MARCH 28, 2024
F1 owner really is buying MotoGP too?
Rumours that F1's commercial owner Liberty Media is also buying the two-wheeled equivalent, MotoGP, are becoming more and more concrete.
A month ago, MotoGP's long-time boss, Carmelo Ezpeleta, did not deny the buyout rumours, as reports swirled that promoter Dorna's current owner, Bridgepoint, was in multi-billion dollar talks.
The majority shareholders of Dorna are investment funds, which buy things to sell them,
he said, having earlier admitted that a joint F1-MotoGP race weekend might also be in the works.
Now, the authoritative Financial Times newspaper says the deal could be worth as much as well over $4 billion, with the talks in recent weeks having become exclusive
.
Citing key sources, correspondents Matthew Garrahan and Samuel Agini says Liberty has seen off a rival bid from TKO, the sports and entertainment group run by Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel
, as well as another bid from Qatar.
One problem, however, could be conflict of interest concerns. One competition lawyer told FT that investigations into the joint F1-MotoGP ownership are quite likely
.
All parties, including Dorna and Liberty, declined to officially comment.
An agreement is close,
the newspaper said, but an announcement could be pushed into next week
.
(GMM)