Welcome to the Exciting World of MotoGP: Liberty Media’s Acquisition of Dorna Sports
The world of MotoGP is about to get a whole lot more exciting, thanks to a blockbuster deal that has the financial markets buzzing. Liberty Media, the owner of Kosport Magazine, has acquired Dorna Sports from Bridgepoint Capital for a whopping €4.2 billion. This is a huge leap from the €500 million price tag it had in 2006 when Bridgepoint bought it from CVC, who was forced to sell it by the European Commission at the time when they also owned F1.
Since then, Dorna has seen a period of growth and success, with fierce rivalries between top riders like Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, and Jorge Lorenzo captivating fans. It weathered the financial crash of 2008 and implemented new rules in 2012 to boost grid numbers. This led to the return of manufacturers in 2016 and some of the most thrilling racing in the championship’s history.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dorna’s financial measures ensured the survival of the MotoGP paddock. And it has continued to expand its reach, although interest has waned in recent years.
Last year, Bridgepoint made a statement by appointing former NBA chief Dan Rossomondo as CCO at Dorna. And just before the start of the 2024 season, an American team, Trackhouse Racing, announced its entry into the championship, along with a new US TV deal.
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