Business of Sport Carlos Ezpeleta: The Plan to Grow MotoGP , Marc Marquez's Impossible Championship, & Multimillion Team Sales (Ep.111)
Mar 17, 2026
Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer for MotoGP who oversees rules, teams, circuits and global operations. He discusses MotoGP’s global growth strategy, how Liberty Media can scale the sport without losing its soul, and the balance between manufacturers, cost controls and competitive racing. He also covers content, audience-building and expansion into markets like the US and Asia.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Make Decisions With A Five To Seven Year Horizon
- Think long-term: every decision should consider impact five to seven years ahead.
- Carlos highlights Liberty Media's value is patient capital and experienced executives like Derek Chang and Chase Carey guiding strategic growth.
Grow By Emphasising What Makes MotoGP Unique
- Growth should lean into MotoGP's unique identity rather than copy Formula 1.
- Carlos argues success comes from emphasising two-wheel distinctiveness and existing competitive parity (10 of 11 teams on podium last year).
Team Valuations Reflect Scarcity And Manufacturer Structures
- Team valuations lag overall sport value partly due to scarcity, manufacturer ownership, and differing assets.
- Carlos notes five manufacturer-run teams and six independents lease machinery, affecting team business models and valuation dynamics.