The British motorcycle Grand Prix on the mainland began at Silverstone in 1977 following the removal of the Isle of Man TT from the world championship calendar after the 1976 season. The TT had held championship status since 1949 but its 37-mile mountain circuit drew increasing safety concerns, with multiple world champion Giacomo Agostini publicly declaring after the 1972 event that he would not race there again. Many riders followed suit, and the FIM eventually removed it from the calendar. Silverstone, already an established Formula One venue, was the natural choice for the new mainland event.
Silverstone hosted the British Grand Prix from 1977 to 1986 under names including the John Player British Grand Prix (1977–1978) and the Marlboro British Grand Prix (1979–1985). The race then transferred to Donington Park in 1987, where it remained until 1996.
Silverstone reclaimed the British Grand Prix from 1997 and hosted it consistently through the early 2000s. Sponsorship during this era included the Sun British Grand Prix (1997), Cinzano British Grand Prix (2000–2004), and betandwin.com British Grand Prix (2005). The race moved back to Donington as originally planned for 2010, but Donington's redevelopment collapsed financially. Silverstone stepped in and has held the event every year since.
From 2010 Silverstone became the uncontested home of the British motorcycle Grand Prix. The circuit underwent significant modifications over the following years, including the relocation of the start/finish straight from the National Pits Straight to the Hamilton Straight for the 2023 event. Various sponsor names have covered this era: AirAsia (2010–2011), Hertz (2012–2014), Octo (2015–2017), GoPro (2018–2019, with the 2018 race cancelled due to weather), and Monster Energy from 2021 to 2024. From 2025 the event has been known as the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom.
The 2019 British Grand Prix produced one of the closest finishes in MotoGP history, with Alex Rins winning ahead of Marc Marquez by just 0.014 seconds. The 2018 race was cancelled outright due to severe weather conditions, an unusual occurrence in the premier class. The 2020 race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Silverstone's high-speed layout challenges riders with fast flowing corners that demand both aerodynamic efficiency and mechanical grip, making set-up and tyre strategy particularly important. The British crowd's enthusiasm and the circuit's Formula One heritage give the event a distinctive prestige within the MotoGP calendar.
Silverstone's long association with the British motorcycle Grand Prix, spanning from the inaugural mainland event in 1977 to its current status as the permanent host, makes it one of the most historically significant venues in motorcycle racing. Its multi-decade relationship with the world championship reflects both its infrastructure quality and its central place in British motorsport culture.