The European Commission will investigate whether the purchase will lead to higher media rights costs and a reduction in competition. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union (EU), has launched an investigation into the prospective purchase of Dorna Sports, the promoter of motorcycling’s MotoGP (and other championships), by Liberty Media, a subdivision of the Formula 1 (F1) series owner Liberty Global.

In a statement, the EU explained that the basis of the probe is to examine the impact the deal will have on competitiveness for motorsports broadcast rights contracts.

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The commission argued that in many European markets, F1 is the dominant motorsports competition and MotoGP its only competitor, meaning that the purchase of Dorna could “remove important competitive restraints and lead to broadcasters paying higher rights fees.”  

Liberty’s purchase of an 86% stake in Dorna, reflecting an enterprise value for MotoGP of €4.2 billion ($4.3 billion) and an equity value of €3.5 billion, was announced on April 1 and was widely expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

Now, however, that purchase will be delayed as far as May 14, 2025 – the deadline for the European Commission to decide on whether to intervene in the transaction.

Alongside broadcast rights competition, the European Commission will also examine whether John Malone, the largest shareholder in Liberty Media (and its owner Liberty Global), will be able to exert “decisive influence” over both companies.

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In particular, it identifies the possibility that Liberty Media, through MotoGP, could “foreclose” on rival broadcasters in territories where Liberty Global, through F1, is active.

Should the purchase go through, Dorna will continue to operate in Spain as a separate entity from Liberty Media, with chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta retaining his position.

The Liberty Media purchase comes at a time of major change for MotoGP, symbolized by the series' recently announced rebrand.

Earlier in December, Dorna Sports chief commercial officer Dan Rossomondo spoke to Sportcal (GlobalData Sport), explaining how the series is preparing itself for the long-term future.