MotoGP must “go to a different stage” to draw massive sponsors

Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola believes MotoGP should be extra “aspirational” as a way to entice new and larger sponsors to the championship.

Rivola joined Aprilia’s administration construction for the 2019 season after an extended tenure at Ferrari in System 1, the place he held the place of sporting director from 2009-2016 earlier than taking cost of its driver growth programme.

The Italian’s transfer from Toro Rosso to Ferrari in 2009 was pushed by then-team principal Stefano Domenicali, who’s at present the CEO of F1 and a senior government at Liberty Media.

Liberty is within the technique of buying a controlling 86% stake in MotoGP’s rights holder Dorna in a deal that can worth the Spanish firm at round 4.3 billion euros.

The acquisition is at present topic to “an in-depth investigation” by the European Union, which needs to make sure Liberty does not violate any antitrust legal guidelines by proudly owning each F1 and MotoGP.

Rivola, who continues to get pleasure from a powerful relationship with Domenicali, believes that Liberty might strengthen the industrial arm of MotoGP, which might assist usher in new sponsors to the sequence.

These feedback observe Spanish oil main Repsol leaving the championship after three a long time, having been related to Honda since 1995.

“If we take a look at what Liberty has executed with F1, MotoGP wants somebody who is concentrated on advertising,” Rivola instructed Motorsport.com.

“In that space, now we have to go to a different stage. We have now to succeed in extra individuals, and be capable of entice extra and larger sponsors. I’m positive that Liberty can have the correct channel to make that step.”

Rivola believes Dorna has executed an outstanding job in selling MotoGP however feels Liberty is the correct firm that take it to a different stage.

He additionally burdened that the premier class should stand other than the decrease divisions – Moto2 and Moto3 – as a way to make itself extra interesting to sponsors.

“The way forward for MotoGP is brilliant,” he stated. “I believe we nonetheless have a little bit of a battle to get to F1 ranges, however we do not have to repeat and paste.

“MotoGP must be extra aspirational than Moto2 and Moto3. Possibly not in the identical approach as F1, however selling that aspirational component will entice greater sponsors.

“A few of these sponsors wish to differentiate themselves, provided that they carry in some huge cash, and luxuriate in the truth that they’re working at a sure stage.”