Liberty Media Purchases MotoGP

Ok, well the deal is done. Liberty Media the owners of F1 have purchased MotoGP and WSBK. Here are my thoughts.

1) Liberty Media has plans to expand the exposure in the USA. They think the USA is a key market for them. they have proven to love the USA in F-1 -- More on that debacle later. I think if they do focus on USA than it could ultimately be a good thing for USA domestic racing. We are in desperate need of something. It will take a generation but hopefully in 15 - 20 years if racing still exists in some form than Gringo's can get to the front!

2) F1 ownership -- So the contract they did with Vegas SUCKED ASS, for all involved from the USA stand point. A couple of casino's did OK, but for the most part is was a disaster. The tickets did not sell out due to price gouging from the start. Most of the locals could not afford to go. The strip was jacked for 6 months and tourists during the months proceeding were pissed about the construction and stayed away. Local workers were pissed about the inability to get to work, and the city lost money on the deal. I could go on for another 5 pages here on the at. My only fear is if they jack up ticket prices and make it as hard and expensive and typically snobby as F1 that's not going to benefit domestic racing in the USA. So we shall see.

 

They are going to ruin it the same way the NASCAR guys ruined AMA.

 

DMG again?

 

Austin’s hospitality industry gouging guests is mostly why I’ve never done the AustinGP. And, watching one brand dominate the series does nothing for me, either.

 

Way back when they returned to Laguna for the first time in ages I booked a room as soon as it was announced. About two weeks before the event, the hotel called me to tell me that my reservation had been cancelled but that I was free to re-book it at 3x the price. I told them that I had a paper copy confirming by reservation and price when I booked the room and that by law they had to honor that price especially since I didn't cancel anything. Never been back after that BS.

 

I saw a report the other day that stated it was the most profitable event ever.

 

Not the same report the local news is giving out

https://www.casino.org/news/clark-county-says-it-lost-500k-on-f1-las-vegas-grand-prix/

 

The report I saw was issued by Clark County so I might tend to believe them more than a news channel. I guess anything can be spun however someone wants to spin it these days. https://clark.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12771014&GUID=A53FE1AB-B7AA-4447-A551-2EE9541BF5A3 Income figures start at page 24, this is what I was referencing.

 

That's about 1/2 way down the article https://prnt.sc/sQ_Buhb9SB4S

 

1988? I slept in the dirt at the track.

 

Yeah, don't know what to think about all this. The Dorna guys seem to "care". They are hands on at the track, talk to riders, etc. This to me is one of the big things that separates the attitudes of F1 and MotoGP. As soon as the people that own it are making decisions on how things go without being "hands on", relationships fall apart and the people who "do" the sport versus "everything else" (marketing, calendar, rules, etc.) become separate and combative. In MotoGP, lives are on the line more than F1, so this is a big concern.

 

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a60358860/las-vegas-f1-figures/

Great news Liberty Media bought MotoGP. Can't wait to see what they do with it especially in the USA.

 

I’m with you on this. Every GP I’ve been to, I’ve seen Carmelo in the paddock talking to riders &etc. You even see it during the broadcast on occasion. If that goes away, what may happen to GP?

 

The riders just become a commodity and as long as the bottom line isn't affected they will do with them as they see fit.

 

The next races will not need a full repave like the first race.
So a lot less disruptive.

 

I just hope they get rid of all the aero.

 

No Aero, no ride height devices, then limit the electronics even more

 

One of their stated goals is expanding in growth markets specifically the USA.

Hope that means drawing investment to improving existing tracks and building new ones that meet the standard. USA needs more options that meet FIA and FIM both

 

And LeMans starts.