Marco Bezzecchi
Liberty Media now appears ready to offer the MotoGP teams the revenue share plan they want, but wants the riders to adopt the same role that it enjoys with F1 drivers.
MotoGP teams are currently locked in talks with Liberty Media over the championship’s new commercial agreement for the next five-year cycle. The series does not currently have a deal with any of the five constructors (Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, KTM and Yamaha) beyond this year.
The time it is taking the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (MGP Group, formerly Dorna Sports) to negotiate a deal with the teams is also delaying them confirming any rider moves for the 2027 season. So far, the teams have remained unified in their approach to the talks.
It is said that MotoGP teams have agreed not to announce their riders for 2027 until there is a new commercial deal in place. Currently, only Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi, LCR riders Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira, and Pramac racer Toprak Razgatlioglu are confirmed for next year.
MotoGP will keep the controversial tyre pressure monitoring system for the 2027 season – Should teams have pushed for it to be dropped?
Liberty is warming to giving the teams a percentage of MotoGP’s revenues to secure a new commercial agreement
Aprilia, KTM and Yamaha did not attend MotoGP’s special event at Jerez as a clear gesture of the three constructors’ opposition to Liberty’s recent offers, as well. But progress might now be forthcoming, as Gazzetta dello Sport claims Liberty chiefs are easing in their stance.
READ MORE: Carlos Ezpeleta feels teams are doing something unusual with 2027 signings
It is understood that Liberty now ‘appears ready’ to accept the MotoGP teams’ request for a revenue share system similar to the one that Liberty offers the Formula 1 teams. Liberty had wanted to keep MotoGP on a ‘fixed share’ deal, but is open to a percentage of the revenues.
However, Liberty bosses want MotoGP riders to mimic their F1 driver counterparts in return for giving the constructors a bigger part of the championship’s commercial revenues. Liberty wants riders to commit more of their time for its commercial events to help the series grow.
Liberty believes it is crucial that MotoGP riders agree to serve as brand ambassadors, like F1 drivers do in the other championship that it owns. Its idea is that riders will help to increase MotoGP’s visibility and thus revenues, which will help the championship, riders and teams.
How willing the MotoGP riders are to honouring Liberty’s requests remains to be seen. Also, it remains to be seen what impact the constructors’ accepting Liberty’s requests to land the revenue share they want has on the contracts that many are said to have signed with riders.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
