MotoGP has approached the 2025 season as a true turning point , with unprecedented audience figures, profound changes in the championship's management, and key shifts in the grid and teams. All of this paints a picture in which the World Championship enters a new phase of expansion, with a particular impact in Europe and Spain as one of the central hubs of this growth.
At the same time, Liberty Media's acquisition of a stake in Dorna Sports , the renewal of major television deals in strategic markets like Italy, and the technical adjustments at leading teams like KTM and Yamaha are shaping the future of MotoGP. MotoGP is transforming inside and out while consolidating its fan base and opening itself up to new, younger, and more global audiences.
A historic 2025 season: more races and record attendance
The 2025 season has become the busiest in MotoGP history , with a calendar of 22 races spread across the globe. This increase in rounds has resulted in a significant jump in overall attendance: throughout the year, the circuits have attracted 3.660.716 spectators, the highest figure ever recorded in the World Championship.
Within this widespread boom, Europe's role has been fundamental. The French Grand Prix at Le Mans set a new attendance record , with 311.797 fans attending over the three days of track action. This figure makes the French weekend the most attended MotoGP event ever held, confirming the championship's strength in a traditionally very loyal market.
Spain has also reinforced its status as a key venue on the calendar. The Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, a classic of the World Championship, drew 43.131 more spectators than in 2024 , a jump that underscores the continued appeal of MotoGP among Spanish fans and the ability of national circuits to attract new supporters.
Other international venues such as Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and Qatar have contributed to the overall growth, with significant increases in attendance. Comparing only the races that were held again the previous year, the average attendance per weekend increased by more than 7.000 people per Grand Prix , confirming a clear upward trend in attendance at the circuits.
The 2025 calendar also includes new events and highly anticipated returns , such as Argentina, Brno, Hungary, and Valencia, which have further boosted overall attendance figures. These moves are part of a strategy to expand the championship map and strengthen venues with a strong tradition or the potential for medium-term growth.
However, growth hasn't been uniform across the board. Two European races saw significant declines in attendance: the British Grand Prix at Silverstone , with 18.539 fewer fans than in 2024, and especially the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring , which lost 32.627 spectators compared to the previous year. Factors such as weather, travel costs, and the saturation of the summer calendar appear to be possible causes for these occasional drops.
Audience explosion: television and the digital environment are booming
The championship's growth hasn't only been noticeable in the stands. Television audiences have also experienced a significant leap in quality in 2025. Average race viewership has increased by 9%, solidifying MotoGP's position as one of the best-performing live sporting products internationally.
One of the main drivers of this growth has been the Sprint races, the shorter races held on Saturdays, which have gained prominence in the weekend's sporting offerings. Sprint race viewership has increased by 26% , confirming fans' interest in a more explosive and concentrated format that complements Sunday's Grand Prix.
On the digital front, the trend is equally positive. Over one billion minutes of MotoGP content have been consumed on YouTube throughout the season , a figure that demonstrates the extent to which the championship has become integrated into fans' online viewing habits. Interviews, recaps, analysis, onboard camera footage, and special features, as well as material about riders like Fabio Quartararo , have been key to maintaining contact with the fans between races.
Dorna also highlights a generational shift in its fan base: more than half of MotoGP fans are now under 35. This demographic renewal is strategic for ensuring the championship's future, increasing its social media presence, and connecting with new forms of audiovisual consumption.
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta himself has emphasized the historic nature of the 2025 season . He highlighted the record attendance at the circuits, the growth in television viewership, and the surge in digital platforms, noting that the World Championship is in a particularly strong position for the next steps.
Liberty Media enters the scene: MotoGP joins the Formula 1 group
While the championship was growing on the track and on television, one of the most significant moves in recent MotoGP history was taking place behind the scenes. Liberty Media has acquired an 84% stake in Dorna Sports , the Spanish-based company that manages the commercial and audiovisual rights for the World Championship.
The process of rapprochement between the two parties dates back to March 2024 , when Liberty resumed exclusive negotiations with Bridgepoint, then Dorna's main shareholder, to explore the deal. At that time, a valuation of close to €4.000 billion was already being discussed for the entire MotoGP business.
After several months of negotiations, the agreement was finalized in July 2025. Liberty Media officially notified the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the purchase of that 84% stake for a total of $3.659 billion. The transaction places MotoGP under the same corporate umbrella as Formula 1 and the group's other sports investments.
In the documentation submitted to the US regulator, Liberty detailed that $3.015 billion of the investment is accounted for as goodwill , reflecting expectations of future profits and brand value, while $2.789 billion is allocated to amortizable intangible assets. The acquisition also entails assuming significant liabilities: $1.140 billion in long-term debt, $671 million in deferred taxes, and $650 million in non-redeemable shares.
With this integration, Liberty Media's Formula One Group now comprises the Formula 1, MotoGP, and Quint subsidiaries, in addition to other minority stakes. The company thus reinforces its position as one of the major players in global motorsport, with the capacity to generate synergies between championships and leverage its expertise in promotion and broadcasting.
There have been notable changes in Dorna's management structure, although some key figures have remained. Carmelo Ezpeleta continues as CEO and member of the executive committee , a position he has held since 1998, and Enrique Aldama remains as CFO and board member, pending final confirmation. Both are considered essential elements of continuity in the management of the championship.
Conversely, William Nicholas Jackson and José MarÃa Maldonado Trinchant, who held the positions of chairman and vice chairman, respectively, as well as serving on the board, have left the company . The chairmanship has now passed to Charles Gordon Carey, who takes the reins of the conglomerate as the new head of its governing body.
Enrique Aldama, from Dorna's economic management, explained that Liberty Media can help MotoGP enter countries where the championship is not yet strong , leveraging its network of contacts and negotiating power. Furthermore, the American group brings experience in broadcasting and the commercial exploitation of major sporting events, areas in which it has already demonstrated its capabilities with Formula 1.
One of the first visible consequences of this new phase is the confirmation of MotoGP's return to Brazil starting in 2026. The Ayrton Senna International Circuit will be part of the calendar at least in 2026, 2027, and 2028, with the possibility of extending the agreement until 2030. After more than two decades of absence, the World Championship returns to a market with a rich tradition and enormous growth potential.
Technical reorganization at KTM and Yamaha with MotoGP in mind
Significant changes haven't been limited to Dorna's offices; the factories have also made technical adjustments to prepare for the championship's immediate future. KTM and Yamaha, in collaboration with teams like Tech3 and Pramac, have restructured parts of their organizational charts in anticipation of the upcoming seasons.
In KTM's case, one of the starting points was the decision of Italian engineer Alberto Giribuola to leave the Mattighofen-based structure and the Tech3 team . Giribuola worked alongside Enea Bastianini until the Catalan Grand Prix, held in early September, after which Xavi PalacÃn temporarily took over his duties at the satellite team.
Giribuola has subsequently joined Pramac Yamaha, where he will be in charge of Toprak Razgatlioglu's garage . The Turkish rider, currently a leading figure in the Superbike World Championship, initially intended to move to MotoGP alongside engineer Phil Marron, with whom he has shared a successful period at Kawasaki (Puccetti Racing), Yamaha, and BMW in the production championship.
However, the tuning fork brand has opted to assign him a technical director with specific experience in MotoGP . Marron last worked in the premier class in 2016, as Eugene Laverty's technical director at the Aspar team, and will return to the MotoGP paddock, but not alongside Razgatlioglu, rather in a new role within KTM.
The Northern Irish engineer has been hired by KTM to take charge of Brad Binder's garage , one of the Austrian brand's iconic riders. With this addition, the manufacturer hopes the South African can regain the level of results he showed in previous seasons and take a step forward in the fight for the top positions.
KTM's motorsport director, Pit Beirer, described Marron as a very solid technical director , capable of instilling confidence in the rider and bringing a fresh perspective to the project. Beirer emphasized that the brand views its MotoGP efforts as a comprehensive program encompassing four bikes and four riders, and therefore any personnel changes are always evaluated within the context of the entire structure.
During the final stretch of 2025, Marron was already seen in KTM colors in the paddock, using the Valencian Community Grand Prix to familiarize himself with the team's internal processes. He began working effectively with Binder from the Monday after the race and fully debuted in his new role during the post-season test held on Tuesday at the same circuit.
Marron's arrival also implies an internal change within the orange team. Andrés Madrid, Binder's technical director since 2021, will move to the Tech3 garage to take over the technical direction of Enea Bastianini's bike. The Italian rider himself confirmed at the Portuguese GP that Madrid will be his new technical director for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu has begun his MotoGP journey with a private test day at MotorLand Aragón before joining the rest of the premier class riders for the joint test in Valencia. Giribuola was already seen in the Yamaha test team's garage during the Valencian Community round, supporting their new rider.
In those tests, Razgatlioglu continued riding the same Yamaha V4 that Augusto Fernández had used in a wildcard entry, allowing for a comparison of reference points and accelerating the Turk's adaptation to the MotoGP bike. Giribuola also took the opportunity to exchange impressions with test rider Andrea Dovizioso, with whom he maintains a close professional relationship dating back to his time as Dovizioso's technical director at Ducati, a period that resulted in several runner-up finishes in the world championships.
The personnel changes aren't limited to the MotoGP and Superbike worlds. Following Miguel Oliveira's signing with BMW for the WorldSBK Championship, there was speculation that Phil Marron could become his technical director , but ultimately it will be Andrew Pitt, former rider and until now head mechanic for Michael Ruben Rinaldi at GMT94 (Yamaha's satellite Supersport team), who will take on that role in the German project.
With a 2025 season marked by record attendance, rising viewership, and awards like the BMW M Award , the arrival of Liberty Media as a major new player in championship management, and significant technical changes at manufacturers like KTM and Yamaha, MotoGP is heading into a new phase of growth and restructuring . The momentum from European markets like Spain, Italy, and France, coupled with expansion into venues like Brazil and a rejuvenated fan base, puts the World Championship in a very strong position to continue evolving both on and off the track in the coming years.
