MotoGP News: Liberty to sell F1 shares to fund MotoGP deal
(GMM) Liberty Media will partly fund its acquisition of MotoGP by selling more than 10 million shares in Formula 1.
“Liberty Media intends to exercise its option to deliver additional cash in lieu of shares of (Formula 1) as part of its previously disclosed proposed acquisition of Dorna Sports,” part of an official media statement read.
The statement implies that Dorna, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP, is demanding to be paid in cash rather than Formula 1 shares.
Liberty announced its deal to buy MotoGP, the two-wheeled equivalent to F1, in early April this year.
The company said at the time that MotoGP will “remain an independently run company attributed to Liberty Media’s Formula One Group tracking stock”.
MotoGP has announced Thailand will be the new home of the season opener in 2025, just as the country’s hopes of staging an F1 race go on hold.
Thailand’s Buriram will take over round 1 from Qatar for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Whilst the full calendar is yet to be revealed, the 2025 season opener in Thailand will be staged on March 2.
Thailand lands MotoGP Opener
Thailand has been on the MotoGP card since 2018 with the only exceptions being 2020 and 2021 when the race was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Although Qatar is locked in to 2031, it has lost its title of kicking off the season under lights, which it has done on all but two occasions since 2007.
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta was delighted to announce the season opener was moving to a new home in southern Asia.
“We are very excited to reveal that the 2025 and 2026 season openers will be the Thai Grand Prix at Buriram. Southeast Asia is one of our most important markets, both for the sport and for our factories and partners,” said Carmelo.
“Thailand plays a leading role in that, and the passion is clear to see in the huge crowds we enjoy at Buriram year on year.
“We know they will create an incredible atmosphere for the first event of the season.
“As soon as Buriram joined the calendar, it became an instant favorite.
“It’s easy to understand why: it’s a fantastic place to enjoy MotoGP, with a layout crafted to showcase the best of our close racing – very much proven by the incredible show we enjoyed at the track last season.
“We’re looking forward to coming back later this year and then to returning in 2025 for a history-making season opener.”
Whilst the future of Thailand and MotoGP is exciting, it is unclear where the country sits with Formula 1.
Plans for Thailand to host a Grand Prix from the start of 2027 have now been put on hold, after yet another political crisis has hit the Land of 1000 Smiles.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was forced to abandon his role after a Supreme Court ruling last Wednesday and was replaced, two days later, by 37 year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra, younger daughter of the divisive Thaksin Shinawatra, who led the country between 2001 and 2006 before being deposed by a coup.