MotoGP joins Formula 1 in Liberty Media’s motorsport portfolio.
American mass media company Liberty Media has acquired Dorna Sports, the exclusive commercial rights holder of the MotoGP World Championship.
The European Commission announced its approval of the deal on July 23. Under the agreement, Liberty Media will acquire 84% of Dorna, with Dorna Management retaining 16% of the business.
Under EU merger control rules, companies planning large-scale mergers or acquisitions which exceed certain revenue thresholds must notify the European Commission, which then assesses whether the transaction could harm competition within the European Economic Area (EEA). The process begins with a Phase I review (lasting up to 25 working days), and if the Commission identifies possible concerns, it may initiate a Phase II in-depth investigation.
In the case of Liberty Media’s acquisition of Dorna Sports, the Commission opened a Phase II review in December 2024. Regulators examined whether Liberty’s existing ownership of Formula One could give it undue influence over the motorsports media rights market, potentially reducing competition in the sale and licensing of broadcasting rights.
The Commission found that Formula One and MotoGP face different competitive dynamics and that the acquisition would not significantly reduce competition. As a result, the deal received unconditional approval.
“We are very happy that the European Commission has approved the transaction. This is an important milestone confirming the even brighter future that lies ahead for MotoGP,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP rights holder Dorna.
“MotoGP is one of the most thrilling sports on earth, and we look forward to accelerating the sport’s growth and expanding its reach to even more fans around the world. Liberty is the best possible partner for our sport and the entire MotoGP community, and we are excited to create even greater value for our fans, commercial partners and everyone competing.”
The move is valued at $4.98bn (€4.3bn) and an equity value of $4.29bn (€3.7bn), with Liberty Media stating it will be paid in cash, including cash from Formula One Group and Formula 1.
The “best possible partner”
MotoGP hopes to replicate the recent success seen in Formula 1 under the leadership of Liberty Media. Following the close of the deal, expected on July 3, a large selection of Formula 1’s leadership will join MotoGP’s board, helping steer the sport’s commercial strategy and business operations.
Chase Carey, Director of Liberty Media and former CEO of Formula 1, and Sean Bratches, former Managing Director of Commercial Operations at Formula 1, will join Ezpeleta and Enrique Aldama, Dorna’s Chief Operating and Financial Officer, on Dorna’s board of Directors.
This new board will lead MotoGP’s commercial strategy and business operations, setting the stage for significant growth.
“Today’s approval from the European Commission marks the final condition to closing Liberty’s acquisition of MotoGP. We are thrilled to officially commence Liberty’s partnership with Carmelo and his excellent management team,” said Derek Chang, Liberty Media President and CEO.
Chang described MotoGP as a “highly attractive premium sports asset,” highlighting its racing, fanbase and cash flow profile.
Meanwhile, things have been going well for Formula 1. In March 2025, Liberty Media reported revenue of $3.6bn as of 31 December 2024—up 11% from $3.2bn the previous year. This revenue growth was driven by new sponsorship agreements, increased attendance, and higher TV and social media viewership. Total attendance increased by 9% to 6.5 million people in 2024, and the sport recorded 1.6 billion TV viewers along with 97 million social media followers.
Digital asset companies have also played a key role in Formula 1’s sponsorship success, with deals signed with crypto.com and Coinbase. Crypto sponsorship spending in Formula 1 has steadily increased from 2022 to 2025, with the current season seeing $174m paid out to Formula 1 teams via sponsoring partnerships. There are currently six crypto-F1 team partnerships as of May 2025.
“We believe the sport and brand have significant growth potential, which we will look to realise through deepening the connection with the core fan base and expanding to a wider global audience,” Chang added.
