A rumour from the past few months has been proved true: MotoGP has been sold! And there’s a Canadian tie-in.
It’s not actually MotoGP that was sold. Or maybe, it’s not just MotoGP. Broadcaster Dorna is actually the company that’s been sold, with 86 percent of the company going to Liberty Sports. That’s right—the same company that owns Formula One is now going to own global motorcycle roadracing (including not just MotoGP, but also its feeder series and World Superbike).
For a long time, Ontario’s teachers’ pension fund owned a massive chunk of Dorna, and there had been chatter about the teachers selling that chunk for a while now. On April 1, which has to be the worst day of the year to announce news except for maybe December 25, the word came out that the teachers had indeed sold, and Liberty was the buyer.
No doubt the move to Liberty ownership will change some things with the racing series, but A) Dorna is supposed to remain its own division and under its own supervision and B) the deal may not go through, if EU regulators object. Apparently, the anti-monopoly people in government are already sniffing around the deal.
Expect a sale to go through in coming months, though; they’ll get it figured out. For more info, see Liberty’s press release below:
Liberty Media announces acquisition of MotoGP
Acquisition of world’s leading motorcycle racing championship expands Liberty Media’s portfolio of high-quality global sports assets
Liberty Media Corporation has announced an agreement to acquire MotoGP™. MotoGP™ is the pinnacle of two wheels, with 22 of the fastest riders competing on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks, reaching top speeds above 360 kilometers per hour/223 miles per hour. From the first season in 1949 that staged six rounds across Europe, the sport has grown to comprise more than 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world.
This new agreement will see Dorna Sports S.L., the exclusive commercial and television rights holder of MotoGP™, remain an independently run company attributed to Liberty Media’s Formula One Group tracking stock. Carmelo Ezpeleta, who has been CEO since 1994, will remain in his position and continue to run the business with his management team. The business will remain based in Madrid.
Dorna also holds exclusive rights to other motorcycle racing series, including MotoGP™ feeder series Moto2™ and Moto3™, the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the new FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.
Liberty Media will acquire approximately 86% of Dorna, with Dorna management retaining approximately 14% of their equity in the business. The transaction reflects an enterprise value for Dorna/MotoGP™ of €4.2 billion and an equity value of €3.5 billion, with MotoGP’s™ existing debt balance expected to remain in place after close.
“We are thrilled to expand our portfolio of leading live sports and entertainment assets with the acquisition of MotoGP,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media President and CEO. “MotoGP is a global league with a loyal, enthusiastic fan base, captivating racing and a highly cash flow generative 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 upside, and we intend to grow the sport for MotoGP fans, teams, commercial partners and our shareholders.”
“This is the perfect next step in the evolution of MotoGP, and we are excited for what this milestone brings to Dorna, the MotoGP paddock and racing fans,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna. “We are proud of the global sport we’ve grown, and this transaction is a testament to the value of the sport today and its growth potential. Liberty has an incredible track record in developing sports assets and we could not wish for a better partner to expand MotoGP’s fanbase around the world.”
The acquisition is expected to be completed by year-end 2024 and is subject to the receipt of clearances and approvals by competition and foreign investment law authorities in various jurisdictions.
I wonder whether this will result in lowered prices for WorldSBK and MotoGP streaming subscriptions. F1TV is quite affordable. Both of the Dorna services have been quite expensive. I would welcome lowered fees.
Trane – do you have Rev Tv in your area? Moto GP and WSBK are part of their offerings. You’re right, getting the service from Dorna was crazy expensive.
I’m in Tokyo, so no REV TV for me.
I have Rev TV and it does cover MotoGP and Superbike series. Wonder if that will remain available if this deal goes through. I understand that F1 event tickets are significantly higher than MotoGP.