Marco Bezzecchi
Liberty Media have ruffled a few feathers of beloved MotoGP fans since they purchased the category last year, but Mick Doohan can only see the US-based conglomerate’s presence in the sport as a positive.
The most recent move that has MotoGP enthusiasts in dismay is the decision to move the Australian Grand Prix away from its long-time home at Phillip Island to a brand-new street circuit in Adelaide.
Former Grand Prix motorcycle racer Keith Huewen called the decision ‘tragic’, and MotoGP fans have joined him in expressing their devastation over the premier class moving on from one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar.
However, while pure MotoGP fans aren’t too enamoured with Liberty Media’s alleged plans for the future of the sport, it is largely understood that the American media conglomerate will grow the sport in a similar fashion to the way that F1 has enjoyed record profits in recent years.
In that sense, premier class legend Mick Doohan is all for them.
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Is MotoGP selling its soul by leaving Phillip Island?
Mick Doohan hopes that Liberty Media’s acquisition of MotoGP will see the sport return to its ‘glory days’
During an appearance on the Racing Back podcast with MotoGP icons Nick Harris and Julian Ryder, the five-time world champion was asked for his thoughts on the future of the premier class with Liberty Media now at the wheel of the series.
Doohan said, “Look, who knows? They’ve done great things with Formula 1, that’s for sure.
“So, if we can get a little bit of that into motorcycling, get a revival back to the old glory days, even though the sport’s doing quite well.
“But to try and get more eyes on bikes, I think that can’t be a bad thing, especially to try and recover some of the lost ground over the decades from the US market and then, likewise, in the UK.
“It’d be nice to bring MotoGP back to being a household name in the UK, wouldn’t it?”
While they may not be the most popular amongst purists, the figures surrounding Liberty Media’s revival of Formula 1 can’t be understated.
Since acquiring the championship in 2017, the value of F1 has risen by over 350%, with revenue and team valuations also experiencing mass growth.
It has also seen the sport take advantage of key markets, such as the United States, with global TV audiences rising from around 352 million in 2017 to 1.6 billion during the 2024 season.
What MotoGP rule would you like to see Liberty Media change?
Liberty Media have been tipped to make a lot more changes to MotoGP following Australian GP switch
Despite the outrage that has come with Phillip Island’s fall off the premier class calendar, it is expected to be the first of many that MotoGP’s new owners make as they continue to make their mark on the sport.
A lot of F1-style rule changes have been touted, with KTM also lobbying Liberty Media to introduce a cost cap in order to level the playing field between the factories with endless finances compared to those who don’t have that luxury.
One proposal that we could see being put into place this season is the introduction of an F1-style team radio.
A few riders on the grid have already tested the new feature, with Marc Marquez highlighting that it isn’t something that is necessary for motorcycle racing.
Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia was one of the few riders to test having a radio in his ear and noted how an adaptation period will be needed to get used to it.
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