Liberty Media, the American group that owns Formula One, has received unconditional approval from the European Commission for its acquisition of MotoGP, the premier motorcycle grand prix competition.
Both Liberty Media and the Commission confirmed the green light on Monday.
The deal, which is now expected to close by July 3, 2025, marks a new era for the sport, according to a statement from MotoGP. Liberty Media had initially agreed to purchase MotoGP from Madrid-based Dorna Sports in April 2024.
However, the European Commission launched an investigation to assess whether the merger would violate competition rules, specifically concerning potential increases in licensing prices for motorsports broadcasting rights.
Colorado-based Liberty Media is set to acquire an 84 per cent stake in MotoGP, with Dorna retaining 16 per cent, valuing the company at 4.3 billion euros ($5 billion).
The Commission’s decision on Monday indicated its satisfaction that, in the European national markets investigated, the companies “are not close competitors for the licensing of broadcasting rights for sports content.”
The Commission also examined Liberty Media’s relationship with its parent company, Liberty Global, a major cable operator in several European countries, and found “insufficient evidence that Mr. John Malone, Liberty Media’s largest shareholder, could exercise decisive influence over Liberty Global.”
Derek Chang, Liberty Media President and CEO, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “MotoGP is a highly attractive premium sports asset with incredible racing, a passionate fanbase, and a strong cash flow profile. We believe the sport and brand have significant growth potential.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna’s chief executive since 1998, echoed this sentiment, calling Liberty the “best possible partner” for MotoGP and expressing excitement about expanding the sport’s reach. As part of the agreement, Ezpeleta and his team will continue to manage MotoGP.
Since taking control of F1 in 2017, Liberty Media has implemented an expansion strategy, notably in the United States, by focusing on spectacle.
This approach, aided by the popular Netflix series “Drive to Survive,” has successfully attracted a younger and more diverse audience, including more female viewers.
