Motorsport enthusiasts have a reason to celebrate as the new season kick-starts, with NASCAR being one of the first to rev its engines. Broadcasters play a crucial role in bringing the thrill of the tracks to fans worldwide who cannot witness the adrenaline-pumping action in person. For NASCAR, FOX Sports is one of the key media platforms that inked a deal to telecast the series.
The American media behemoth, FOX Sports, is steering its way to become the ultimate hub for motorsports in the United States. In addition to NASCAR, the network has also roped in IndyCar under its umbrella. The latest to join this prestigious lineup is MotoGP, with a media licensing agreement from 2025. This strategic partnership is in line with Liberty Media’s goal to amplify the prominence of the sport in America.
The announcement of the MotoGP deal was made just in time for the opening race weekend in Thailand. In the previous year, MotoGP coverage transitioned from NBC Sports to TNT Sports, allowing American viewers to watch the races live, a significant upgrade from the tape-delayed broadcasts on NBC.
Although MotoGP is currently under the ownership of Dorna, Liberty Media has shown interest in acquiring a controlling 86% stake in the company, with the proposed deal estimated at $4.5 billion. This acquisition is currently under scrutiny by European antitrust regulators, leaving Dorna as the owner of MotoGP for the time being.
Liberty Media faced stiff competition from TKO Group Holdings for the stake. The American entity saw immense potential in MotoGP, the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, and aimed to replicate the success Liberty Media had with F1.
Meanwhile, FOX Sports seized the opportunity to broadcast MotoGP races to the American audience. The presence of the American team, Trackhouse Racing, with racers Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura, adds an extra appeal to the deal. The team, which made its debut in the previous MotoGP season, is set to make waves in its sophomore year.
Interestingly, Trackhouse Racing also fields a team in the NASCAR Cup Series, running three full-time cars with Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Shane van Gisbergen, and two part-time cars with Connor Zilisch and Helio Castroneves behind the wheels.
FOX Sports had initially set its sights on Formula One. However, it lost the bid to ESPN, who secured the broadcasting rights in the United States. Now, the FOX-MotoGP deal ensures that all 22 MotoGP races, along with the sprint races, will be broadcasted live on FS1 and FS2, as well as on the FOX Sports app.
However, there’s no word yet on whether the supporting classes, Moto2, Moto3, or MotoE, will be part of the broadcast deal. As the new season gets underway in Thailand, fans will miss the reigning champion Jorge Martin, due to an injury. The spotlight is now on Marc Marque, who will be making his debut on the factory Ducati.
