MotoGP backtracks on recent record after huge gaffe

MotoGP has issued an update to the record attendance figures declared for the recent Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.

During the weekend in southern Spain, organisers released that 296,741 spectators has come through the gates of the circuit over the weekend, eclipsing the previous high of 278,805 set at Le Mans for the French Grand Prix in 2023.

However, MotoGP has since updated the official attendance for the Spanish Grand Prix, issuing a correction that highlights a miscalculation of over 100,000 guests. The new figure: 181,289.

Whilst the weekend at Jerez remains the best-attended MotoGP event there for almost a decade, it falls considerably short of the record for the French Grand Prix, which now returns to last year's weekend at Le Mans.

'We made a hash of this'

After the re-issued figures late on Monday, MotoGP released a statement to publicly apologise for the error.

The statement was shared on X (formally Twitter) by Dorna - MotoGP's commercial rights' holder - chief commercial officer Dan Rossomondo, who added: "I am sorry we made a hash of this. Especially sorry because it was a special few days."

The statement was as follows "At the 2024 Spanish GP, MotoGP published news that the event had become the best-attended Grand Prix ever, beating the previous attendance record.

"There was a miscalculation in attendance numbers and in our eagerness to celebrate the atmosphere at the event, we published incorrect figures just ahead of the MotoGP race. We apologise for our mistake.

"The correct weekend attendance figure for the event is 181,289, which is not a new record but does make it the best attended Grand Prix at Jerez for nearly a decade, continuing the positive trend of audience and attendance figures the sport is currently enjoying.

"The 2024 Spanish GP will also be on Best Of playlists for many years to come after an all-time classic clash of the titans. We hope everyone who attended and watched around the world, enjoyed the incredible race weekend in Andalucia.

"MotoGP heads for Le Mans next, which now retains the record as host to the best-attended event in MotoGP history thanks to the 278,805 people who attended the 2023 French Grand Prix."

How the miscalculation came to pass it not yet known, but the next grand prix - at Le Mans - may provide a new record attendance benchmark anyway.