Rumours swirl over Formula 1 acquiring MotoGP rights
MotoGP boss says, “We have always been for sale”Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta hasn’t refuted the rising speculation that the owner of Formula 1, Liberty Media, is in talks to purchase the commercial rights to the MotoGP World Championship.
Speaking to Spanish sports website Marca overnight about the rumours, the 78-year-old CEO and shareholder of Dorna, stated: “We have always been for sale, from day one.
“The majority shareholders of Dorna are investment funds, which buy things to sell them … there are always approaches,” he said. “For now, that’s it. We’re the same as we always were.”
Liberty Media acquired the rights to Formula 1 from Bernie Ecclestone in 2017 and, according to Forbes, is now the most valuable sports empire on the planet, valued at $18.2 billion.
Based in Colorado in the United States, Liberty owns interests in a broad range of media, communications and entertainment businesses.
It’s unknown whether the recent appointment of former NBA boss Dan Rossomondo as MotoGP’s Chief Commercial Officer or the series granting US-based Trackhouse Racing two slots on the 2024 grid has influenced the alleged interest in taking over the premier motorcycle racing world championship.
According to Ezpeleta, around 20 per cent of Dorna shares are currently owned by its workers – of which Ezpeleta himself has the majority – with 39 per cent is owned by Bridgepoint Capital, and 38 per cent by a Canadian public fund called Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board.
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