Behind the Bikes: Inside Dorna Sports' Production Powerhouse at MotoGP's Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas

Behind the Bikes: Inside Dorna Sports' Production Powerhouse at MotoGP's Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas MotoGP races at the limit. That's exactly what we aim to show' By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital

Thursday, April 3, 2025 - 10:20 am

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MotoGP and the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas took over Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX, last weekend and delivered another adrenaline-fueled spectacle for motorsports fans worldwide.

MotoGP's race in Austin was produced by a crew from the organization's rightsholder Dorna Sports. (Photo: MotoGP)

With U.S. viewers tuned in via FS1, MotoGP rightsholder Dorna Sports produced the event's live coverage using a world-feed model. This meant that all feeds were captured, packaged, and distributed from the track, blending traditional onsite production with cutting-edge remote workflows.

The challenges of covering such a dynamic sport at an intricate circuit like COTA pushed the boundaries of broadcast technology and storytelling and led to an exceptionally interesting operation for fellow sports-television-production professionals to learn from.

The Unique Production Challenges of COTA Covering a MotoGP race at COTA presents a distinct set of production hurdles. According to Sergi Sendra, director, global technology, Dorna Sports, the circuit's layout makes camera positioning both a challenge and an opportunity: The track is one of the longest and most exciting. The up-and-down inclines, high-speed sections, and technical turns make it difficult to place cameras optimally. We have to ensure the best perspectives for both the thrilling straightaways and the intricate corners where riders push their limits.

Dorna Sport deployed nearly 150 cameras across the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX, for the Grand Prix of the Americas last weekend.

Adding drones into the mix has significantly improved coverage. Traditionally, MotoGP has relied on helicopter cameras for aerial shots, but FAA restrictions at COTA limited their operational altitude. Now drones provide a game-changing mid-layer aerial perspective, capturing angles that were previously impossible.

Technology Drives MotoGP's Evolution MotoGP's commitment to technological innovation is evident in its evolving audio- and video-capture techniques. The organization is developing an advanced rider-team race-direction radio communication system, a challenging feat given the high safety standards for rider helmets.

Dorna Sports' Sergi Sendra: We have to ensure the best perspectives for both the thrilling straightaways and the intricate corners where riders push their limits.

We've been refining this system for a long time, Sendra explains. Integrating communication equipment into helmets while maintaining the highest safety levels is no easy task.

On major auto-racing events, the audio is the underappreciated element of the show. A major factor in the appeal of televised MotoGP events is the rhythmic rev of the engine and heart-pumping moments of peak action.

To capture that, the scale of sound gear is staggering:

200+ microphones placed throughout the circuit

Specialized directional stereo mics capturing the roar of the bikes as they speed down the straightaway

Miniature onboard microphones embedded in rear-facing cameras to pick up immersive engine and track noise

In terms of video, MotoGP deploys between 130 and 150 cameras, generating 75 simultaneous live feeds. The variety of specialty cameras is striking:

Drones and stabilized helicopter cams for aerial coverage

Ultra-fast pan systems tracking bikes at high speed

Super-slow-motion and ultra-high-speed cameras capturing split-second moments of drama

Big-sensor cinema cameras for immersive depth-of-field shots

Onboard bike cameras with exclusive MotoGP-designed stabilization technology

Broadcast and cinema professionals are amazed by our ability to install and operate cutting-edge equipment on the fastest two-wheeled prototypes on earth, says Sendra. Our bikes experience extreme G-forces, vibrations, and speeds of up to 360 kph, pushing all of our technology to the limit.

Balancing Onsite and Remote Production Despite producing the world feed onsite, MotoGP increasingly integrates remote production support into its workflow. This shift allows more elements - such as graphic insertion and onboard camera control - to be managed from Dorna headquarters in Madrid.

According to Sendra, the benefits are all factors familiar in the U.S.: reduced travel for crew members, greater operational flexibility (enabling real-time adjustments with ultra-low-latency fiber transmissions), and improved efficiency (optimizing resource deployment while maintaining high production quality).

Looking Ahead: The Future of MotoGP Broadcasting With continuous advances in drone technology, audio capture, and remote production, MotoGP remains at the forefront of sports-broadcasting innovation. At the heart of this evolution is a commitment to delivering the highest-quality experience to fans, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in live motorsports coverage.

As Sendra puts it, MotoGP races at the limit, and that's exactly what we aim to show.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/04/03/behind-the-bikes-inside-dorna-s...
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