Investigation into Liberty Media’s MotoGP Acquisition Demanded by Politician

Liberty Media’s takeover of MotoGP is feared by some that a monopoly effect could come from it as it already owns Formula One.

In April this year Liberty Media confirmed it had purchased an 86 per cent majority stake in Dorna Sports and MotoGP. The deal was worth $4.2 billion and is set to go through before the end of 2024.

Liberty Media is still intent on seeing the deal go through. However, a Belgian MEP (Member of the European Parliament) is demanding an investigation into the takeover.

The Belgian MEP is Pascal Arimont, who represents the Christian Social Party in the European Parliament, and he has written to the EU in the hope of an investigation as he believes the takeover of MotoGP could create a monopoly once it owns both series.

In 2017 Liberty Media finalised the purchase of Formula One from CVC Capital, while its sister company Liberty Global also holds the rights to the Formula E world championship.

As part of the Formula One umbrella, F2 and F3 fall under the ownership of Liberty Media, something that will happen to WorldSBK once the sale from Dorna is approved.

Reported by Het Belang van Limburg, Arimont has said this about the ongoing takeover of MotoGP: “There must be fair competition to protect consumers”, which he questions is the case from Liberty Media.

Liberty has also faced scrutiny from the US Department of Justice in the shape of an antitrust investigation after F1 refused Andretti Global entry to the championship.

Belgian MEP Arimont alluded to this as part of his claim, saying “Commercial agreements make it very difficult for new teams to enter F1, possibly restricting competition in an illegal way.”

The demand for an investigation from Arimont will be responded to within six weeks by Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition.