MotoGP is going through one of, if not the, greatest era of change the sport has experienced, and I'm not just talking about the new 2027 ruleset. In 2025, the European Commission and regulatory bodies approved the sale of Dorna Sports to Liberty Media, which purchased 84% of the capital for €3.1 billion. Now, we're witnessing some of the first big shakeups after the acquisition.
The first big change in 2026 comes in the form of a new name. Dorna, as we know it, is dead, and its name has officially been changed to MotoGP Sport Entertainment SL. Changing the name that has lasted nearly four decades in the industry is interesting, but what's more intriguing is the inclusion of "MotoGP" in the new name, as Dorna also managed World Superbike (WorldSBK) and the World Rally Championship (WRC).
In the grand scheme, the changing of a name seems a bit superficial when compared to the systematic takeover at the hands of Liberty, including changing the top levels of management and restructuring the company. Over the past few months, several corporate positions have either been revoked or changed hands.
Pablo González Mosqueira, Juan Sánchez Alférez, and Pablo Matesanz Rodríguez, who were corporate representatives of Dorna Sports, have been removed from those positions and had their powers revoked, while María Dolores Priego Luque has become an authorized representative.
The former president of Dorna Sports, William Nicholas Jackson, has stepped down and been replaced by Charles Gordon Carey, and José María Maldonado Trinchant has also stepped down as vice president. In January, Martin Edward Patterson was formally appointed Senior Vice President of Liberty Media Corporation, and joined by Idelfonso Polo del Marmol and Oriol Abad Vela as deputy secretaries who are not board members.
It should come as no surprise, however, that Carmelo Ezpeleta, who has been the CEO since 1998, has kept his position. Alongside Ezpeleta, Enrique Aldama will retain his role as CFO. Big moves for the managing media company of MotoGP, which should ensure the sport takes a new direction under the ownership of Liberty Media in 2026.
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