Liberty Media became the owner of Formula 1 in 2016. Under the leadership of the American company, Formula 1 has become even more global and richer. This year a record number of 24 grands prix are on the calendar, although this also causes a lot of resistance from drivers and racing fans.
The American company owns 86 percent of the shares and is therefore the owner of both Formula 1 and MotoGP. The acquisition amounts to more than $4 billion. Dorna will retain 14 percent of the shares, while director Carmelo Ezpeleta will also remain.
“This is the perfect step in the evolution of MotoGP and we are excited about what it brings to racing fans. We are proud of the global sport we have grown and this acquisition is a testament to the sport’s value and growth potential. Liberty Media has an incredible track record in developing the sport and we couldn’t ask for a better partner to grow MotoGP’s global fan base,” said Ezpeleta.
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Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media, also reacts enthusiastically to the acquisition. “We are very pleased to be expanding our assets of leading live sports and entertainment with the acquisition of MotoGP. “It is a global competition with a loyal and enthusiastic fan base, exciting races and a financial profile that generates a lot of cash flow,” says Maffei. “Ezpeleta and his management team have built an incredible spectacle and we can extend that to a wider global audience. We intend to grow the sport for MotoGP fans, teams, commercial partners and our shareholders.”
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