out to Shopping Centers, to organize hospitality, to develop B2B and B2C opportunities, and to get “your” athletes in front of millions of potential consumers.
Would you ever go to the dealer who sold you the car and ask if the competitor’s car is better? No, of course. So, how do you expect to get firm measurements of the effectiveness of your sponsorship if you do not rely on someone super partes? At RTR, we have always worked with independent third-party agencies that allow us to know the return on any exposure of your brand on TV and in the media. In addition, we believe in calculating ROI as the ultimate measure of your success-so we can tell you for every penny you spend how much you are making.
We have been involved in motorsport sponsorship and sports marketing for more than 15 years. We are consultants in the sense that our goal is to maximize your investment, but we are also an agency that manages the project from start to finish. We have been doing this since 1995 with passion and professionalism, following three principles that have become cornerstones of our business: independence, verticality and transparency.
I would like to highlight the fact that one of the qualities of RTR is its great ability to approach the sponsorship scenario strategically, together with its passionate attitude, its amazing enthusiasm for solving problems, and its high level of professionalism.
Gianluca Degliesposti
Executive Director Server&Storage EMEA
Eurosport is truly delighted with its business relationship with Riccardo Tafà, who has become extremely popular, thanks to his detailed knowledge of the sports marketing sector and his highly diligent attitude to work.
Francois Ribeiro
Commercial Director
Passion and Expertise are the features that I have found in RTR since the very beginning. Serious and reliable professionals but also very helpful, nice and open-mind people, willing to listen and compare different ideas. All the values in which RTR believes make this agency a partner, not just a supplier, a partner with whom we have had the opportunity to achieve significant commercial results in term of success and image.
Luca Pacitto
Head of Communication
We have been working with RTR Sports Marketing for over 10 years. The objectives and the programmes of collaboration continue to be renewed and to grow with mutual satisfaction. I believe RTR is a team of great professionals led by Riccardo Tafà, who I consider a manager of exceptional skills and with a great passion for his work.
Lucio Cecchinello
Team Principal
I have known and worked with Riccardo Tafà since 1995 when we collaborated for the first time on a project for the Williams Formula 1 team. Several clients followed. After leaving Williams to work for Gerhard Berger then owner of the Toro Rosso F1 Team, I turned again to Riccardo to seek his help in finding a tool supplier for the team and Riccardo duly obliged with an introduction to USAG, a partnership with Toro Rosso which endured for five years. I recently started a new role as Group Commercial Director for the renowned Andretti Autosport organisation and I find myself working with Riccardo once again on a number of interesting projects. Why has this relationship with Riccardo endured ? He’s smart, knows the commercial side of sport inside out and back to front and he’s honest and trustworthy. Riccardo Tafà is a “doer” not a “talker”: in over 20 years I have never had a dispute either with him or with a company that he has introduced and each partnership introduced by Riccardo has delivered quantifiable ROI to rights holder and sponsor alike. I can think of no better testimonial of Riccardo’s diligence, knowledge, contact base and hard work than that.
Jim Wright
Group Commercial Director
The online platform where you can discover the latest trends, strategies and insights from the exciting world of sports marketing.
View our blog
September 4, 2025
Precision and prestige have long defined the relationship between Formula 1 sponsorship and fine watchmaking. After more than a decade with Rolex as Official Timekeeper, 2025 opens a new chap[...]
Read More
September 3, 2025
Title sponsorship is one of the most coveted and high-impact assets in global sports marketing, and nowhere is this more evident than in Formula 1. In a sport defined by innovation, prestige,[...]
Read More
August 28, 2025
The Case for China: More Than Just a Big Market When executives discuss growth, the conversation often turns to “new markets.” For years, companies expanded into Europe, then Nort[...]
Read More
