Last week, information broke that Formula One proprietor Liberty Media was reportedly deep into acquisition talks to carry MotoGP rights-holder Dorna into the fold. Now, only a few days later, Liberty Media has introduced that it has acquired an 86% stake for $4.5 billion, giving controlling curiosity within the sequence.

According to Liberty Media’s Greg Maffei, the group’s President and CEO, “We are thrilled to expand our portfolio of leading live sports and entertainment assets with the acquisition of MotoGP. MotoGP is a global league with a loyal, enthusiastic fan base, captivating racing and a highly cash flow generative financial profile.”

He added, “Carmelo and his management team have built a great sporting spectacle that we can expand to a wider global audience. The business has significant upside, and we intend to grow the sport for MotoGP fans, teams, commercial partners and our shareholders.”

MotoGP’s present administration will retain 14%. 

Although MotoGP is each the highest degree of worldwide motorbike racing and undoubtedly the shiniest gem in Dorna’s crown, it is also value noting that the deal will see Liberty Media take management of all of these different motorbike racing sequence, too, together with; MotoGP, World Superbike (WSBK), FIM Enel MotoE World Championship, FINetwork FIM JuniorGP, Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, R&G British Talent Cup, Northern Talent Cup, FIM MiniGP World Series, and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. 

So let’s get into who Liberty Media is and what this may maintain for the way forward for motorbike racing all over the world. 

Who Or What Is Liberty Media?

For these unfamiliar, Liberty Media owns quite a lot of different media, communications, and leisure pursuits moreover Formula One. A fast session of its present asset checklist, which is correct as of January 31, 2024, consists of the next holdings:

Liberty Global is presently chaired by billionaire John Malone, who as not too long ago as November 2023 spoke to the Hollywood Reporter in regards to the rising risk of huge tech firms accruing media pursuits (assume Amazon buying the rights to Thursday Night Football, for instance). 

Malone went on to opine that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was doing “a great job”, and THR famous at the moment that Malone can also be a shareholder in Warner Bros. Discovery.

As you could recall, Warner Bros. Discovery merged with HBO Max again in 2022, ultimately occurring to type the Max streaming service which additionally recently obtained exclusive live streaming rights for the MotoGP world championship in the US in 2024. It’s how I watch MotoGP, and it is how numerous different US-based followers will probably be having fun with the present season, as properly.

What About The European Commission’s Strong Antitrust Tendencies?

Both F1 and MotoGP have been right here earlier than. Back in 2006, personal fairness agency CVC Capital Partners briefly owned each top-level motorsport sequence. However, EU competitors regulators at the moment took a dim view of the matter and compelled the agency to promote MotoGP. Later, CVC could be the agency to promote F1 on to Liberty Media within the first place in 2017, in a deal value $8 billion on the time (which might be over $10 billion in 2024 cash).

That was 2006, although. This is 2024, and it is not clear how the scenario, regulators, or different environmental elements may need modified between then and now. Although it is not sports-related, we will say that it is clear EU regulators aren’t afraid to go after mega firms that it believes do not adjust to its present antitrust guidelines.

For additional proof, simply take a look at the continuing European Commission investigations into Apple, Meta, and Google.

Taking All Currently Known Factors Into Consideration, What Does RideApart Think?

Get a bunch of like-minded followers collectively in a single place, regardless of the circumstance, and they are going to have ideas starting from issues like “imagine a world where MotoGP is a support series for F1; doubleheaders, even” (Jonathon Klein) to “no one would be able to afford tickets” (Janaki Jitchotvisut) and “I think the fans would hate it” (Robbie Bacon). 

Executive Editor Jonathon Klein additionally had these ideas, “I’m conflicted. I’m a big Formula 1 fan and the way that Liberty Media, in conjunction with Netflix, has reinvigorated the sport has been nothing short of wild to witness. If the company can do that with MotoGP, I’m here for it. But at the same time, I’ve essentially been priced out of seeing most races as Liberty Media has imposed higher and higher ticket prices.”

He added, “I’m also concerned that the level of grift and corruption we’ve seen in recent years within Formula 1 in relation to championship winners and losers, where the sport goes to race, among other aspects within the paddock could spread to MotoGP. The influx of cash to a sport can go either way, but the current leadership of Liberty Media doesn’t seem to care, rather embraces, the grift that was always present in F1. I’d hate to see that come to MotoGP in the same way it came to F1. But I’d like to be optimistic and see greater things for a sport I love and more people to enjoy it.”

Now that the deal is completed, how do you count on it to have an effect on you as a racing fan of any of the sequence concerned? Let us know within the feedback!