MotoGP’s Retro Revival: How Silverstone’s Throwback Fever Can Shape the Future

What MotoGP Needs to Do Next to Capitalize on Silverstone's Nostalgia Craze

The palpable enthusiasm for vintage designs presents a lucrative opportunity for Dorna in the coming years.

According to strict interpretations, the 2024 season marks the 76th year of MotoGP competition. However, this is a topic for debate. In practical terms, this year signifies the 75th anniversary of the grand prix motorcycle world championship, with the British Grand Prix chosen as the appropriate venue for the celebration.

Considering Dorna Sports usually tries to overlook the fact that the championship they manage began with the Isle of Man TT in 1949, it's somewhat strange. The TT, which served as the venue for the British GP until 1976, was then relocated to the mainland starting the following year.

The current state of the championship is vastly different from when Brit Harold Daniell became the inaugural winner in the premier class. A significant change observed at Silverstone last weekend was the absence of UK riders in the MotoGP category. However, Jake Dixon provided some excitement for the home crowd by performing well in the Moto2 race. Unfortunately, the fact that this event took place after the primary MotoGP race on Sunday diminished the potential for a grand celebration.

Overall, MotoGP's major anniversary celebration didn't quite hit the mark. There were no parades featuring iconic bikes on the track, and only a few MotoGP legends were present to celebrate the historic occasion they contributed to. Additionally, the event didn't draw a large audience, with just 117,867 attendees over the weekend and a modest 42,529 spectators on Sunday.

The decision to have each team showcase a vintage livery at the British Grand Prix was a brilliant idea. Revealing all the liveries to fans in the pitlane on Thursday was also a great touch. However, the execution still felt somewhat incomplete.

The vintage color schemes were limited to Sunday during the warm-up and the grand prix, which seemed like a bit of a lost chance for the series. Generally, the different color options were excellent: Yamaha’s red and white speed block design, Honda’s NS500 look, and Aprilia’s ‘Perla Nera’ stood out as especially noteworthy.

The racers enthusiastically adopted the vintage theme, showcasing some stylish helmet designs. Enea Bastianini fittingly triumphed in both races at Silverstone, wearing a helmet that paid homage to Mike Hailwood.

It's now clearer why the vintage paint schemes were kept hidden for most of the weekend. Since these designs are probably for single use, it wouldn't be cost-effective to paint all the extra body panels in these retro colors just to repaint them later. Moreover, damaging these rare parts would have led to significant expenses.

The buzz these liveries generated on social media over the weekend should encourage MotoGP to consider using them more frequently.

Different paint schemes are a regular occurrence in MotoGP. For several years, the Gresini team has showcased a retro design at both the Silverstone and San Marino GP, and it's expected they will do the same at Misano this season, possibly at both events. Earlier this year at Mugello, the official Ducati team sported a livery honoring Italy's national football team and secured the top two spots in the grand prix. Throughout his illustrious career, Valentino Rossi also favored special one-time liveries.

The retro liveries at Silverstone highlighted the significant impact sponsor logos have on the appearance of modern machinery. However, it also demonstrated that sponsor decals can be integrated into more aesthetically pleasing designs.

Alternate kits are a regular feature in football leagues worldwide. In North American sports leagues such as the NHL, games featuring alternate jerseys add a thrilling element to the schedule. Personally, I enjoy it when the Vancouver Canucks don their black 'Skate' uniforms.

MotoGP could benefit from implementing a rule requiring teams to use a unique livery at a minimum of three races each season. For instance, Yamaha might celebrate the anniversary of Giacomo Agostini's 1975 500cc championship win—its first in the premier class—by featuring the red and white speed block design seen at Silverstone at various events next year.

Choosing a specific race each year to feature retro liveries could significantly enhance the championship's brand identity by providing a unique promotional opportunity.

It’s crucial for MotoGP, especially once Liberty Media acquires it, to avoid being trapped by past traditions. However, it would be unwise to overlook that nostalgia has significant market value and that fans consistently crave historical elements.

The idea of having a retro livery race in MotoGP is one of the best they've had in a long time. Making it a one-time event would be a huge missed chance.

Evaluating the retro liveries of each team at the British Grand Prix

Ducati Factory – Score: 7 out of 10

The current world champion team competed with a red and white paint scheme as a tribute to the colors of its initial MotoGP bike from 2003. This design, showcased at Silverstone last weekend, stood out for its simplicity, which was a positive aspect. However, it didn't quite match the impact of the original.

Repsol Honda – Perfect Score

Honda has yet to secure a victory in 2024, and with the ongoing issues plaguing its RC213V, a podium finish appears to be out of reach for now. However, during the British GP, Honda could take pride in showcasing one of the most impressive retro paint schemes. This design pays homage to the original factory colors that Freddie Spencer famously rode to his first 500cc world championship in 1983. With speculation that Repsol may withdraw as the title sponsor in 2025, HRC should seriously contemplate adopting this nostalgic livery for the upcoming year.

Yamaha – A Perfect Score

Yamaha joined the movement of underperforming Japanese motorcycles becoming visually impressive when it unveiled its red and white speed block livery at Silverstone. This design pays homage to the iconic look associated with its first 500cc world championship win in 1975. Yamaha has sporadically showcased this livery at various MotoGP events, and it serves as a hopeful indication that they might continue to use it in the future.

Aprilia – Perfect Score

Concerns that Aprilia might use a retro design reminiscent of its poorly performing RS Cube were fortunately dispelled when it revealed an impressive 'Perla Nera' livery. This design honored Max Biaggi's three consecutive 250cc championships from 1994 to 1996. Though simple, the livery made a strong impression. Additionally, it was refreshing to see a glossy black livery in 2024 instead of the usual matte finish.

KTM – Rating: 7 out of

KTM’s performance was unexpectedly impressive. Swapping out the Red Bull-themed blue and orange colors for a blue and white scheme, KTM honored Wolfgang Ferber (currently the vice president of technology in their road racing division) and the 1988 LC4-powered bike. Though the design was strong, it was difficult to ignore that it bore a resemblance to a Stewart Grand Prix Formula 1 car from the 1990s.

LCR Honda – Score: 5 out of

LCR's attempts, though perhaps divisive, fell somewhat short of expectations. They revamped Zarco's Castrol-sponsored bike and Nakagami's Idemitsu-backed bike with retro designs, but these changes weren't significantly different from their standard color schemes. Although incorporating the vintage Castrol logo on Zarco's bike added a charming detail, his regular paint job is notably superior.

Pramac Ducati – Rated 8 out of 10

Pramac has been responsible for some dreadful liveries in recent years, so the switch to an Angel Nieto-inspired red and black design for 2024, replacing the unattractive purple, was a visual improvement. The retro look of Pramac’s new livery is both simple and eye-catching, and the team should consider using it more often in the future.

Gresini Ducati – 9 out of 10

The tribute livery honoring Fausto Gresini, used by the team that carries his name during the race at Silverstone, has been showcased previously at the last two San Marino Grands Prix. It consistently impresses whenever it appears on the track. The black number plates are arguably more striking than the vintage yellow ones used by other teams, and the blue and white racing suits are stunning.

VR46 Ducati – Rating: 6 out of 10

The alternate paint scheme for the VR46 team was far from terrible, but it fell short of expectations, especially considering the potential for Valentino Rossi-inspired designs. The livery appeared visually appealing on the track, and the prominent yellow number 46 on the front of both bikes, situated behind the rider numbers, was a nice detail. However, since much of the existing VR46 merchandise already resembled this design, one might speculate that the primary motivation was to boost t-shirt sales.

Tech3 GASGAS – Average rating: 5 out of 10

The retro design of Tech3's livery was similar to that of the factory KTM team but was more subdued. While it wasn't unattractive, it also failed to be particularly thrilling. Additionally, it seemed that Herve Poncharal's legacy in MotoGP wasn't adequately honored, and it might have been more fitting to let his team choose a color scheme reflective of its storied past.

Trackhouse Racing Aprilia – 6 out of 10

The latest addition to the racing lineup lacked a rich history to influence its design choices. They decided to honor all 11 American premier class grand prix champions by featuring their images on the bike's sides, which was a thoughtful gesture. However, it would have been more impressive to showcase the Nicky Hayden-themed livery that was revealed during the team's official announcement last year.

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