It’s official – Liberty Media, the American powerhouse that owns Formula 1, has been given the green light to take over MotoGP. The European Commission just approved the acquisition without any conditions, putting to rest months of speculation and investigations.
So, what’s the deal? Liberty Media is set to acquire a hefty 84% stake in MotoGP from Dorna Sports, the Spanish company that’s run the championship for decades. Dorna will hold onto the remaining 16%, and the whole thing values MotoGP at a cool €4.3 billion (around $5 billion).
The deal was first announced back in April 2024, but the EU wasn’t going to let it slide without a close look. Their main concern? That Liberty’s ownership of both F1 and MotoGP might give it too much power when it comes to selling broadcast rights in Europe – possibly leading to higher prices for fans. But after digging deep, the Commission concluded that F1 and MotoGP aren’t direct competitors in the broadcasting world, and there’s no real threat to market competition.
They also looked into Liberty’s links to Liberty Global – another media giant operating in parts of Europe – and found no solid evidence that John Malone (Liberty Media’s top shareholder) could unfairly sway both companies.
Now that the final hurdle’s cleared, the acquisition is set to be completed by July 3, 2025. And with that, a new era begins for MotoGP.
Derek Chang, Liberty Media’s CEO, couldn’t hide his excitement. “MotoGP is a premium sport with a passionate fanbase and huge potential. We can’t wait to take it to the next level,” he said in a statement.
And if their Formula 1 playbook is anything to go by, big things are coming. Since Liberty took over F1 in 2017, the sport’s seen a major revival – especially in the U.S. With flashy new races, a booming social media presence, and the wildly successful Drive to Survive series on Netflix, F1 now speaks to a younger, broader global audience.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, MotoGP’s long-standing CEO, will stay at the helm along with his team. He called Liberty “the best possible partner” and said he’s looking forward to growing the sport, bringing in new fans, and unlocking more commercial value.
The two sides are already planning their next steps. A joint working group is set to start in July, kicking off in Madrid (where Dorna is based). Their mission? Expand MotoGP’s global footprint, attract new sponsors, and boost viewership – especially in markets like the U.S., where there’s still plenty of room to grow.
Just like F1, MotoGP is seen as an incredible product that hasn’t yet hit its peak potential. With Liberty Media now in charge, expect to see some bold moves to bring the thrill of motorcycle racing to more screens, more fans, and more countries than ever before.
Buckle up – MotoGP’s about to get a serious turbo boost.
