Liberty Media are hoping to complete their takeover of MotoGP before the end of the year.
The American mass media company announced earlier in the year their intentions of acquiring Dorna Sports, who have owned MotoGP since 1992.
Liberty is looking to replicate the success they have had with Formula 1, with its interest and global audience skyrocketing in recent years.
The proposed takeover was met with criticism over Liberty potentially creating a monopoly by owning both F1 and MotoGP. As such, the deal needs to be approved by the European Commission, which is expected to be granted by the end of the year.
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei says MotoGP will not have street tracks under their ownership
Liberty’s ownership of MotoGP would be a golden opportunity for the pinnacle of motorcycle racing to expand its global audience, with rumours that some races could be put on an F1 weekend.
A significant factor in Liberty’s success with F1 is their expansion into the American market. The championship now has three Grand Prix in the nation – Miami, Austin and Las Vegas – and the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive has propelled the sport’s interest in the US to record heights.
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MotoGP have a chance to replicate this, as they currently race at the Circuit of the Americas and have an American team in Trackhouse Racing, who run with Aprilla bikes.
F1 has also seen in increase in street circuits joining the calendar, the most recent being the Las Vegas course which runs on the famous Vegas strip. More streets circuits are being planned, with a course in Madrid replacing the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona in 2026.
While these street races have proved successful for Liberty with F1, their departing CEO Greg Maffei revealed that MotoGP will not have these races under their ownership, as reported on X by AP journalist Jenna Fryer.
This is not really surprising, given the serious danger this would present for riders due to the narrowness of the tracks and lack of run-off areas in the event of a crash.
Jorge Martin looks set to seal the 2024 title at Catalunya
As Liberty works on finalising their deal to takeover MotoGP, the 2024 championship comes to a close this weekend at Catalunya.
The event had been scheduled to take place in Valencia, but the sport had to relocate to Catalunya due to the tragic flooding in the region. Formula E had to relocate their pre-season testing to the Jarama Circuit in Madrid having also planned to run in Valencia.
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Ducati riders Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia are battling for the title, with the former having a 24-point lead heading into the race.
Martin looks almost certain to win the championship with Bagnaia needing a miracle to catch his rival. But with Catalunya being a circuit where mistakes are common and with the weight of a nation of his back, the Spaniard will be under some pressure to get over the line.
The 26-year-old will leave Ducati for Aprilla in 2025 and will be looking to take the number one with him to his new team. Martin will take Aleix Espargaro’s bike in a ‘dream’ handover as the 35-year-old retires from MotoGP.