The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was the scene of a historic MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship round as Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured his first two wins with BMW machinery. A strategic masterclass in Race 1 was followed up with an incredible last-lap, last-corner pass on Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the Tissot Superpole Race. Speaking after the two victories, Razgatlioglu’s manager, Kenan Sofuoglu, gave his thoughts as well as outlining why he believes the 2021 Champion can win this year’s title.

THE FIRST THOUGHTS ON VICTORY: “everything’s going well now”

Giving his immediate thoughts on the Turkish superstar’s victories, five-time World Supersport Champion Sofuoglu said: “Last year, we made a big decision to BMW, and I gave a lot of support to Toprak to make this decision. So many people thought we made the wrong decision. As a rider, I believed the BMW was a very good bike. The first meeting I spoke to BMW, the team and the manager spoke about it, and I thought they had a very good bike. I thought, ‘You have one very nice puzzle, and one piece is missing’ which is Toprak. Everything’s going very well now, he’s winning in the second round.”

EMULATING ROSSI: “I asked him why he didn’t try at the place he’s strong!”

Razgatlioglu’s Superpole Race win came in spectacular fashion, replicating Valentino Rossi’s 2009 move on Jorge Lorenzo at Turn 14 to take victory at the final corner. Speaking about this, Sofuoglu revealed he asked the 27-year-old why he didn’t pass Bautista at Turn 10, a corner that usually suits his strengths: “I believe Toprak is one of the strongest riders for the last lap especially. In Barcelona, you need to make your last attack in the hairpin before the last part of the track. Toprak couldn’t do it and I asked myself why he didn’t try, because I know he normally does in that kind of corner. He releases the brake, manages to stop the bike and he couldn’t. I was thinking about second position. In the last corner, he found a place to enter, and he did it. I asked him why he didn’t try at the place he’s strong, he said, ‘There was a big gap, I couldn’t try but I didn’t give up, waited until the last corner’ and he managed it.”

THE GOALS: “After testing, I thought, ‘Toprak can win the Championship this year

Despite a delayed start to his M 1000 RR testing programme, Razgatlioglu was immediately up to speed as he adapted to the new bike. Fast at every circuit he tested at was followed by a podium in Australia before the wins in Barcelona. Discussing whether these wins came sooner than expected, and the possibility of a title charge is on the cards for 2024, Sofuoglu explained he was thinking Assen or Donington for the first win, but his expectations changed after testing.

He said: “We believed a lot, but we weren’t sure when we can win. After winter testing, I started to believe more. But I was believing we can win at Assen or Donington, I didn’t expect it in Barcelona! Barcelona’s not Toprak’s favourite track but he’s so strong. Toprak’s in his sixth season in WorldSBK and if I look at all the winter testing times, Toprak is stronger this year with BMW, and I understand he’s going to be favourite for the title.”

When asked whether the goal for 2024 is the title, Sofuoglu replied: “Definitely. When we signed, it was for two years but we didn’t know when; first year or second year. We were believing more for the second season. After winter testing, I thought, ‘Toprak can win the Championship this year with this bike’. The bike is nicer than we expected.”

BAUTISTA VS BULEGA VS RAZGATLIOGLU? “The main competition is Bautista… he’s got a hard time too!”

Four riders have already won in 2024, with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) joining Razgatlioglu and Bautista on the top step in the six races so far. Discussing who he thinks the competition will be this season, Sofuoglu stated: “I think still the main, hard competition for us is Bautista. He gave us a very hard time on Sunday, we beat him in the last corner. He’s a hard rival. Bautista’s got a hard time too, because Bulega arrived from WorldSSP and is immediately making lap records everywhere and I can understand Bautista’s situation; you are the #1 in the garage and the newcomer, the new teammate makes you feel less confident in your garage. This is very normal in racing. It’s good for us, honestly!”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

WorldSBK has some exciting news! Read the full announcement from Dorna and MotoGP™ below:

Liberty Media Corporation has announced an agreement to acquire MotoGP™. MotoGP™ is the pinnacle of two wheels, with 22 of the fastest riders competing on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks, reaching top speeds above 360 kilometers per hour/223 miles per hour. From the first season in 1949 that staged six rounds across Europe, the sport has grown to comprise more than 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world.

This new agreement will see Dorna Sports S.L., the exclusive commercial and television rights holder of MotoGP™, remain an independently run company attributed to Liberty Media’s Formula One Group tracking stock. Carmelo Ezpeleta, who has been CEO since 1994, will remain in his position and continue to run the business with his management team. The business will remain based in Madrid.

Dorna also holds exclusive rights to other motorcycle racing series, including MotoGP™ feeder series Moto2™ and Moto3™, the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the new FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.

Liberty Media will acquire approximately 86% of Dorna, with Dorna management retaining approximately 14% of their equity in the business. The transaction reflects an enterprise value for Dorna/MotoGP™ of €4.2 billion and an equity value of €3.5 billion, with MotoGP’s™ existing debt balance expected to remain in place after close.

“We are thrilled to expand our portfolio of leading live sports and entertainment assets with the acquisition of MotoGP,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty Media President and CEO. “MotoGP is a global league with a loyal, enthusiastic fan base, captivating racing and a highly cash flow generative financial profile. Carmelo and his management team have built a great sporting spectacle that we can expand to a wider global audience. The business has significant upside, and we intend to grow the sport for MotoGP fans, teams, commercial partners and our shareholders.”

“This is the perfect next step in the evolution of MotoGP, and we are excited for what this milestone brings to Dorna, the MotoGP paddock and racing fans,” said Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna. “We are proud of the global sport we’ve grown, and this transaction is a testament to the value of the sport today and its growth potential. Liberty Media has an incredible track record in developing sports assets and we could not wish for a better partner to expand MotoGP’s fanbase around the world.”

The acquisition is expected to be completed by year-end 2024 and is subject to the receipt of clearances and approvals by competition and foreign investment law authorities in various jurisdictions.

Investor Call
Liberty Media’s President and CEO, Greg Maffei, and Dorna’s CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta, will host an investor conference call at 8:30am ET / 2:30pm CEST on April 1, 2024 to discuss the acquisition in more detail. The call can be accessed by dialing +1 (215) 268-9864 (United States), +34 900 834 876 (Spain) or +44 (0)800 756 3429 (United Kingdom), confirmation code 13745617 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. For a full list of international toll-free access numbers, please visit https://www.incommconferencing.com/international-dial-in. The call will also be broadcast live across the internet and archived on Liberty Media’s website. Presentation materials to be used during the investor call will be posted to the Liberty Media website in advance. To access the webcast and accompanying presentation materials go to https://www.libertymedia.com/investors/news-events/ir-calendar. An archive of the webcast will also be available on Liberty Media’s website after appropriate filings have been made with the SEC.

About Liberty Media Corporation
Liberty Media Corporation operates and owns interests in a broad range of media, communications and entertainment businesses. Those businesses are attributed to three tracking stock groups: the Liberty SiriusXM Group, the Formula One Group and the Liberty Live Group. The businesses and assets attributed to the Liberty SiriusXM Group (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK) include Liberty Media’s interest in SiriusXM. The businesses and assets attributed to the Formula One Group (NASDAQ: FWONA, FWONK) include Liberty Media’s subsidiaries Formula 1 and Quint, and other minority investments. The businesses and assets attributed to the Liberty Live Group (NASDAQ: LLYVA, LLYVK) include Liberty Media’s interest in Live Nation and other minority investments.

About Dorna Sports, S.L. & MotoGP™
Dorna Sports became the sole commercial and television rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship in 1991. Based in Madrid, with premises in Barcelona and a subsidiary in Rome, Dorna is a leader in sports management, marketing and media, and has seen continued growth over the years, expanding from solely MotoGP™ to include other leading motorcycle racing championships across the globe. Dorna holds exclusive rights to MotoGP feeder series Moto2™ and Moto3™, MotoE™, the Superbike World Championship and the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.

MotoGP™ is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, with 22 of the fastest riders competing on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks. MotoGP features top speeds above 360 kilometers per hour (223 miles per hour) and lean angles of over 60 degrees. Since 1949, the sport has grown to comprise more than 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world. 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including certain statements relating to the proposed transaction and its completion and statements relating to our expectations regarding the Formula One Group business, and Dorna and its MotoGP business and prospects. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as “possible,” “potential,” “intends” or “expects” or other words or phrases of similar import or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “might,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or similar variations. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, but not limited to: historical financial information may not be representative of future results; there may be significant transaction costs and integration costs in connection with the proposed transaction; the parties may not realize the potential benefits of the proposed transaction in the near term or at all; the parties may not satisfy all conditions to the proposed transaction, including the failure to obtain regulatory approvals; the proposed transaction may not be consummated; there may be liabilities that are not known, probable or estimable at this time; the proposed transaction may result in the diversion of management’s time and attention to issues relating to the proposed transaction and integration; unfavorable outcome of legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the proposed transaction; risks inherent to the business may result in additional strategic and operational risks, which may impact Liberty Media’s risk profile, which it may not be able to mitigate effectively; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in periodic reports that Liberty Media files with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Liberty Media expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Liberty Media’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Please refer to the publicly filed documents of Liberty Media, including its most recent Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports Liberty Media subsequently file with the SEC, for additional information about Liberty Media and about the risks and uncertainties related to Liberty Media’s businesses which may affect the statements made in this press release.

Source: WorldSBK.com

2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) underwent surgery on Thursday, 28th March at the Oglio Po Hospital (Cremona). Performed by Professor Alessio Pedrazzini to address chronic exertional forearm compartment syndrome (arm pump), a common surgery in motorcycling racing, it was decided that after previous issues, to be solved before the third round of his rookie season.

The issue has been present since last winter and worsened during the Australian Round for Bulega and was aggravated last weekend in Barcelona, where severe pain threatened to limit the performance of the reigning Supersport World Champion. For this reason, in agreement with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, the decision to perform surgery on Bulega’s right forearm has been made. He will now have plenty of time to recover from the operation and to get in the best condition for the third round of the 2024 WorldSBK season scheduled for April 19-21 at the TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands.

EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from 2024’s new era with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has often thrown up surprised in its short time on the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, and 2024 was no exception. After last lap fights, incredible battles and much, much more, it’s time to look at some of the barely believable overtakes that happened during the round with two corners that don’t normally have lots of overtaking featuring a lot.

REPLICATING ROSSI: Razgatlioglu’s sensational move as Bautista goes from P1 to P3

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led on the final lap but he didn’t lead at the end of it, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) taking a maiden BMW victory. Forcing his way through at the final corner of Turn 14, the #54 moved himself into the lead with just a few hundred metres to go, with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) taking advantage to move into second and demote the reigning Champion into third.

ANOTHER STUNNER FROM THE #54: one corner, two passes

The Tissot Superpole Race will be remembered for the last gasp move by Razgatlioglu, but another move needs to be highlighted. Mid-way through the race, the 2021 Champion got a good run out of Turn 8 and used it to full advantage. He stormed up the inside of both Iannone and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) to gain two places at a corner you don’t see many overtakes at. 

BAUTISTA ON LOCATELLI AT TURN 6: unconventional to say the least…

Bautista was involved in another unexpected overtake, as he passed Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) at Turn 6. A corner that’s on the short straight between the tight Turn 5 left-hander and the left-hander of Turn 7 that starts the chicane, normally riders are able to pull alongside but the move for Bautista came at the left-hand kink of Turn 6. Unexpected, yet adding to the list of corners becoming overtaking opportunities.

TURN 7-8 CHICANE: almost impossible to pass… but it happened

Lap 5 of the Superpole Race will go down as a memorable one, with action everywhere. It kicked off at Turn 5 when Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) passed Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), before Iannone forced the #11 wide and moved ahead. After that, his sights were soon set on the #22 ahead and he tried to make the move at the Turn 7-8 chicane, the pair running side-by-side at a section of the track that can best be described as single file.

AGGRESSIVE THROUGH TURN 3: Alex Lowes on Bulega

After a frantic start to the race, riders were trying to gain positions back or fight through the field. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) lost ground at the start but was soon on the charge, fighting with Alex Lowes through the opening sector. After banging bars through Turns 1 and 2, the #22 went through fairly forcefully at Turn 3 to keep the position in a superb fight. 

Watch more incredible WorldSBK action throughout 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has been absolutely mind-blowing in the opening two rounds, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain proving to be some of the greatest racing we’ve ever seen. History was everywhere you looked as BMW returned to winning ways, the reigning World Champion was back on the top step and more. Check out all the big stats below whilst reliving an epic Superpole Race here.

3857/902 – BMW had to wait 902 days for their next win after Michael van der Mark won at Portimao in 2021. However, their last ‘main’ race win was at the Nurburgring in 2013 with Chaz Davies winning in Race 2, some 3857 days before Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) Race 1 win in Barcelona. Divide the 3857 by 902 and you get 4 (nearest whole number): Toprak won in his fourth race for BMW. 

202 – After hitting the 200 mark in Race 1, Yamaha’s streak of consecutive points-scoring rides is now at 202 after Race 2.

93 – Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is on 93 podiums after his first win of 2024 in Race 2, just one behind triple WorldSBK Champion Troy Bayliss.

87 – During the current points scoring system – since 1995 – 87 points for Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is the lowest amount after six races. However, six races from 1995 until 2018 were all the main races, without the Tissot Superpole Race; it’s still the lowest in the Superpole Race era. 

86 – Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) became the 86^th rider to lead a WorldSBK race. 

60 – Bautista took a 60^th win of his WorldSBK career, all taken with Ducati and he moves into clear second now behind Jonathan Rea (119) and ahead of Carl Fogarty (59) in the all-time WorldSBK win charts.

41 – Razgatlioglu is on 41 wins, ironically just two behind the #41 of Noriyuki Haga, who has 43.

32 – With 32 Superpole front rows, Razgatlioglu matched double World Champion Max Biaggi.

10 – Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took his first top ten with Kawasaki in Race 1 with P10.

8 – Eighth for Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in Race 2 gave him his first points with Yamaha.

6 – Six straight seasons of wins for Toprak Razgatlioglu, his first coming during Race 1 at Magny-Cours in 2019.

6 – Six top six finishes for Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) at the start of the season since 2019 leaves him third overall going to one of his favourite circuits, Assen.

4 – Four race winners from six races, the same number of winners across the full 2023 season. It’s the first time that there’s been four race winners in six races since 2020, when the first four races were all won by different riders. 

4 – Fourth for Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in Race 2, his best race result since third in Race 2 at Mandalika in 2021, denying newly crowned Champion Razgatlioglu. 

3 – Razgatlioglu won for BMW in Race 1 in Barcelona, the third manufacturer he’s won with after Kawasaki and Yamaha. He’s the seventh rider to achieve this in the 36-year history of WorldSBK, behind: Stephane Mertens, Anthony Gobert, Troy Corser, Eugene Laverty and Chaz Davies. Marco Melandri is the other rider but he’s the only rider to have won with four manufacturers. 

3 – Toprak is third in the Championship standings, the best place for a BMW rider since Marco Melandri was also third in 2013 in the #54’s home country, Turkey.

3 – Three top ten finishes in Barcelona for Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) at the only track where he didn’t score a top ten in his rookie 2023 season.

2 – A second podium for Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) in his rookie season with a career-best P2 in the Superpole Race. 

0.075s – The closest finish for a WorldSBK race in Barcelona happened in the Superpole Race with Razgatlioglu beating Iannone by 0.075s after he overtook Bautista at the final corner on the last lap. 

EVERY SECOND LIVE: watch all the action from 2024’s new era with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Kove made FIM Supersport 300 World Championship history on two occasions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, by topping their first Tissot Superpole session on Friday before claiming a first podium on Sunday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. They became the first manufacturer from China to achieve these feats and, speaking after the Pirelli Catalunya Round, Team Manager Jesus Rincon and Julio Garcia, who got the podium, discussed the historic moment.

Although Julio Garcia set the fastest time in Friday’s Superpole session after posting a 1’55.313s, the #48 was forced to start from fourth in Race 1. He was given a three-place grid penalty for irresponsible riding in Saturday’s Warm Up session, demoting him to the second row. A technical issue in Race 1 forced the Malaga-born star out of the race, however he was able to bounce back in Race 2 to claim a rostrum finish, his second in WorldSSP300 but Kove’s first since joining the Championship last year.

Reflecting on his weekend and explaining his decision to switch from Kawasaki to Kove machinery, Garcia said: “I think it was a quite positive weekend in which on Friday we already felt very fast from the start, and this was reflected in the fact that we got the pole. On Saturday we had a small problem, but the team solved it quickly so that on Sunday, the bike was perfect, and we were able to get second place in Race 2. I feel very good with the Kove, it was already seen that we adapted very quickly, and I think the bike has a lot of potential. 

“For me, the pole and podium are something that makes me very proud because it is Kove’s first pole and first podium, so I am very proud to have achieved it with them. I decided to leave Kawasaki because Kove presented me with a project in which I saw that they had a lot of ambition to do well, and I saw that the bike could be competitive. Right now, we are seeing that the bike is competitive, and I think that at the end of the year we will be able to achieve great results.”

Julio Garcia is partnered with 2017 Champion Marc Garcia this season, with Kove opting for a mix of youth and experience for their project. Somewhat ironically, Kove did get to start from pole during the weekend – just not when they first thought. Marc Garcia set the fastest lap in Race 1, giving him the best grid position for Race 2, although the #22 fell down the order before retiring on Lap 11 of 12. Nevertheless, both Garcias showed the potential of the Kove at different points.

Reacting to the podium, Kove’s long-term goals and opting to bring in both Julio and Marc Garcia, Team Manager Jesus Rincon said: “Personally, it is a sign that the project that started a year ago is beginning to bear fruit after a great effort from everyone. At the same time, it shows that we are going in the right direction. The goal has always been to be the first Chinese manufacturer to win a world title. They are two riders who have already demonstrated their great talent and who can fit together very well. Both have different riding styles and personalities, but they can work together and can offer a solid team. The goal is clearly to be with both riders at the front and to have them both fighting for the win in the Netherlands.”

Can Kove continue writing history? Watch more WorldSSP300 action throughout 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Two different winners from two races started the 2024 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship as it will go on, with unpredictability the name of the game. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM – PALIGO Racing) was promoted to victory in Race 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya following a penalty for Inigo Iglesias Bravo (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki), before the Spaniard made amends in Race 2 with a hard-fought victory during the Pirelli Catalunya Round.

Iglesias had crossed the line first in Race 1, but a three-second penalty in lieu of a Long Lap Penalty demoted him down to 13^th after a collision with Matteo Vannucci (Pata Yamaha AG Motorsport Italia) and Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) at Turn 5 on the final lap. It promoted reigning Champion Buis to P1 after he had an up-and-down race, fighting at the front at the start and end but dropping out of the points in between. 

It meant he started his KTM career with victory and discussing this, the #1 said: “It’s incredible. It’s not the way you want to win, finishing second and gaining through a penalty. For the points, it’s good. I’m very happy to have the winning formula also with the new bike. The start of the race was good, but I started falling back, I was even in P17 or something like this so that was not so good. The tyre dropped and it’s new for me with this bike, so I needed to adjust my riding style for this. I started to gain confidence and it was a lot better. I fought back to the first position so it’s an incredible way to start the season.”

Although Iglesias was classified in 13^th in Race 1, he knew he had the pace to fight for victory and he did so in Race 2, overcoming what was at times a 20-rider lead group for his first win at World Championship level. It was his first weekend back after moving to the IDM championship for 2023 and winning in Germany, and he restarted his World Championship career with a victory in Barcelona, his first in WorldSSP300 with his fifth podium.

Reacting to his first win, Iglesias said: “I knew I had the pace, and my bike is really good. We worked really hard on the setup so I could do what I wanted. It’s really important because I took a step back last year, so I was a little bit sad not to be here last year. I won IDM last year and I come back stronger. I feel like I’m in a good moment. The last lap is always incredible, but I was saving the tyre in the whole race. I was thinking about the last lap, so I pushed to the maximum to get the win.”

Who will take victory as WorldSSP300 hits the Netherlands? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com