Craig Robinson looks at what to expect at the MotoGP esports finals in Valencia over the next few days, ahead of his interviews with UK talent and a chance to get a closer look at this unique esports scene.
The MotoGP motorbike racing games, developed by Italian studio Milestone and published by UK publisher Pqube, offer esports fans something different.
Throughout the year, Milestone and Pqube have offered racing fans the opportunity to submit the fastest lap on the current stage of the MotoGP Circuit.
The player that achieved the fastest lap on that specific course was invited to attend a semi-finals bracket earlier this year.
In each semi-final, 12 players attended a LAN environment, broadcasted across streaming platforms. The top 6 positions are invited back for the finals, whilst the others are sent home.
Heading to Valencia this weekend are the 12 players that made it through the semi-final stage.
These 12 players will compete at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, where the real-life motorsport stars will race on the Sunday. This blend of physical and virtual racing in the same space is something organisers want to do to connect both competitive aspects of the sport.
Last year Lorenzo “Trastavere17” Daretti successfully took home the first place prize. This year, he looks to keep his crown against several players making their return to the grand finals.
While there are no UK racers, there is some UK production talent at the event and Esports News UK’s Craig Robinson will be out in Valencia talking to them and reporting on the finals.
With the growth of MotoGP esports this year, the competitive side has expanded to PC and Xbox. Can the old guard from last years season fight off hungry new talent in the scene, and will Trastavere keep his reign?
The players attending:
Trastavere73 ITA
Paul_IG SPN
XxBomber_45xX SPN
DavidGallina23 ITA
Vindex813 ITA
Rllorca26 SPN
Christianmm17 SPN
Andrewzh ITA
Luigi48GP ITA
TimothyMcGarden GER
Adriaan_26 SPN
Eleghost555 SPN
MotoGP esports finals preview: ENUK heads to Valencia for a closer look at this unique esports scene
