MotoGP and Formula 1 Parent Liberty Media Visits Yamaha Headquarters to Strengthen Motorsport Partnership

October 16, 2026

October 16, 2026—On Tuesday, October 6, following the Grand Prix of Japan, the 15th round of the MotoGP World Championship, executives from Liberty Media, parent company of MotoGP and Formula 1, visited the headquarters of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The visiting delegation included Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang, along with Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (MSEG) that manages MotoGP operations, and MSEG Vice CEO Carlos Ezpeleta. During their visit, they met with Yamaha Motor President Motofumi Shitara.

Through the meeting, Liberty Media, MSEG, and Yamaha Motor reaffirmed the importance of their partnership in the sustainable development and further value enhancement of motorsport. The three organizations agreed to strengthen their ties further and deepen collaboration toward the future of the industry.

Since its founding in 1955, Yamaha Motor has positioned motorsport as a core pillar of its corporate activities. Today, at the highest level of motorcycle road racing, in addition to its entries in the MotoGP and Moto2 World Championships, the company has announced that it will serve as official motorcycle supplier to the Moto3 class from 2028 through 2033. Liberty Media and MSEG are key partners for Yamaha Motor, collaborating closely to drive the sustainable growth, stability, and global expansion of motorsport as both a sport and as a form of entertainment.

Prior to the meeting, the three executives visited Yamaha Motor’s main factory and corporate museum, the Communication Plaza. At the factory, they toured the assembly line for the CP2 engine, which is built on the crossplane concept and powers models including the YZF-R7. The CP2 engine will serve as the base for Moto3 machines going forward. They also had the chance to take a close look at the final product inspection process.

At the Communication Plaza, which exhibits Yamaha Motor’s history, businesses, products, and motorsport activities, the executives gained a deeper understanding of the company's manufacturing philosophy, corporate culture, and brand values.

During the meeting, President Shitara shared about Yamaha’s longstanding motorsport heritage dating back to 1955 and highlighted its vital importance to the company's business management. The leaders also exchanged views on a wide range of topics aimed at the future development of motorsport, including expanding the market reach of MotoGP and cultivating young rider talent starting with Moto3.

Yamaha Motor will continue its strong partnership with Liberty Media and MSEG toward bringing the excitement and value of MotoGP and motorsport to an even broader global audience, and contributing to the sustainable development of the industry.

About Liberty Media:
Liberty Media is a media company headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA. Through its ownership of the Formula One Group, which holds the commercial rights to the pinnacle of four-wheel motorsport, Formula 1, and the world’s premier motorcycle road racing championship, MotoGP, Liberty Media drives the development of both series through media broadcasting rights, race promotion, and sponsorship partnerships.