Picture courtesy of MGR

 

Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has issued a detailed clarification addressing nine widely discussed claims about the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix, following renewed public debate after the government approved hosting rights through 2031. The agency outlined financial data, contract conditions and audience figures to counter suggestions that the event is poor value, lacks private-sector support, or is losing spectators. Officials said the clarification aims to present verifiable facts on economic returns and national benefits since Thailand secured its first MotoGP contract.

 

MotoGP licensing fees, totalling 3.997 billion baht, are paid directly and solely to Dorna Sports, which only contracts with governments or state agencies to ensure stability. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) confirmed that no middlemen or private firms receive this fee, while revenues from ticket sales and private sponsorship flow directly back to SAT to offset state spending. SAT noted that licensing costs have increased worldwide, but Thailand’s fee remains comparatively low after negotiations secured favourable terms and added value from the introduction of a second race day, Sprint Race Saturdays.

 

The agency rejected claims that MotoGP funding diverts resources from disaster relief, explaining that sports-hosting budgets and emergency relief budgets come from separate national budget allocations. Similarly, it dismissed suggestions of rushed contract renewal, stating that negotiations were in fact later than ideal, as Dorna requires at least one year’s advance notice from existing hosts. With the current contract ending in 2026 and other nations competing to become hosts, SAT argued the timing was necessary to secure future rights and maintain projected economic gains of 28 billion baht over the next five years.

 

Audience numbers, SAT said, have grown overall, peaking at 222,535 spectators in 2018 and 226,655 in 2019. The drop in 2022 to 178,463 was attributed to COVID-era crowd limits, with attendance rising continually afterward. The agency reported that MotoGP generated 24.927 billion baht in economic value from 2018 to 2025, with no other Thai event matching this impact.

 

Claims that private-sector support is shrinking were also rejected. SAT said Thailand is among the few host nations where the state pays only a small portion of costs, due to strong backing from major companies in the energy, automotive and beverage sectors. Even during the COVID downturn, SAT continued securing sponsorships and ticket revenue, and the new contract period aims to raise at least 700 million baht in private funding.

 

Regarding the host venue, SAT clarified that Chang International Circuit in Buriram is used free of charge, saving 12 million baht per year, or 72 million over six years. It is also the only FIM Grade A circuit in Thailand, making alternative locations impossible. All revenue from the event is managed directly by SAT, with no special benefit extended to the circuit owner, the agency said.

 

Manager Online reported that SAT emphasised that MotoGP has been supported across all Thai governments due to its economic returns and global visibility. The first contract (2018–2020) received 300 million baht in state support; the second (2022–2026) secured 900 million baht in approved budget frameworks alongside 1.57 billion baht from sponsors and the National Sports Development Fund and the current contract (2027–2031) has government approval, with annual budget requests and at least 700 million baht expected from sponsors.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• SAT released a point-by-point rebuttal to claims that MotoGP Thailand lacks value, support, or audience growth.

• Licensing fees go directly to Dorna Sports, while revenues return to SAT to reduce state spending.

• Thailand expects 28 billion baht in economic impact from hosting MotoGP between 2027 and 2031.

 

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 Adapted  by  Asean  Now from MGRonline 2025-11-22

 

 

 

Pretty sure the private funding towards this far outweighs the government input who don't mind basking in it being in the country but don't like the circuit owner.

Also I'm sure it's more accessible to the average Thai than F1 will be and less disruption to the area it's held in.

You literally will struggle to find a decent room within 15-25km of buriram when it's on and it always seems very well attended even on Friday practice.

On 11/22/2025 at 4:24 PM, Georgealbert said:

Officials said the clarification aims to present verifiable facts on economic returns and national benefits since Thailand secured its first MotoGP contract.

 

Best of luck with that.

Of course it will be worth it by the time they have fiddled every cent that they can squeeze out of it, why else would they even bother?