If we can club together $3.4 billion, we can buy the commercial rights to MotoGP
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Joined Oct 2008
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Liberty turned F1 into a celebrity circus and priced the fans out, turning the circuit attendance into a rich people's party. Hope it doesn't happen the same for MotoGP but just like Liberty made people miss the Ecclestone years, perhaps we'll end up missing Dorna as well. I take solace in the fact that they won't be able to force urban GPs in MotoGP.
Also I'm weirdly curious about their plans for WSBK
Also I'm weirdly curious about their plans for WSBK
Moto journalists have a tendency to write unusual articles. When rumors were circulating that Liberty Media might buy MotoGP, Simon Patterson chimed in to let everyone know that he googled CVC and 2006, and discovered that a Liberty Media takeover was impossible. We don't know if the courts will thwart Liberty's ambition to consolidate F1 and MotoGP, but regardless of their decision, Liberty Media could end up choosing MotoGP over F1, as unlikely as that seems.
The article by Lewis Duncan is also a bit strange. We are fans, not shareholders, not creditors, not advertisers. It's not important to us that MotoGP becomes increasingly profitable forever. The sport was valued at 500 million euros in 2006. Is the sport 9 times better today that it was back then from a fan standpoint? We're not corporate shills. We don't care if PE is looting the sport.
Furthermore, the comparison to F1 is partially irrelevant because one of the major sticking points was racing on street circuits in the USA. The teams thought this was not economically viable. Suffice it to say, they were clueless about the US sports market and how it works. MotoGP cannot race street circuits in the US, which limits the potential upside by reducing the number of potential bidders for events. MotoGP requires dedicated circuits. If the F1 business model doesn't work, why suppose fans will endure pain from a business model they can't use?
It is possible we will endure the pain associated with an influx of know-nothing fans and instagram trollops, but the ignore feature might help with that.
The article by Lewis Duncan is also a bit strange. We are fans, not shareholders, not creditors, not advertisers. It's not important to us that MotoGP becomes increasingly profitable forever. The sport was valued at 500 million euros in 2006. Is the sport 9 times better today that it was back then from a fan standpoint? We're not corporate shills. We don't care if PE is looting the sport.
Furthermore, the comparison to F1 is partially irrelevant because one of the major sticking points was racing on street circuits in the USA. The teams thought this was not economically viable. Suffice it to say, they were clueless about the US sports market and how it works. MotoGP cannot race street circuits in the US, which limits the potential upside by reducing the number of potential bidders for events. MotoGP requires dedicated circuits. If the F1 business model doesn't work, why suppose fans will endure pain from a business model they can't use?
It is possible we will endure the pain associated with an influx of know-nothing fans and instagram trollops, but the ignore feature might help with that.
Joined Apr 2015
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NJ
Liberty Media owning MotoGP is probably the quickest path to the ruination of the series.
They say they will leave it alone, but they didn't leave F1 alone, so why would I ever believe it?
MotoGP has serious issues right now that need to be addressed regarding the tires and the aerodynamics. I don't see Liberty doing anything to address that since all they know is an aero dominated race series in Formula 1.
I have no doubt though that they will attract a new breed of fan who will be ignorant as one could possibly imagine. I've always been a firm believer in that any sport I develop an interest for, I research the history of the sport to understand where it was, how it got to the current day, and maybe most importantly, why it happened. But I am a historian and librarian by trade so my need to know these things is not shared by the general public at large. I still believe the 500cc World Championship was superior to MotoGP. But I recognize I am in a small minority to believe such a thing, and it's not going to be a view shared by the sort of fan Liberty Media wants to attract.
MotoGP will go on no doubt, but whether it is for the best or the worst remains to be seen.
They say they will leave it alone, but they didn't leave F1 alone, so why would I ever believe it?
MotoGP has serious issues right now that need to be addressed regarding the tires and the aerodynamics. I don't see Liberty doing anything to address that since all they know is an aero dominated race series in Formula 1.
I have no doubt though that they will attract a new breed of fan who will be ignorant as one could possibly imagine. I've always been a firm believer in that any sport I develop an interest for, I research the history of the sport to understand where it was, how it got to the current day, and maybe most importantly, why it happened. But I am a historian and librarian by trade so my need to know these things is not shared by the general public at large. I still believe the 500cc World Championship was superior to MotoGP. But I recognize I am in a small minority to believe such a thing, and it's not going to be a view shared by the sort of fan Liberty Media wants to attract.
MotoGP will go on no doubt, but whether it is for the best or the worst remains to be seen.
I have mixed feelings about this. If Liberty brings MotoGP to increased relevance I'm all for it. We shouldn't take five manufacturers in the championship for granted.
On the other hand, I'm afraid popular venues in Europe might go away. I can't see them continue to do four races in Spain but that's where the fans are. I'm also somewhat anxious about the future of my home race.
On the other hand, I'm afraid popular venues in Europe might go away. I can't see them continue to do four races in Spain but that's where the fans are. I'm also somewhat anxious about the future of my home race.
It's difficult not to be pessimistic. When MotoGP was created, they just needed to make the tires smoke with a "modern" engine architecture to increase manufacturer involvement. Unfortunately the innocence of that idea has become aerodynamic downforce, ride height devices, and scores of electronic rider aid systems.
It seems they just move from one pandora's box to the next. Liberty has the ability to open pandora's boxes in the media, government affairs and B2B relationships. I don't think Liberty can resist the urge.
Joined Apr 2015
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NJ
My guess is we're going to see the addition or return of certain USA races. I could see Indianapolis maybe coming back. There's also that new circuit in Tennessee. Pipe dream would be Laguna.
Joined Mar 2023
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Australia
Can't see them messing with Aero and/or Tyres is going to increase their profit, there will be changes but not big changes on the technology side, more along what the riders and manufacturers want. The big changes are going to be where it increases revenue
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It depends what Liberty hope to achieve. In F1 they emphasized street races so more organizations could bid for F1. It also cut out the middleman in some markets. No reason for the government to buy a race for a venue like COTA if the government owns a street circuit.
Street races are not really possible in MotoGP. If Liberty want to increase demand for MotoGP, what are the options? Liberty can fly around the world, begging people to spend on dedicated racing circuits or they can demand upgrades to existing F1 tracks to pass FIM homologation. Another possibility is substantial reduction in bike performance so more existing tracks can bid.
The MSMA are already planning to increase lap times. Maybe Liberty steps in a demands bigger performance reductions for 2027. We don’t even know what the regs are so we may not know if Liberty meddles with them.
Joined Mar 2016
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FNQ
I think the only impacts we will see in the first few years will be an improved and greater presence amongst social media channels and loosening of the shackles that dorna have with the current policies.
Joined Oct 2008
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In Cider
One very easy way to increase laptime is the tyres. Especially with a single supplier.
Joined Aug 2013
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USA
Liberty has focused on street races, because they can work in F1. They also focused on destination cities with large media footprints, which I think they will do the same with MotoGP. Indy does check all the boxes, but the speedway has not always gotten along with other racing series. The Mexico City track might work with modifications. Brazil could be an option too.
As you say, as long as the sport is sufficiently financially viable to keep going why should we as fans care about how much it can be sold off for ?.
I am happy the sport is somewhat safer now but it is hardly more exciting or a better showcase for rider skills than golden era 500 gp bike racing.
Joined Oct 2008
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Joined Aug 2013
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USA
Indy is probably the only track that will work now, I personally enjoyed every race there, and Indy was a fun town for the weekend. But does Indy want to host a MotoGP race again? and if they did where would it fit on the schedule? Last time they ran at Indy the timing was wrong, not only was it the hottest time of the year, it was also ran during the last part of Sturgis and the industry did not like that.
Indy needs a redesign, just looks flat as hell.
I vote for a Laguna refit!
I vote for a Laguna refit!
Joined Oct 2008
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In Cider
All good questions, and given the new ownership of Roger Penske. I'm not sure either way. He canned a lot of 'smaller' events because they want to focus on big events, and I'd say MotoGP is a big event. So you could look at it either way. If he likes MGP, then yes. If not, then no. They have spent a lot of money improving the infrastructure there since the pandemic and apart from the 500, most events seem to use the road course now which means GP would be well placed, and there is a (small) speedway track on the inside of turn 3 oval now.
MotoAmerica races there, so it's a question really of if Liberty want more exposure in the US. As you noted, they can't make deals with cities to host GP's on the streets when it comes to bike racing, so it lands the ball more in the court of circuits. Will Liberty reduce their sanctioning fees for US races to help exposure? Unlikely.
Regrding where would it fit on the schedule? They currently have 4 races in Spain, with Aragon taking place in early Sept. I can't see Liberty keeping all 4 events.
Well, that's because it is flat! They really are limited by the oval and real estate, nothing with regards to the layout will change.
God I hope not. Bringing Laguna up to Grade 1 standard would take away its soul. Plus, with the lawsuit they have going on for noise at present, I'm getting ever more fearful that Laguna may not be around for much longer, which is why I'm racing there this summer, ticking it off the bucket list finally.
