After purchasing Formula 1, the Americans of Liberty Media also secured MotoGP with an offer of 4 billion and the commitment to repay the debt. The objective is to make the premier class a product with great prospects for commercial growth as was the case for the top four-wheel category. A deal announced for some time by Carmelo Ezpeleta, all that is missing is the official status and then it will be the beginning of a new era.
MotoGP even more global
As fifteen-time world champion Giacomo Agostini recalls, it is not the first time that F1 has tried to buy the MotoGP. Bernie Ecclestone already tried four decades ago. “He was convinced, but he thought that this was not the best moment, and that by waiting a little longer we would have paid less. I didn’t agree, but I trusted him obviously, he was certainly much more experienced – he tells ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ -. And instead others thought about it. Too bad, I should have taken care of the MotoGP“.
The entry of Liberty Media causes the great patron Ezpeleta, who has reached the threshold of 78 years of age, to leave the scene. “He did a lot for motorcycling, he was always close to the teams, he helped those in difficulty, he wasn’t selfish – Agostini underlines –. We owe him a lot. Having said that, the operation that is taking shape is a step forward. I really think that we “poor people” on two wheels will also have a great advantage“. The show is not lacking on two wheels, now the time has come to make this phenomenon global, as happened with F1 which today is broadcast even in Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Africa, Cambodia and New Zealand.
The future center of gravity
The Americanization of MotoGP has already had a first taste with the arrival of the Trackhouse team from Nascar, wanted by Massimo Rivola of Aprilia and with Davide Brivio at the helm, but much more is destined to happen. This is to be expected.”nice things” and especially, “with an important aspect: now a stronger position is created, with any interlocutor. In addition to the F1 spaces, you can also put those of the MotoGP on the table“. She will certainly change the frame of the event, as we have seen Liberty is a master at this. “We will see actors, jet setters, champions of other sports. Liberty has experience in this, plus there is Stefano Domenicali who is really very good, he is fantastic, he knows how to exploit this aspect very well without losing sight of the fulcrum, which is the race, the sport.“.
What will change for Italy and Spain, always queens of MotoGP? It’s difficult to say, perhaps little or nothing in the short term. But Liberty probably won’t like a ranking dominated by the two aforementioned nations. Having an English or American driver will be the first objective. “Broadening horizons will be a goal – concludes Agostini -. Yes, I believe that in the medium term the grid will expand“.
