Photo via Crash.net

Yamaha boss warns ‘fans must recognise MotoGP’ as it grows

Yamaha MotoGP team principal Paolo Pavesio has issued a cautionary note about the sport’s rapid evolution under Liberty Media’s ownership, warning that growth must not alienate its core fanbase. The $4.2 billion takeover in 2024 has already reshaped MotoGP with expanded calendar slots, a revamped race weekend format for 2027, and a stronger focus on the premier class at the expense of Moto2 and Moto3 visibility.

While Pavesio acknowledges the need for innovation—including next year’s technical regulations aimed at making bikes ‘more humane’—he stressed that MotoGP’s primary purpose remains selling motorcycles, unlike Formula 1’s lifestyle-driven model. With manufacturers like Yamaha investing 70% of the sport’s total funding, he urged a balanced approach: ‘If the sport grows and attracts new people, it’s an opportunity—but we must ensure fans still recognize themselves in it.’

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