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 Over the past few months, several corporate positions have either been revoked or changed hands.
