Alex Arroyo: ‘the Perfect Docuseries For All Audiences’

MotoGP is the most recent sport that finds itself subject to a fly-on-the-wall docuseries. Dorna Sports is the commercial rightsholder of MotoGP and we spoke to its Head of Media Rights, Alex Arroyo, about the release of Amazon Prime’s MotoGP: Unlimited.

Hi Alex. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background?

I have been working at Dorna Sports for the last four and a half years and I am part of the commercial department, heading the sales of all media rights worldwide, both live and VOD rights. I used to work for IMG Media before, and I was there for five years.

Can you give us a brief overview of MotoGP: Unlimited and what viewers can expect from the series?

MotoGP Unlimited is a unique product and experience. The audience can see an angle of the Championship never seen before, they will get to know the riders and their heroes better. They will also be able to better understand what it takes to be a MotoGP rider and how committed these guys are in their everyday life to reach that goal of being crowned MotoGP World Champion.

Can viewers that are not familiar with MotoGP as a sport still enjoy MotoGP: Unlimited?

Absolutely, this is the perfect docuseries for all audiences – including new fans! It was conceived of and produced in a way that ensures it can entertain everyone, from the avid fan who never misses a single race to a potential, future fan who has never been in touch with the sport before.

It has the perfect balance between content taken from what’s happening on track and content from either outside the pit box and garage, or even at home with the riders or in the teams’ private offices.

How much access were your cameras given by the riders, teams and constructors in the making of the docuseries?

The level of access the production company has had has been unprecedented, so you will hear all sorts of technical conversations like never before and will get a glimpse of how the riders speak with their crew chiefs before the key moments on track. We were playing with an advantage here, as there have been some other leagues and championships with a similar product to this, so we already knew what access we needed to make this level of product possible.

Which storylines throughout the docuseries do you consider a real highlight and worth looking out for?

There are loads of moments throughout the eight episodes that are worth highlighting, such as the comeback of a great champion and one of the all-time best riders in history: Marc Marquez, and how tough his 2021 was.

There’s plenty more though from up and down pitlane. Jack Miller is a great character, authentic guy and that really shines through in some episodes. Also, as a fan of MotoGP, it was great seeing the first incredible win for Pecco Bagnaia in Aragon.

And something also worth mentioning – how could we not – is the farewell to Valentino Rossi, who has played such a huge role in our sport. It’s special to have been able to capture some of his time in the paddock on camera like this, including that emotional farewell in Valencia.

Did the success of Netflix’s Drive To Survive inspire MotoGP: Unlimited?

We see many similar products, like Drive to Survive and All or Nothing, that have allowed sports to enlarge their fan base and reach new audiences, and that is ultimately one of our goals too. We are expanding as a sport, reaching new audiences and welcoming new Grand Prix locations to the calendar, and we believe that this product is the cherry on top when it comes to engaging with a completely new audience.

What have been the biggest challenges in producing the docuseries?

The angle and access required by products like this one is completely new. So more than anything, it was about getting used to having crews in places where we did not have any before, as well as opening up more sensitive meetings to the cameras, such as the safety commission. That’s a meeting where all the riders can attend and discuss the sporting and safety regulations in the championship and at circuits, and which was traditionally behind closed doors.

Why is now the right time to present the world of MotoGP to a wider audience?

It is always the right time to widen our reach and bring in new audiences, and it will always be one of our main objectives. In my opinion, we have the best sporting championship in the world and the more people who can enjoy it, the better.

I think now in the modern world, the competition as to how we spend our leisure time is so fierce, and so we have to deliver a truly standout production in terms of the race and on the sporting side of the championship, but also we have to connect with and promote the human side and the personalities of the riders on and off track.

What is your hope for the sport once the series launches? How will this impact MotoGP?

I trust our avid fans will love it and can get a new perspective thanks to the series, and I trust that this can also become a kind of funnel for new fans and be their way into MotoGP, giving them chance to get to know the riders and the sport. Then they will start watching the Grands Prix and coming to the the circuits to experience how fast these guys are on the track face to face, too – and hear the amazing opera these machines make when they go racing.  

Where can we watch MotoGP: Unlimited?

MotoGP unlimited is now available in Prime Video in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and we are working hard to get it to fans outside the scope of these regions as soon as possible.