Ahead of the track action at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, a special Press Conference saw Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta join Chief Commercial Officer Dan Rossomondo and Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta to talk about the recent announcement that Liberty Media is to acquire MotoGP. Liberty, which bought F1’s commercial rights in 2016, will acquire an 86% stake in Dorna Sports from Bridgepoint and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Dorna management will retain the other 14%. The transaction ‘reflects an enterprise value to MotoGP of €4.2 billion’ and is expected to be completed by the end of this year, ‘subject to clearance and approval from foreign investment and competition law authorities in various jurisdictions’. Here are some excerpts from the event.
Carmelo Ezpeleta spoke first, outlining the information “Last week, we made a very special announcement that Liberty Media owns 86% of Dorna. The agreement will be completed by the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval, during which we will continue with our current shareholder structure. Even after the agreement, Dorna will continue to operate as an independent company based in Spain and with our current management.
” We are very excited about our agreement and being able to share it with the world. We are very excited to be working with Liberty Media once it is complete; this would be the perfect step in the evolution of MotoGP, as Liberty Media has a great track record in developing sporting success. I want to thank the paddock, the FIM, the manufacturers, the teams and the riders. I am thrilled and excited to welcome more fans every day so we can share all the excitement behind this sport together.”
Here are some more questions asked at the event.
Will we have more races outside Europe?
Carmelo Ezpeleta: “Until 2026 we will continue with some changes. We can’t do more than 22 races, and if we have to open more markets, then there will be more races outside Europe, but they won’t come until 2027.”
What changes can fans expect?
Dan Rossomondo: “I’m very aware of our die-hard fans and how special they think our sport is, and I tend to go to Reddit and Twitter where I see that people don’t want a lot of changes to our sport, but those same fans do can share this sport with other people, and I think that’s what we’re going to focus on, and we’ve focused on that.
” We have done a lot over the last year and the years before. I’m about how to make this spectacle go beyond motorsport and become more culturally relevant, so it’s about announcing that and shouting it from the rooftops.”
Carlos Ezpeleta: “As we always say, the deal will not be completed before the end of 2024. I think as we say and as fans that we support this sport, fans will only have things to look forward to and more people to share it with their fandom. Liberty doesn’t think the sport needs fixing, and we agree with that.
” We think we have a great sport that we have built together with all the stakeholders in the paddock. I think we will work together and much more. one of the things we’ve initiated in the last few seasons, such as major changes to our format, trying to increase the visibility and awareness of our sport globally while continuing to satisfy our fans and traditional markets. , I don’t think there will be many major changes that will affect our fans at this time.”
What does Liberty see in MotoGP?
And Rossomondo: “They have seen the huge potential that this sport has, and I think that is a very important thing. They are very happy with the business, and they think they can add to it once this deal is approved. The really important part is how they feel the sport evokes emotions that people have in their lives: it’s exciting, it inspires courage, and the riders are incredibly athletic.
” They saw the same potential I saw when I started freshman year. then, so for me this is a big part of this because they see this is an incredible opportunity.”
