MotoGP now finds itself under the same corporate roof as its four-wheeled counterpart, following a €4.2 billion takeover of Dorna Sports by Liberty Media.
The international sports management group, headquartered in Spain, has now given up its role as MotoGP’s commercial and television rights holder, which it has held since 1991.
The acquisition, greenlit by the European Commission in June, now positions the American media group as a majority stakeholder of Dorna with 84% ownership, leaving 16% with existing management.
Long-time Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, who first joined as director in 1991, before transitioning into his leadership role in 1994, will remain as CEO alongside his management team, which includes COO and CFO Enrique Aldama.
Undoubtedly, the injection of Chase Carey and Sean Bratches from Liberty Media’s board and executive team will help steer Dorna further into the limelight, just as they’ve done so with Formula 1.
The acquisition gives Liberty control over not just MotoGP’s premier class, but an entire ecosystem of motorcycle racing previously under Dorna’s umbrella, including Moto2, Moto3, MotoE, and the World Superbike Championship.
Since acquiring F1 in 2017, Liberty has transformed the championship into a global entertainment powerhouse, expanding far beyond traditional motorsport audiences with the introduction of the popular series Drive to Survive.
Liberty Media now positions itself to replicate its success with MotoGP, which historically had struggled to expand beyond the chokehold of the European market and its long-time passionate followers.
