Since Liberty Media's takeover of MotoGP, one question has been recurring regularly in the paddock: is the world championship destined to follow exactly the same path as Formula 1? Carlos Ezpeleta has just provided a particularly clear answer. And it's likely to reassure some of the purists.
Because behind the announcement of the new circuits that will be added to the 2027 calendar, the MotoGP sporting director primarily outlined the philosophy that will guide the championship in the coming years. A philosophy that can be summed up in one sentence: MotoGP doesn't need to be repaired. »
The arrival of Liberty Medium immediately fueled speculation. After all, the American group transformed the Formula 1 into a global phenomenon thanks to an aggressive strategy combining new markets, major urban events and a redesigned spectator experience. Miami. Las Vegas. JeddahThese are all examples that have profoundly changed the face of the discipline.
Naturally, many imagined that MotoGP would follow exactly the same trajectory. Carlos Ezpeleta However, he maintains that this is not the plan. We are very proud of what MotoGP has built with the teams and riders. », He explains. " Our greatest strength is that this sport doesn't need fixing.. »
A strong statement that contrasts sharply with some analyses often heard over the past several years.
For the championship's management, MotoGP is not a product in crisis seeking to reinvent itself. On the contrary, it is a healthy championship that simply wants to continue its growth.
MotoGP conquering new markets, but without abandoning its historical DNA
This does not mean that nothing will change. Quite the contrary. The return of Argentina in Buenos Aires and the arrival ofAdelaide perfectly illustrate this desire for expansion. Our priority is clearly to penetrate new markets and get closer to cities ", confirms Ezpeleta.
But he immediately sets a limit. This does not mean that we are forgetting our traditional circuits on which our success is based.The message is important for Le Mans, the Sachsenring, Mugello, Jerez.
These historic circuits are not seen as relics of the past but as the foundations of the modern championship. In a context where some disciplines have sometimes given the impression of sacrificing their heritage for the benefit of new markets, MotoGP is clearly seeking a more nuanced balance.
The announcement of the future Adelaide Grand Prix has also reignited the debate on urban circuits. Again, Ezpeleta immediately tempers the enthusiasm. We do not expect half of the MotoGP calendar to consist of new urban circuits in the city center"A sentence that deserves to be highlighted."
While the idea of bringing motorcycles closer to major cities is commercially appealing, safety constraints remain considerable. Unlike Formula 1, MotoGP cannot simply turn any street into a racetrack.
The necessary clearances, the speed of the motorcycles and the safety requirements impose much stricter limits. Adelaide It therefore appears more as a specific opportunity than as the beginning of a revolution.
The most interesting point of the statements ofEzpeleta It might be about what happens off the track. MotoGP is not looking to transform its main product. It is looking to enrich everything around it.Fan zones. Concerts. Entertainment. Driver presentations. Events organized in city centers before the Grand Prix.
The objective is clear: to attract new audiences without changing what makes up the identity of the championship. MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 form a complete package that we want to preserve "Ezpeleta insists. In other words, the main spectacle remains the race. Everything else should enrich the experience, not replace it."
Ultimately, the Spanish leader's remarks almost sound like a declaration of intent. Yes, Liberty Medium It will bring new resources. Yes, new markets will be explored. Yes, the championship will continue to evolve. But no, MotoGP does not want to become a copy of Formula 1.
« We don't think we have to choose between yesterday's MotoGP and tomorrow's MotoGP "That sums up Ezpeleta. A clever turn of phrase on motorsport total which perfectly sums up the current strategy: modernize without denying, grow without transforming into something else.
It remains to be seen whether this delicate balance can be maintained when the commercial ambitions of Liberty Media will clash with the traditions of a championship that today, more than ever, asserts its own identity.
