Liberty Media, an entertainment and media company, is expanding its investment in the motorsports industry by acquiring Dorna Sports, the owner of the MotoGP World Championship. This move will allow Liberty to diversify its holdings and gain an 86% stake in MotoGP, with MotoGP management retaining 14% control.
MotoGP has a rich history dating back to 1949 and is set to host 21 races across 17 countries this year. Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei sees significant potential for growth in the sport and is focused on expanding it for fans, teams, commercial partners, and shareholders. This acquisition aligns with Liberty’s strategy of investing in premier sports and entertainment properties.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway holds a stake in Liberty Media, with recent filings indicating ownership of over 7 million of Liberty Media’s Series C Formula One shares. Despite this acquisition news, Liberty Media’s Series C Formula One shares saw a slight decrease in trading, down 0.9% to $65 as of noon ET on Monday. Nonetheless, shares have recorded a 4.3% increase in value since the beginning of the year.
Liberty Media has been making strategic investments in the sports industry to diversify its holdings and grow its business. The acquisition of Dorna Sports gives them control over one of the most popular motorcycle racing franchises in the world and allows them to further expand their reach into this exciting industry.
