There are few sporting experiences quite like MotoGP. The noise, the speed, the smell of fuel and hot tyres, and the sheer anticipation as riders prepare to launch themselves around the circuit at extraordinary speeds all combine to create an atmosphere that is difficult to replicate anywhere else.
So, when we were invited to experience the MotoGP weekend at Silverstone by Estrella Galicia, the official Beer Sponsor of MotoGP, we knew we were in for something special.
But this wasn’t simply a case of watching the racing from the grandstands. We were given an exclusive look behind the scenes, from learning how Estrella Galicia is brewed to visiting the garages and seeing the mechanics at work, before stepping inside the Alpinestars motorhome to discover the craftsmanship behind the suits worn by the riders.
And, of course, there was plenty of ice-cold Estrella Galicia to enjoy along the way.
The taste of Galicia meets the world of MotoGP
Our day began with an exclusive beer tasting experience, giving us the opportunity to learn more about what goes into creating Estrella Galicia and the story behind the beer.
Estrella Galicia has been brewed in A Coruña, Galicia, since 1906, with the family-owned brewery retaining a strong connection to its Galician roots. Its brewing process centres on carefully selected ingredients, including water from a protected natural source in A Coruña, malted barley, hops and a distinctive yeast strain.
What makes the tasting particularly interesting is discovering just how much goes into something that, when you’re sitting trackside with a cold beer in hand, can feel wonderfully simple.
From the raw ingredients through to fermentation, maturation and finally the pour, every stage has an impact on the finished beer. Estrella Galicia’s lager is brewed using a traditional recipe and undergoes a lengthy brewing and maturation process designed to develop its characteristic flavour.
It was a fitting introduction to a weekend where precision and attention to detail were very much the order of the day.
Into the garages
Then came the part that every motorsport fan dreams of: getting inside the garages.
Walking into the MotoGP paddock is an experience in itself, but seeing the teams preparing their bikes up close takes it to another level. Rather than simply watching the action from a distance, we were able to see the mechanics at work, surrounded by the machinery, tools and technology that sit behind every fraction of a second on track.
There is an almost obsessive level of detail involved. Nothing appears accidental, from the preparation of the bikes to the way the teams operate around them.
Watching the mechanics working in real time gave us a completely different appreciation of what goes into producing a MotoGP weekend. What spectators see as a blur of bikes disappearing around a corner is the culmination of months of development, engineering and preparation.
And being just a few feet away from that process makes the scale of it all rather extraordinary.
Inside the Alpinestars motorhome
Our behind-the-scenes access continued with a visit to the Alpinestars motorhome, where we got an insight into another essential part of MotoGP: the riders’ suits.
A MotoGP suit isn’t simply a piece of racing kit. It is a highly engineered piece of protective equipment designed to give riders maximum protection while allowing them to perform at the very highest level.
Seeing how the suits are made and learning about the technology and craftsmanship involved gave us a new appreciation for what riders are wearing when they line up on the grid.
There is an obvious connection between the suits and the bikes themselves: both are designed around precision, performance and protection. Every component has a purpose, and every detail matters.
The Estrella Galicia pop-up
After all that behind-the-scenes excitement, there was only one thing left to do: find somewhere to sit back and take it all in.
Thankfully, Estrella Galicia had that covered.
We headed to the brand’s private pop-up, where the atmosphere was considerably more relaxed. With an ice-cold Estrella in hand, it was the perfect place to pause, soak up the Silverstone atmosphere and reflect on everything we’d seen.
And there’s something particularly enjoyable about drinking a cold Spanish lager while surrounded by the sights and sounds of MotoGP.
The partnership feels natural. Estrella Galicia has a long-standing connection with motorcycle racing, and MotoGP offers the brand an opportunity to bring its beer culture directly into the heart of one of the world’s most exciting sporting championships. MotoGP itself lists Estrella Galicia as its Official Beer partner.
More than just a race weekend
What stood out most from our Silverstone experience was just how much exists beyond the racing itself.
Yes, watching MotoGP bikes fly around Silverstone at phenomenal speeds is spectacular. But getting behind the scenes reveals another side of the sport — the people, craftsmanship, engineering and passion that make those few minutes of racing possible.
From understanding the care that goes into brewing a beer in Galicia to seeing mechanics meticulously prepare a race bike and discovering the technology behind a rider’s suit, the weekend was ultimately about precision.
Different industries, different skills, but the same obsession with doing things properly.
And after a day of garages, motorhomes and racing bikes, there was no better way to finish than with an ice-cold Estrella Galicia in hand.
Estrella Galicia are the official Beer Sponsor of MotoGP — and after experiencing Silverstone from behind the scenes, we can certainly see why the partnership makes such a perfect pairing.
