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Street Fighter: MotoGP Edition?! Liberty Media’s Wild World Tour

Liberty Media—the masterminds who turned Formula 1 into a global spectacle of champagne sprays, high drama, and Drive to Survive soundbites—have swooped in to buy MotoGP, and the whispers from the paddock are louder than a Ducati Desmosedici at full tilt!

The acquisition, finalized with Liberty Media taking an 84% stake in Dorna Sports in a deal valued at €4.2 billion (or about $4.9 billion), is already shaking things up.

🏍️ Carmelo’s Crazed Calendar: From Circuits to City Streets

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta was spotted hanging out in the glitz and neon glow of the Las Vegas F1 street circuit, which is now one of the schedule’s highest-profile events, attracting fans willing to drop tens of thousands of dollars on those exclusive hospitality packages!

When asked if MotoGP might join the street party, Ezpeleta dropped a bomb:

“We have no problem racing on urban circuits; the only thing we need to have are run-off areas. Here, it is difficult to have escape areas, but there are some urban Formula 1 tracks that we could use.”

Imagine 300+ horsepower bikes threading the needle where barriers are inches away! While safety (read: run-off areas and not just a stack of air-fences) is the sticking point, the thought of MotoGP carving up the asphalt of tracks like Baku, Jeddah, or even Miami is pure, terrifying, high-octane fun!

Hamilton vs. Verstappen: The Team Ownership Turf War

The F1-to-MotoGP crossover isn’t just about the tracks; it’s about the cash! Seeing the gold rush Liberty Media initiated in F1, two of its biggest stars are looking to get in on the two-wheeled action.

  • Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who between them boast a staggering 11 World Championships (7 for Hamilton, 4 for Verstappen), are reportedly eyeing the acquisition of an independent (satellite) MotoGP team.
  • Sky Italia even reported that Hamilton previously made a bid of just under €10 million (about $11.7 million) for Gresini Racing in 2024.
  • Verstappen’s team, meanwhile, has reportedly approached the satellite teams of Honda (LCR) and Aprilia (Trackhouse Racing).
  • Former Haas F1 boss, Guenther Steiner, has already leaped across, acquiring the Tech3 outfit in a deal reportedly worth just under €20 million (about $23.5 million).
  • The average MotoGP team is currently reported to be worth between €25 million (approx. $29.3 million) and €30 million (approx. $35.2 million)!

The two F1 titans could become two-wheeled team bosses, turning their on-track rivalry into a paddock power struggle! Verstappen is said to favor the Valentino Rossi approach—a hands-off owner—while Hamilton has been more open about his interest in being part of the growth.

Cost Cap Chaos & The Mega-Weekend Mashup

The F1 inspiration is infecting the rulebook, too.

  • A cost cap is being pushed by manufacturers like KTM—much to the reported dismay of giants like Honda—to level the playing field, a move right out of the F1 playbook.
  • KTM chief Pit Beirer is also championing a ‘mega’ race weekend that would see F1 and MotoGP racing at the same venue on the same weekend. Talk about a double dose of motorsport adrenaline!

Liberty Media’s plan is simple: apply the storytelling, marketing, and global expansion magic that grew F1’s U.S. audience from a single race to a trio (COTA, Miami, Las Vegas) to a sport already praised for its “unbelievable product” and captivating racing.

Which F1 street circuit do you think would be the most insane (and perhaps just safe enough) for MotoGP to race on: Monaco, Baku, or Jeddah?

Source

Liberty Media Acquisition Details:

F1-Inspired Changes & Street Circuits:

Hamilton & Verstappen Team Interest:

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