#dorna

Liberty Media Corporation, which owns the rights to Formula One, is acquiring Dorna Sports and the commercial rights to the MotoGP World Championship, as well as the World Superbike Championship and their respective support series. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, pending regular approval in multiple jurisdictions. Once completed, Liberty Media will own an 86% stake in Dorna Sports, with MotoGP’s management team retaining a 14% stake.

The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) has released provisional regulations for the revamped World Supersport championship, including new motorcycles being added to the series as “Supersport Next Generation” models.

Big news out of the Ducati camp, as the Bologna-based manufacturer has announced it has reached an agreement with Dorna to be the sole supplier for the all-electric MotoE World Cup, which races alongside MotoGP at select rounds. Ducati’s involvement will begin in 2023 through at least 2026.

The history book (or Wikipedia page, if that’s your thing) on electric motorcycles is rather slim, especially compared to its internal combustion counterparts, but what you’ll find is a myriad of ideas and concepts. Such is the beauty of a technology in its infancy. The section on electric racing motorcycles is even thinner. If you discount the inaugural MotoE championship running alongside MotoGP this year, the biggest stage for electric racing motorcycles has been the Isle of Man TT Zero race, wherein each entry tries to complete one full lap around the 37-mile course as fast as possible. Well, it was until the event was put on hold for at least two years. The machines you would have found at the TT Zero are full of ideas and concepts to win the race, but the one constant is the fact the batteries dominate the vehicle’s overall design. It’s understandable, considering you need a lot of battery to travel nearly 40 miles at 150-plus miles per hour.

Following the fire earlier this month that destroyed the entire fleet of Energica Ego Corsa spec race bikes, the FIM has released an updated calendar for the 2019 MotoE World Cup.

In the world of motorcycle racing, the number 69 is synonymous with one person: Nicky Hayden. “The Kentucky Kid” left an indelible mark on this sport, punctuated by his 2006 MotoGP championship, which earned him MotoGP “Legend” status upon his departure to World Superbike at the end of 2015. As a tribute to the late, great champion, Dorna will retire the number 69 from premier Grand Prix racing at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, ensuring the number and the man will forever be linked.

Moto2 Rider Romano Fenati has long been known for having a fiery temper in the racing paddock. The 22-year-old Marinelli Snipers team rider from Ascoli made the unforgivable decision to grab Stefano Manzi’s front brake lever during the 2018 San Marino GP this sunday in Misano. Dorna, MotoGP’s sanctioning body, dealt the Italian rider a two race suspension penalty on Sunday after Fenati was black flagged from the race “irresponsible riding”.

Marc Marquez currently leads the 2018 MotoGP championship but it was only a month ago in Argentina that the Repsol Honda rider had arguably his worst race in the premier class. While much of the post-race talk was about Marquez’s role in Valentino Rossi and Aleix Espargaro crashing out in two separate incidents, what happened to Marquez on the starting grid was somewhat overlooked. Here’s a reminder of what happened:

Retired racer and Dorna‘s MotoGP race direction representative Loris Capirossi recently completed a private test of the Saroléa SP7 electric race bike to judge its candidacy for the spec bike for MotoGP’s upcoming electric class.