Report: F1 owners Liberty close to buying MotoGP

Formula One owners Liberty Media are close to a four billion dollar buy-out of the company that runs MotoGP, as reported on Thursday. Buoyed by success in F1, Liberty is now eyeing the two-wheel series run by Madrid-based Dorna Sports.

According to The Financial Times, Liberty is leading the race to seal the deal, beating off competition from Paris Saint-Germain’s Qatari owners and TKO. Dorna not only manages MotoGP but also the Superbike championship and MotoE electric bike series.

Previously, CVC Capital Partners owned both F1 and MotoGP until they had to sell MotoGP in 2006 due to concerns raised by EU competition regulators. Since acquiring F1 in 2017, Liberty has seen F1’s popularity soar, with CEO Greg Maffei hinting at a significant increase in its value.

Neither Dorna nor Liberty provided any comments when contacted by AFP. The potential buy-out indicates Liberty’s ambitions to expand its portfolio in the motorsport industry, cementing its position as a major player in the global racing arena.