After months of hints and rumours, it's at last been announced the Liberty Media - owners of Formula 1 - is to acquire MotoGP.
It's massive news for the motorsport world, with the world's top-level two and four level racing series brought under one banner. The deal is set to go through by the end of 2024, so long as its cleared and approved by various investment law authorities.
The deal involves Liberty Media taking a controlling 86 per cent stake in Dorna Sports S.L., the current rights holder, which will also become part of Liberty's tracking stock. Dorna will remain an independently controlled company, and Carmelo Ezpeleta will still be at the top as its CEO.
Liberty Media President and CEO Greg Maffei had this to say of the news:
“We are thrilled to expand our portfolio of leading live sports and entertainment assets with the acquisition of MotoGP.
“MotoGP is a global league with a loyal, enthusiastic fan base, captivating racing and a highly cash flow generative financial profile. Carmelo and his management team have built a great sporting spectacle that we can expand to a wider global audience.
"The business has significant upside, and we intend to grow the sport for MotoGP fans, teams, commercial partners and our shareholders.”
Meanwhile, Dorna boss Ezpeleta said:
“This is the perfect next step in the evolution of MotoGP, and we are excited for what this milestone brings to Dorna, the MotoGP paddock and racing fans.
“We are proud of the global sport we’ve grown, and this transaction is a testament to the value of the sport today and its growth potential. Liberty Media has an incredible track record in developing sports assets and we could not wish for a better partner to expand MotoGP’s fanbase around the world."
It's hard to know what all of this will mean for MotoGP in the long term, but by looking at the changes to F1 since Liberty took ownership in 2016, we can get some idea. F1 has seen its calendar expand in recent years, particularly in the USA. Meanwhile, it launched Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive, which introduced the sport to a whole new group of fans.
