With Liberty Media now owning both Formula 1 and MotoGP, speculation is increasing about closer cooperation between the two global championships. Even a joint race weekend between Formula 1 and MotoGP is not ruled out. For now, it remains a vision for the future, but Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta is open to racing on famous Formula 1 street circuits.
Ezpeleta was present last weekend at the GP of Las Vegas, the showpiece of FOM and Liberty Media. It is the only race weekend fully organized by Formula 1. The Spaniard was quite impressed by the American racing spectacle. Speaking to DAZN, he praised the organization: “In terms of spectacle, what they do here is incredible.” Naturally, he was asked if MotoGP would ever come to the heart of a big city. Ezpeleta emphasized that safety always comes first, but he is definitely open to the idea.
Safety First
“We have no problem with racing on street circuits,” he stated. “We just need enough run-off areas, and in Las Vegas that’s difficult. But there are certainly Formula 1 street circuits we could use. For us, safety is paramount. Since we took over the championship in 1992, that has been our promise to the riders. We don’t want to compromise on that.”
According to Ezpeleta, MotoGP is no stranger to urban circuits. “Technically, Mandalika is an urban area, and we race there,” he referred to the Indonesian stage of the MotoGP championship. The takeover by Liberty Media may bring more street circuits in the future. Aside from the competitive aspect, these tracks invariably provide more spectacle and show. Races like Jeddah, Miami, Singapore, and Las Vegas are now fixtures on the Formula 1 calendar. MotoGP is already active on five permanent Formula 1 circuits, namely Qatar, Austin, Barcelona, Spielberg, and Silverstone.
