Now it's fixed:

Deal done! F1 rights holder takes over MotoGP

Liberty has taken over MotoGP owner Dorna.(Bild: AFP or Licensors)

Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media is also taking over MotoGP. As announced by the motorcycle premier class on Monday, the US company has secured the acquisition of Dorna Sports, the holder of the commercial rights to MotoGP, MotoE and the Superbike World Championship. The purchase price for 86 percent of the shares is expected to be 4.2 billion euros, with the deal to be completed by the end of 2024. Approval from various competition and financial authorities is still required before the purchase becomes official.

Dorna will continue to run the business under Liberty Media with the current management from Madrid. Carmelo Ezpeleta will therefore continue as Managing Director.

"We are thrilled to expand our portfolio of leading live sports and entertainment offerings with the acquisition of MotoGP," said Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei. "MotoGP is a global league with a loyal, enthusiastic fan base, compelling racing and a financial profile that generates strong cash flow." MotoGP has "considerable potential" and the aim is to further develop the racing series.

In possession of the Formula 1 rights since 2016
If the deal goes through, Liberty Media will own the rights to the most important racing series on four and two wheels. The company, which is based in the US state of Colorado, has held the rights to Formula 1 since 2016. However, it is questionable how the EU antitrust watchdogs will assess the sale in view of a possible monopoly position.

Dorna is currently still owned by Bridgepoint, a British private equity company that took over the motorcycle racing series in 2006 - from the Luxembourg-based CVC Capital, which the EU competition watchdogs had banned from holding the Formula 1 and MotoGP rights at the same time. A similar case would now occur with Liberty Media.