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Mick Doohan hopes Liberty Media can return MotoGP to its ‘glory days’
Since taking over last year, Liberty Media haven’t been popular with everyone in the sport, but Mick Doohan thinks their arrival could be just what MotoGP needs.
The switch from Phillip Island to a new Adelaide street circuit hasn’t gone down well, and there’s already plenty of debate about how the track will handle the conditions and whether it will suit the championship.
Former racer Keith Huewen was blunt in his assessment, calling it a “tragic” decision. He’s far from alone, with many fans voicing their disappointment over the loss of one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
Even so, there’s a sense that MotoGP could benefit from the kind of commercial growth Formula 1 has seen under Liberty Media. In that respect, Doohan is supportive of where things might be heading.
Mick Doohan backs Liberty Media to help MotoGP reach its ‘glory days’
Mick Doohan thinks the influence of Liberty Media can be a good thing for MotoGP. The American media company, which also owns Formula 1, took control of the sport in April last year.
And even though F1 has faced its share of critics since that change, there’s no denying the numbers have improved across key metrics. It’s now one of the top three sports globally by revenue, alongside Formula E and NASCAR.
Appearing on the Racing Back podcast with MotoGP icons Nick Harris and Julian Ryder, the five-time world champion was asked for his thoughts on the future of the premier class with Liberty Media now at the wheel of the series.
“Look, who knows? They’ve done great things with Formula 1, that’s for sure,” Doohan said.
“So, if we can get a little bit of that into motorcycling, get a revival back to the old glory days, even though the sport’s doing quite well.
“But to try and get more eyes on bikes I think can’t be a bad thing, especially trying to recover some lost ground over decades from America and then likewise in Britain.”
MotoGP is hoping it will see similar success in time – but growing tensions between Dorna Sports chief Carmelo Ezpeleta and FIM president Jorge Viegas haven’t helped matters behind closed doors.
Ezpeleta recently told Gazzetta dello Sport: “The relationship has not changed because we never had any. I will continue to work as before.”
MotoGP expected to see more changes from Liberty Media following Australian GP move
Phillip Island’s removal from the premier class schedule has sparked plenty of frustration, but it may only be the beginning as MotoGP’s new owners look to reshape the series.
Several F1-inspired rule changes have already been discussed. KTM is one of the teams pushing for a cost cap to help bridge the gap between well-funded factories and those with fewer resources.
One idea that could be implemented soon is an F1-style team radio system.
Some riders have already had a chance to test it. Marc Marquez was one who noted that it might not be necessary for motorcycle racing.
Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia was among those who tried out the new radio system and pointed out that there will be an adjustment period as riders get used to it.
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