Liberty Media sniffing around MotoGP?

[mangocrazy]

So it would seem, if this report on Crash.net is correct. I really hope it isnt so; Liberty Media are interested in one thing only and that's generating cash. They care little for the racing or the people involved - to them it's a cash cow.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10447 ... lder-dorna

[Yorick]

I saw that earlier. Ezpeleta won't sell out.

[Tricky]

I saw that earlier. Ezpeleta won't sell out.

I think you're very naive if you truly believe that- of course he will.
And although he has a significant personal financial stake in Dorna he is not the majority shareholder so it won't be his decision.
I predict that it will definitely happen in the not too distant future, it's only a matter of $$$

And if it isn't Liberty ( I think there is a chance that might get blocked or just not be economically viable for them due to their F1 ownership) , it will be the Saudi PIF.

[mangocrazy]

The thing that differentiates MotoGP from F1 is that all the MotoGP teams are funded and controlled by road bike manufacturers. That's not the case for most of F1. I would hope that the manufacturers and riders are getting their heads together to present a united front to any potential takeover of the commercial rights.

Without the manufacturers and the riders there is no show and the kind of ridiculous expansion of number of races seen in F1 needs to be stopped in its tracks for MotoGP. It's great for punters like us to have MotoGP action for 10 months of the year but it must be ball-breaking for the teams and riders involved.

[Yorick]

The thing that differentiates MotoGP from F1 is that all the MotoGP teams are funded and controlled by road bike manufacturers. That's not the case for most of F1. I would hope that the manufacturers and riders are getting their heads together to present a united front to any potential takeover of the commercial rights.

Without the manufacturers and the riders there is no show and the kind of ridiculous expansion of number of races seen in F1 needs to be stopped in its tracks for MotoGP. It's great for punters like us to have MotoGP action for 10 months of the year but it must be ball-breaking for the teams and riders involved.

If the bike manufacturers aren't happy, they'll set up their own show. They have the money and the clout.

[Tricky]

The thing that differentiates MotoGP from F1 is that all the MotoGP teams are funded and controlled by road bike manufacturers. That's not the case for most of F1. I would hope that the manufacturers and riders are getting their heads together to present a united front to any potential takeover of the commercial rights.

True, but I'm not convinced that really matters that much when it comes down to it- if it is a marketable spectacle ( or can be made into one ) that money can be made from, then it's attractive to the likes of Liberty.
And as seen with Soccer and Golf, if there is interest from Middle Eastern state governments then it doesn't even have to be seen as ever needing to turn a financial profit....

Without the manufacturers and the riders there is no show and the kind of ridiculous expansion of number of races seen in F1 needs to be stopped in its tracks for MotoGP. It's great for punters like us to have MotoGP action for 10 months of the year but it must be ball-breaking for the teams and riders involved.

There will always be available manufacturers and riders- as I previously said, my view is that like so many things of our age, it will simply come down to $$$

[mangocrazy]

I'm not doubting the power of the mighty $$$ when it comes to concluding deals, but Liberty Media (or whoever it might be) will be facing a very different animal when comparing F1 with MotoGP. Having said that, I very much doubt that the manufacturers will want to get their hands dirty dealing with circuits and TV rights etc., so maybe they will just take the path of least resistance.

[ChrisW]

According to Simon Patterson, who's reliable a chunk of the time:

"No, F1 owners Liberty Media aren't in talks to buy Dorna. Everything else aside, they wouldn't be allowed to own both by the EU Competition Directorate. When previous Dorna owners CVC bought a big chunk of F1 in 2006, they were forced to sell their ownership of MotoGP."

Panic over, stand down

[Cousin Jack]

And once upon a time Europe was THE place in F1 and MotoGP.
It is no longer true for F1, and won't be for MotoGP soon. They will just tell the EU to do one.

[Yorick]

And once upon a time Europe was THE place in F1 and MotoGP.
It is no longer true for F1, and won't be for MotoGP soon. They will just tell the EU to do one.

At the moment, 12 of 21 are in Europe.

[Mr. Dazzle]

And once upon a time Europe was THE place in F1 and MotoGP.
It is no longer true for F1, and won't be for MotoGP soon. They will just tell the EU to do one.

Well it is a world championship to be fair

[Yorick]

4 billion

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10450 ... buy-motogp

[Skub]

Ongoing discussions coming to an end?
https://bikesportnews.com/motogp/f1-own ... pD7K_RuKjZ

[irie]

https://news.sky.com/story/formula-one- ... p-13105256

The owner of Formula One (F1) motor racing will unveil a £3.5bn takeover of MotoGP’s parent company early this week.

Sky News has learnt that Greg Maffei, the president and chief executive of Liberty Media Corporation, is expected to announce the motorsport industry's most significant corporate deal for years during a trip to Madrid as early as Monday.

[Cousin Jack]

https://news.sky.com/story/formula-one- ... p-13105256

The owner of Formula One (F1) motor racing will unveil a £3.5bn takeover of MotoGP’s parent company early this week.

Sky News has learnt that Greg Maffei, the president and chief executive of Liberty Media Corporation, is expected to announce the motorsport industry's most significant corporate deal for years during a trip to Madrid as early as Monday.

RIP MotoGP. It will take years, but Liberty will kill it whilst making a fortune.

[irie]

https://news.sky.com/story/formula-one- ... p-13105256

The owner of Formula One (F1) motor racing will unveil a £3.5bn takeover of MotoGP’s parent company early this week.

Sky News has learnt that Greg Maffei, the president and chief executive of Liberty Media Corporation, is expected to announce the motorsport industry's most significant corporate deal for years during a trip to Madrid as early as Monday.

RIP MotoGP. It will take years, but Liberty will kill it whilst making a fortune.

Best thing would be for the European manufacturers (ie Ducati, KTM, Aprilia) to walk away some time in the future and start a new series.

[Yorick]

https://news.sky.com/story/formula-one- ... p-13105256

The owner of Formula One (F1) motor racing will unveil a £3.5bn takeover of MotoGP’s parent company early this week.

Sky News has learnt that Greg Maffei, the president and chief executive of Liberty Media Corporation, is expected to announce the motorsport industry's most significant corporate deal for years during a trip to Madrid as early as Monday.

RIP MotoGP. It will take years, but Liberty will kill it whilst making a fortune.

The manufacturers will walk away if it turns shite and set up their own series.

[mangocrazy]

https://news.sky.com/story/formula-one- ... p-13105256

The owner of Formula One (F1) motor racing will unveil a £3.5bn takeover of MotoGP’s parent company early this week.

Sky News has learnt that Greg Maffei, the president and chief executive of Liberty Media Corporation, is expected to announce the motorsport industry's most significant corporate deal for years during a trip to Madrid as early as Monday.

RIP MotoGP. It will take years, but Liberty will kill it whilst making a fortune.

They'll follow the same model that they did with F1 - push the number of races to bursting point. There is the possibility that the EU will block the acquisition as being monopolistic (which it is), and with the major power dynamic within MotoGP now residing with European teams, that could get interesting.

[Yorick]

Now official.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/10462 ... ion-motogp

[Sadlonelygit]

Is this the greatest April fools gag ever, or just an unfortunate day to announce it?