Marco Bezzecchi
Liberty Media’s proposed takeover of MotoGP is set to be approved by the European Union, it has emerged this week. It’s potentially one of the biggest moments in the history of Grand Prix racing.
Liberty announced last year that they had agreed a £3bn deal to purchase 86% of MotoGP from existing rights holders Dorna. However, the European Commission launched an investigation amid concerns about a monopoly.
The American conglomerate already oversee Formula 1, but a report from Reuters says the deal will still go through. The approval will be unconditional, so there won’t be any enforced changes to the terms.
The EU don’t have make a formal decision until 1 July, but it looks as if Liberty can start ramping up their plans. They have revolutionised F1 since taking control in 2017 and may look to apply a similar formula to MotoGP.
Lewis Hamilton says Liberty Media taught F1 how to put on a show
The popularity of F1 has grown enormously under Liberty’s stewardship, which has made it a more lucrative venture for the teams. Even the smallest squads on the grid are valued around the £1bn mark.
While there’s naturally a balance to be struck when it comes to preserving traditions, Liberty have marketed the sport to great effect. Above all, Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary, which first aired in 2019, has pulled in a vast new audience.
The calendar has swelled to 24 races, and interest is so great that F1 will start rotating venues from 2026. The US has naturally been a major focal point, with Miami and Las Vegas joining Austin in the schedule.
Speaking in 2022, Lewis Hamilton, the sport’s most successful driver, commended Liberty for their showmanship. This should be music to the ears of MotoGP fans.
“I would say that us Europeans are good… we’re good at sports but there are things that we’ve learned, I would say, with the partnership with Liberty and I think the sport is growing as a whole in terms of how we put on the show,” he said.
Liberty Media talks may have stopped Lewis Hamilton buying Gresini MotoGP team
MotoGP may never reach the same level as F1 – it’s starting from a much lower base – but a surge in investment, viewership and race attendance should only be good news. And Liberty have proven that they can achieve those goals.
Prospective new entrants will surely welcome this week’s developments. BMW’s 2027 MotoGP move is back on the agenda, and that may be no coincidence.
Last year, Hamilton reportedly held talks to buy Gresini. The seven-time F1 champion is a fan of the sport, but nothing came of the negotiations.
Michael Laverty suspects that Gresini were waiting for Liberty to complete their takeover before they considered a sale. They anticipate that they can strike a much better deal once the new era is underway.
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