Formula 1 owner Liberty Media has announced the acquisition of MotoGP in a $4.2 billion deal.
Liberty, which has owned F1 since 2017, will take an 86 percent stake in the motorcycle racing series’ parent company, Dorna Sports, with current management retaining 14 percent.
First established in 1949, Moto GP is the highest class of motorcycle racing and has grown to include 22 races in 18 countries during the 2024 season.
The next race is the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on April 14.
Dorna also holds exclusive rights to the original MotoGP series Moto2 and Moto3 as well as MotoE, the Superbike World Championship and the FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship.
The deal, which is still subject to obtaining clearances and approvals from various competition law and foreign investment authorities, is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024 and will see Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta stay on. the controls.
“We are excited to expand our portfolio of premier live sports and entertainment assets with the acquisition of MotoGP,” said Greg Maffei, President and CEO of Liberty Media, during the ‘announcement.
“MotoGP is a global league with a loyal and enthusiastic fan base, exciting racing and a highly cash flow generating financial profile. Carmelo and his management team have built a great sporting spectacle that we can expand to a wider global audience.
“The business has significant potential and we intend to grow the sport for MotoGP fans, teams, commercial partners and our shareholders.”
Ezpeleta added: “This is the perfect next step in the evolution of MotoGP, and we are excited about what this step brings to Dorna, the MotoGP paddock and racing fans.
“We are proud of the global sport we have developed, and this transaction is a testament to the value of the sport today and its potential for growth.
“Liberty has an incredible track record in developing sports assets and we couldn’t ask for a better partner to expand the MotoGP fan base across the world.”
(Karim Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images)