Just a week after getting the green light from the European Commission, Liberty Media has wrapped up its takeover of MotoGP, purchasing an 84% stake in Dorna for a hefty €4.3 billion. The remaining 16% stays in the hands of Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna’s long-standing CEO, and Enrique Aldama, the company’s COO.
This marks one of the biggest shake-ups in the world of sports entertainment in recent times. If Liberty Media rings a bell, it’s because they also own Formula 1, having bought the global racing series back in 2017 for $8 billion. With MotoGP now under its umbrella, Liberty controls the two most-watched motorsports on the planet.
So what’s the plan here? Just like with F1, Liberty is looking to expand MotoGP’s global footprint, with a sharp focus on markets where Dorna didn’t quite make the breakthrough — particularly North America. The U.S. has long been seen as MotoGP’s untapped goldmine, and Liberty seems determined to finally crack it.
Importantly, it’s not a total regime change. Ezpeleta stays on as CEO, while Aldama continues as COO, supported by Carlos Ezpeleta (handling the sporting side) and Dan Rossomondo (who heads up the commercial front). This leadership continuity should help keep the sport grounded as it moves into a more aggressive expansion phase.
To steer this new direction, Liberty has formed a new working group, including familiar names from the F1 world — Chase Carey and Sean Bratches. Carey played a big role in transforming F1 with moves like the budget cap and the revamped Concorde Agreement. Their experience will likely be vital in reshaping MotoGP’s commercial strategy.
According to Autosport, the first big board meeting under this new setup is happening next Monday in Madrid. The initial focus? Boosting MotoGP’s commercial appeal — think better TV deals, stronger ticket sales, bigger brand partnerships, and smarter promotion.
At the heart of it all is one clear goal: make MotoGP as big as it truly deserves to be, especially in the U.S. It’s an ambitious task, but if Liberty can pull off for MotoGP what it did for F1, fans around the world could be in for an exciting new era.
