Motorsports betting guide - how to bet on MotoGP, Nascar & Rallies
Motorsports are unique, as they are part of a select group of high-level performance, exhilarating events that unfold at breakneck speed. Some sports try to capture the same levels of explosive excitement, but it can be difficult. Motorsports combine the skill of the best vehicle engineers, designers, and drivers to churn out a product that has resulted in millions of viewers and fans globally.
Some motorsports are more specific to a region, which can be the case for some events, such as Nascar events primarily watched by American audiences. However, a reliable and solid motorsports betting guide will include a range of international markets and the more popular types of bets you can expect to see when betting on motorsports.
Motorsports betting overview
Although other sports betting areas are much more active than motorsports, the pure competition and skill involved are a big draw for many fans. While specific teams exist, and they include a whole range of professional designers and engineers working towards the common goal of ensuring the vehicle is in pristine condition, it is ultimately a solo sport where the quality of the driver often dictates the outcome of the event.
This particular betting market shares similarities with other solo sports, such as golf and boxing, and analysts believe these types of sports make up a considerable minority of sports bettors who prefer the one-on-one style of competition over team sports. Motorsports betting includes gambling markets on professional races involving high-performance vehicles such as cars and motorbikes designed for competitive racing. You can bet on individual races or look for outright markets to gamble on the season or championship winner, depending on the type of motorsport you prefer. We've covered Formula 1 betting in a separate article on the blog.
MotoGP betting
The biggest MotoGP betting markets are specific races, outright winners, and outright championship winners. Establishing which motorcyclists are in the best form, which team has been performing the best, and what sort of history the rider has with the track are all vital components to consider before deciding to embark on any type of motor sports betting.
However, well-rounded knowledge and a passion for any sport should also be present before you start betting. There’s no point placing a bet on motorsports if you don’t understand the races or the riders or take a fundamental interest in it. This is a sure-fire way to lose money, and researching any sport should be the most crucial point you should note down from this motor sports betting guide.
Nascar betting
As one of the most-watched spectator sports in North America, Nascar has a strong, passionate, loyal, and dedicated fanbase. The strength of the Nascar betting market is a testament to just how big the motorsport is in America.
As with any motor sport betting strategy, you must understand the teams, the drivers, and the history of the course. Some drivers might have an excellent track record in certain events but fall short in other aspects of their racing, leading them to underperform in some races. This isn’t specific to Nascar betting though. If you’re looking for some good advice on how to bet on motorsports, the number one thing is to understand the market and look for value. Analyse the quality of the team, driver, and overall form, as these are all strong indicators to help you come to an informed decision when performing any type of motorsports betting.
Rally betting
The World Rally Championship is the most revered level of rally driving, and it is a type of motorsport that gains a lot of respect from other areas of the industry. Rally races occur worldwide, with prominent names in car manufacturing aiming to design a vehicle that can lead its driver to the top of the podium.
Rally driving covers various terrains, and knowing how drivers react to different settings, countries, conditions, and courses is vital. For example, if a rally driver is from the country where the race is held and is familiar with that type of terrain and surface, even if they are lower down in the betting odds, they could outperform some of their competitors who are not as well equipped to deal with that type of track.
This isn’t the only Rally betting variable, and it might not necessarily result in them doing better or worse, but it is just one of the many things you should consider when you bet on motor sport competitions.
Motorsports betting markets guide
Like many other sports betting markets, the best-performing teams and drivers from the previous season often go into races as favourites. If you bet on motorsports throughout the season, you will see how the different markets gravitate to the in-form drivers, and you can often get good value at the beginning of the season if you know the sort of components to watch out for. Check out some of the most popular betting options below!
Race winners
Betting on who finishes at the top of the podium is the biggest market in motor racing. Before the race begins, you’ll be hoping it’s your driver who is standing proudly at the top ahead of his competitors. Motorsports betting doesn’t just cover winning drivers, but it makes up a big chunk of the market, and you can find value in betting on race winners if you can evaluate the different variables.
Top 3/4/6
Betting on the top six can cover several markets. For example, you could bet on one driver to finish in the top six, and if they’re already a solid favourite, the odds will be much lower. If you want to group bet two or three drivers finishing in the top four or six, the bet amount will adjust accordingly. This type of motorsports betting is often reserved for fanatics who understand every facet of the sport. However, it can add more interest and intrigue to your bet slip if you still take a strong interest but wouldn’t consider yourself a fanatic.
Head-to-head
Pitting drivers head-to-head and examining their records can help you determine your bet. This can be a specialist market for motorsports betting aficionados to see which driver will come out on top in a straight shootout. It’s a niche section of motorsport betting with a modest, passionate market throughout the racing season.
How to analyse a race and prepare your motorsports bets
It is pivotal to understand how important it is to prepare your motorsports bet and look for value. There’s no point in mindlessly taking a punt on a driver or motorcyclist without considering some of these components.
Analyse the drivers and the teams
Ensuring a driver has a proven track record and a solid, reliable team around them is paramount when you’re looking to bet on motorsports. MotoGP includes a series of international superbike races that occur annually over eight months between March and November.
Some of the biggest names in motorcycle production invest considerable time and resources in giving their professional motorcyclists the best opportunity to win standalone races and the overall championship at the end of the season.
Check the leaderboards
A leaderboard gives you a great indication of how a race could unfold. For example, some drivers or riders might be at the top of the leaderboard, but they might also be coming off an injury or have already won the championship, so their form might not be as sharp as the leaderboard suggests.
If you’re looking to bet on somebody further down the leaderboard, they might be in excellent form, or the race they’re about to participate in could be a home track where they have a great history. So, while the leaderboards can help, they should be one of several things you consider when you bet on motorsports.
Check previous results
Form is imperative; for example, if a driver is at the bottom of the leaderboard but they are coming off two consecutive wins and the track they’re about to race on is the exact location where they finished at the top of the podium the season before, this might be an indication that they could offer value.
Top motorsports races
With such a range of top motorsports races throughout the global calendar, we would be here all day giving you a full rundown of the fixtures, but here are some of our highlights below.
MotoGP
The MotoGP season usually begins at the end of March in Portugal and ends in Spain at the end of November. Some of the most exciting, scenic races to watch out for in between include the Indian Grand Prix on 24th September and the Thailand Grand Prix on 29th October.
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally isn’t just a race; it is more of an event. Taking place across 29 countries and including multiple vehicles such as cars, motorbikes, and quadbikes, it is one of the most riveting motorsports events on the calendar.
Daytona 500
As the most significant event in the Nascar betting calendar, over 100,000 people visit Daytona, Florida, every year to watch this 500-mile race unfold. It is considered the jewel of the Nascar calendar.
Le Mans
Le Mans is a race that relies on resilience more than skill, although it certainly pays to have both. The French motorsports race is one of the most prestigious on Earth and lasts 24 hours!
How to bet on motorsports at LeoVegas
Betting is a lot more enjoyable when you don’t have to navigate around a betting site with dozens of popups and markets you aren’t interested in; that’s why LeoVegas places emphasis on its site aesthetic and the simplicity of registering. Whether you're looking for pre-event or in-play betting, we've got you covered. Once you have registered an account and made your deposit, select motorsports from the sports section, choose your market, check out the great odds, and place your bet. It’s that straightforward!
FAQs
Q. Do motorsports include Formula 1 betting too?
A. Yes, motorsports betting is a blanket term for all the events and races we have discussed today, and if it’s a professional vehicle race, it is considered a motorsport.
Q. Is there a difference between Nascar and Rally betting?
A. The markets are roughly the same, but Nascar cars are built for tarmac tracks, and rally cars are more versatile and used off-road, so they’re two different types of racing.
Q. Are there any motorsports betting trends to look forward to?
A. It’s possible that technology might start playing a more prominent role in motorsports, but there are currently no identifiable trends in the motorsports betting market.