Afyonkarahisar to Host Motocross Stars
The MXGP, the most prestigious motocross race in the world, returns to Türkiye for the seventh time in six years. As the most consistent global event in the history of the Republic of Türkiye, MXGP TÜRKİYE will take place on September 7-8 at the award-winning Afyonkarahisar Motorsports Center, recognized as the world’s best motocross track.
TARGET: 500,000 SPECTATORS THIS YEAR
Held under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, MXGP TÜRKİYE is expected to attract over 500,000 attendees this year, thanks to its integration with Türkiye’s largest youth and sports festival, NG AFYON MotoFest.
A visual spectacle contributing billions of lira to Türkiye’s promotion, MXGP TÜRKİYE reaches an audience of nearly 3.5 billion in 180 countries. Featuring nearly 150 racers from 25 countries, including factory teams from Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, GASGAS, KTM, Fantic, TM Husqvarna, and Beta, the championship crowns the best in motocross.
In addition to Türkiye, the MXGP calendar spans countries such as Argentina, China, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, France, Latvia, Germany, Indonesia, Czechia, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK, bringing global motocross stars to compete.
In the same week, Türkiye will also host the MX2 TÜRKİYE (Junior Motocross World Championship), WMX TÜRKİYE (Women’s Motocross World Championship), and EMX250 TÜRKİYE (European Motocross Championship) rounds, further enriching the event.
MXGP TÜRKİYE ALWAYS CROWNS CHAMPIONS
Known as the decisive round where champions are crowned, MXGP TÜRKİYE has consistently played a pivotal role in the championship standings since its inception. Despite being two stages away from the finale, the Türkiye round is considered the championship’s most critical due to its world-class track and paddock, both awarded as the best globally.
Notably, the WMX TÜRKİYE race will culminate with the Women’s World Championship trophy presentation, where two Turkish riders will compete. This year, the number of Turkish riders is expected to surpass 10, compared to the annual average of 8-10 in recent years.
GLOBAL STARS PROMOTING TÜRKİYE’S SPORTS TOURISM
Iconic motocross stars have competed at the Afyonkarahisar Motorsports Center, which boasts multiple “World’s Best Track” and “World’s Best Paddock” awards. Legendary rider Fabio Cairoli even announced his retirement at MXGP TÜRKİYE in 2021. The event consistently attracts global champions like Tim Gajser, Jeffrey Herlings, Romain Febvre, Kiara Fontanesi, and Courtney Duncan, elevating Türkiye’s profile in sports tourism.
In 2022, MXGP TÜRKİYE received the “Best Promoted Stage” award, cementing its role in Türkiye’s tourism promotion. With extensive coverage, live broadcasts, and international media exposure, the event delivers a tourism boost worth billions of euros annually.
DEVELOPING TÜRKİYE’S MOTOCROSS TALENT
Türkiye and Afyonkarahisar have become key players in elevating motocross in the country. In recent years, Turkish riders like Galip Baysan and Irmak Yıldırım have made history, with increasing participation in global championships. This year, Türkiye aims to surpass its usual representation in the European Motocross Championship.
The MXGP Academy, established in Afyonkarahisar last year, is dedicated to training the next generation of motocross stars. Run by the Türkiye Motorcycle Federation (TMF), the academy benefits from the expertise of global champions and positions Türkiye as a hub for talent development in the sport.
HALF THE WORLD WATCHES MXGP TÜRKİYE
The MXGP is one of the world’s most-watched sporting events, reaching nearly 3.5 billion viewers across 180 countries. This year’s competitions will feature 21 MXGP and MX2 stages, 8 Women’s Motocross stages, and 12 EMX250 stages, showcasing the best talent in motocross.
For Türkiye and Afyonkarahisar, MXGP TÜRKİYE represents an unparalleled promotional opportunity. The event draws high-value tourists and fosters ongoing interest, further boosting local and national economies.
FOUR RACES IN ONE WEEKEND
From September 7-8, four major competitions will take place simultaneously:
MXGP (Motocross World Championship)
MXWOMEN (Women’s Motocross World Championship)
MX2 (Junior Motocross World Championship)
EMX250 (European Motocross Championship)
More than 25 factory teams and nearly 150 riders, including Yamaha, Honda, KTM, and Husqvarna, are expected to participate.
NG AFYON MOTOFEST: FIVE DAYS, SEVEN CONCERTS
As Türkiye’s largest integrated sports and youth festival of 2024, NG AFYON MotoFest will run from September 4-8. Bringing together motorcycle enthusiasts from Türkiye and beyond, the festival will feature various activities, sports events, and seven concerts over five days.
The concert lineup includes:
September 4, Wednesday: Sena Şener, Ceylan Ertem
September 5, Thursday: Şevval Sam
September 6, Friday: Nova Norda, Madrigal
September 7, Saturday: Sefo
September 8, Sunday: Sıla
CONTRIBUTION OF OVER 5 BILLION TL TO TÜRKİYE’S ECONOMY
Celebrating its seventh edition, MXGP TÜRKİYE is expected to contribute over 5 billion TL to Türkiye’s economy during the event week alone. As one of the most significant events for Türkiye’s sports economy and tourism, the combined impact of MXGP TÜRKİYE and NG Afyon MotoFest is set to grow further this year.
300 MILLION EURO VALUE IN PROMOTION
MXGP TÜRKİYE and Türkiye MotoFest continue to make invaluable contributions to Türkiye’s global visibility. Last year alone, the media coverage and broadcasts of these events generated a promotional value of 300 million euros.