Welcome to the Future: Liberty Media Acquires MotoGP
It’s official – American media giant Liberty Media has acquired 86% ownership in MotoGP in a deal worth €4.2 billion. This news has sent shockwaves through the motorsports world, with many wondering what this means for the future of the sport.
But before we jump to conclusions, let’s take a closer look at what this acquisition really means for MotoGP and its fans.
The Deal and Its Implications
The deal, set to be completed by the end of 2024, will see Liberty Media hold ownership of two of the biggest motorsports championships in the world - Formula 1 and MotoGP. However, it’s important to note that MotoGP will continue to be independently run by Dorna, the current owners.
Since buying F1 in 2016, Liberty Media has been able to bring the series to a much broader audience and boost its profits, with much of that success attributed to its expansion in America. This has led to fears among fans that MotoGP could undergo detrimental changes under the new ownership.
But during an investors call on Monday 1 April, Liberty Media’s president and CEO Greg Maffei reassured fans that the company has no plans to fundamentally change MotoGP.
The Future of MotoGP
When asked about Liberty’s plans to grow MotoGP while also making a profit, Maffei stated that these two goals go hand in hand. He pointed to the success of F1, where as the fanbase grew, so did the monetization opportunities for the series.
He also emphasized that MotoGP is an “unbelievable product” and that Liberty has no intention of changing the sport. In fact, their goal is to open it up to a broader audience and attract a wider range of commercial partners.
During the call, both representatives from Liberty and Dorna’s sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta repeatedly stressed that MotoGP cannot be staged on street circuits. This is in response to fan comments on social media that MotoGP could follow a similar route as F1, which has seen an increase in street courses on its calendar in recent years.
What This Means for Fans
While change can be scary, it’s important to remember that this acquisition could bring positive developments for MotoGP. With Liberty’s track record of expanding and improving F1, there is potential for similar growth and success in MotoGP.
So let’s embrace this new era of MotoGP and trust that Liberty Media has the best interests of the sport and its fans at heart. As Maffei said, “This is a great sport with a great fanbase that has unbelievable competition and unbelievable excitement.” Let’s keep it that way.
Kosport Magazine’s Take
As the owner and author of this article, Kosport Magazine is excited to see what the future holds for MotoGP under Liberty Media’s ownership. We believe that this acquisition has the potential to bring even more excitement and growth to the sport, and we can’t wait to see it unfold.
