New investors in MotoGP? For now, familiar faces in Moto2

Among the short-to-medium term goals for MotoGP highlighted in Liberty Media’s business plan is a firm commitment to making the teams wealthier. Creating value for the stakeholders actively involved in this asset and, consequently, for the entire ecosystem. A bit like in Formula 1: from 2017 to 2025, team values have quadrupled. It isn’t easy to attract new investors to a paddock; this was recently seen with the acquisition of the Fantic Racing Moto2 team by Eric de Seynes, which until now had remained loyal to familiar faces from within the circle.

For Liberty Media, there are two standout examples of investors from outside the two-wheeled world. Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, a NASCAR standout before venturing into MotoGP. No less noteworthy are Günther Steiner and Richard Coleman, who through Ikon Capital have just taken over Tech 3 from Hervé Poncharal. This is the path to making everyone richer. In a recent interview, Carlos Ezpeleta reaffirmed that he receives multiple proposals from parties interested in entering MotoGP. However, so far, they have not materialized.

Somewhat surprisingly, on Sunday, January 11, it was announced that Eric de Seynes, who has been actively involved in motorcycling for half a century and is best known for his recent role as CEO of Yamaha Motor Europe, has acquired the Fantic Racing Moto2 team through his own company, REDS. The deal was finalized after months of negotiations, also involving an external firm, although de Seynes himself had recently let something slip.

"I’m preparing for a future no longer directly tied to Yamaha," he revealed last December after being appointed by the FIM as director of the CMC (Classic Motorcycle Commission), the commission dedicated to vintage motorcycles. Over the course of his career as an entrepreneur, he has held important positions at MBK, Minarelli, and then Yamaha across France, Germany, and Italy, up to the Presidency and leadership of the European division. A businessman with credibility and financial solidity, he is now the Team Owner of the reigning Moto2 Teams’ World Champion squad.

Fantic Motor had acquired the current structure from VR46, viewing Moto2 as a suitable platform to showcase the brand globally. Sporting results have followed, although in 2025 the main sponsor withdrew mid-season, and the company simultaneously revised its participation in other motorcycle disciplines as well. According to the press release, Fantic’s future in Moto2 is not in question, with a "long-term vision" and with Eric de Seynes (no longer the company itself) as the owner.