MotoGP’s global appeal is comparable to that of Formula One. It schedules 16 races worldwide every year and regularly attracts over 150,000 fans to races. The estimated global TV audience for each Grand Prix is over 320 million and there is a worldwide following for riders such as current world champion Valentino Rossi, from Italy, Spaniard Sete Gibernau, Australian Troy Bayliss, Japanese Shinya Nakano, Americans Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden, France’s Olivier Jacque and Brazilian Alex Barros. Teams feature 990cc 4-stroke prototype bikes made by manufacturers including Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki, Aprilia and Kawasaki.

Scalextric has secured from Dorna Sports, the series’ commercial and TV rights holders, the worldwide exclusive license to produce Scalextric sets and individual bikes in the liveries of all the MotoGP teams and all of the riders. Hornby expects that the products will be well received in countries across the world especially in mainland Europe and Asia. First deliveries are expected during the late Spring of 2004, to coincide with the early rounds of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship.

The Scalextric MotoGP bikes will be powered by a small electric motor that will drive the rear wheel. Electricity will be delivered via a discrete guide blade mounted between the wheels. The front wheel will be free spinning and in contact with the track surface. The bikes have been designed to emulate the appearance and performance of the real MotoGP bikes. This represents the first authentic motorbike slot racing system and significantly widens the stable of Scalextric products.