MotoGP has always been a beloved series of mine, being a mixture of a motorcycle fanboy and a gamer. MotoGP 19 does an incredible job at replicating intense motorcycle racing and really makes you feel like you are live in the action. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

Milestone has once again come through and improved on their incredible motorcycle racers, and perfectly replicated what it feels like to be an actual MotoGP racer. The constant improvement in their physics engine, and the insane amount of detail they add, really shows on the track. The addition of the Neural AI system, where the AI reads your actions and reacts the same that you do, is absolutely masterful to watch. Not only will it match your aggressive riding style, but it will actively perform actions that it knows are your weaknesses. For example, I have a big blind spot for chopping corners too much, as well as going wide. The Neural AI was able to take advantage of this, and I saw riders actively brake as I took a corner, only to blow past me when I moved wide. It really was incredible, and not only increases the challenge, but you get lost in concentration thanks to the enhanced intensity.

The constant improvement in their physics engine, and the insane amount of detail they add, really shows on the track. The addition of the Neural AI system, where the AI reads your actions and reacts the same that you do, is absolutely masterful to watch

MotoGP 19 has expanded on their historical races, and features some of the most interesting and greatest historical races and rivalries of all time. The likes of Kenny Roberts, Mick Doohan, Marco Simoncelli, and a young Valentino Rossi all make an appearance amongst the 50 new historical riders, and 35 new historical bikes.

For a MotoGP fan, these races are absolutely incredible to take part in. It wasn’t just the fact that you could play as these iconic riders, or even just the incredible machines that they controlled; it's the atmosphere you feel when you actually play some of the most intense rivalries in MotoGP history. Though, the machines should not be forgotten, as the 500cc 2-stroke crotch-rockets of old were just euphoric. Again, Milestone has paid so much detail to these bikes, that a friend who actually owned a Suzuki RGV-R 500 recognised the sound almost instantly over the microphone.

Not to mention the physics of these older bikes, which behaved very differently to the current line-up of MotoGP machines, and each was different to each other, as rules were quite loose in terms of restrictions. For example, a Honda NSR500 handles and rides very differently to the Suzuki RGV R 500 mentioned above, despite both being 500cc 2-stroke engines. The Suzuki - as they still have today - has a twitchy throttle, and pretty hefty gear changes, whereas the Honda was able to roll onto the power smoother, and they managed to get their gear changes to flip smoother as well. Well, in game, when you hop onto Kenny Roberts Jr.’s RGV R 500, at full lean, the gear change can actually kick the bike out from under you. However, the Honda was not as powerful in acceleration because the throttle response was more drawn out. Just a small example, but the details are what makes a simulation game great, and MotoGP 19 has that in abundance.

Though, the machines should not be forgotten, as the 500cc 2-stroke crotch-rockets of old were just euphoric. Again, Milestone has paid so much detail to these bikes, that a friend who actually owned a Suzuki RGV-R 500 recognised the sound almost instantly over the microphone

MotoGP 19 adds to the roster of licensed tracks and riders, updating the title to represent the 49 riders that have changed teams and classes, giving the most up-to-date representation of current MotoGP rosters. However, the career remains a great space for you to create a rider and move up from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, or jump straight into the MotoGP division. Rider customisation is fairly similar to the previous iteration, though, the graphics editor gives you the ability to create your own helmet design, your own numbers, as well as your own butt patch, along with the standard options of gloves, boots, and riding style. As in MotoGP 18, your rider will acquire skills that you can sink into research and development for your bike or rider.

MotoGP 19 includes MotoE as well, and to be honest, I felt myself really loving it. The electronic bikes, again, handle differently to their petrol-powered counterparts, and so the experience was truly refreshing. However, I must say, I was slightly disappointed at the fact that you can't make a career of the MotoE division, instead relying on a quick mode Grand Prix or Championship to play in the MotoE.

MotoGP 19 once again delivered a phenomenal racing experience, but off track is where I have my biggest gripes. MotoGP 19 promises the introduction of a Race Director Mode, but it is available exclusively online, but I feel that this was a mistake. The Race Director Mode would have worked so much better as a single-player mode first, or even add them both, since there are a tonne of players who would have liked to play this mode offline. Even more, it would be excellent to play a career as a race director, moving from Moto3 to MotoGP.



Race Director Mode is set up as a lobby that others join with you as their “Director” where you assign penalties to players, manage pit lanes, safety cars, amongst other responsibilities of a Race Director. However, I never really got the chance to test it out because there were no lobbies available, not for Race Director or for standard multiplayer. It’s a shame, as it would have been great to see what the introduction of Amazon dedicated servers would do for stability, but alas, we could not test it. Finally, there were some texture popping issues from time to time, especially when the race is starting, but there were no other problems.

MotoGP 19 once again delivered a phenomenal racing experience, but off track is where I have my biggest gripes. MotoGP 19 promises the introduction of a Race Director Mode, but it is available exclusively online, but I feel that this was a mistake

Note: we will not be marking the title negatively based on this, as we cannot perform accurate testing. An updated review will be done to confirm how well the multiplayer has been implemented.



Overall, MotoGP 19 expands on its offering as the greatest motorcycle racing experience out there - short of actually getting on a bike - and the improvements to the physics engines, the addition of the historical riders, the helmet customisation, and potential great online modes, makes MotoGP 19 another smash hit for Milestone. However, I really feel that the inclusion of a race director career mode, or even just a normal offline race director mode, would be incredibly welcomed. Otherwise, MotoGP 19 remains the greatest motorcycle Grand Prix simulator out there.

MotoGP 19 remains the greatest motorcycle Grand Prix simulator out there