Speculation intensifies around F1 owner Liberty Media's potential purchase of MotoGP, the motorcycle racing counterpart to Formula 1, with increasing evidence supporting the claims.
Just a month prior, Carmelo Ezpeleta, who has overseen MotoGP for many years, refrained from refuting the takeover speculations. This comes amid circulating reports that Dorna, the sport's promoter presently owned by Bridgepoint, was engaging in discussions worth billions of dollars.
"The majority shareholders of Dorna are investment funds, which buy things to sell them," he remarked, acknowledging the possibility of a combined F1-MotoGP event being considered.
The well-regarded Financial Times has now reported that this acquisition might value over $4 billion, noting that the negotiations with F1 owner Liberty have recently turned "exclusive."
According to insiders, journalists Matthew Garrahan and Samuel Agini have reported that Liberty has outmaneuvered "a rival bid from TKO, the sports and entertainment group run by Hollywood powerbroker Ari Emanuel," along with another offer from Qatar.
Yet, the arrangement might face scrutiny due to potential conflicts of interest. A legal expert specializing in competition law suggested to the FT that an investigation into the shared ownership of F1 and MotoGP by Liberty Media is "quite likely."
Neither Dorna nor Liberty has made any formal statements regarding the situation.
"An agreement is close," stated the newspaper, "but an announcement could be pushed into next week."
