Earlier this month it was introduced that Liberty Media, the American leisure firm which additionally owns F1, acquired a 86% stake in Dorna Sports activities, valuing the MotoGP, WorldSBK and MotoE promoter at €4.2 billion.
It revived the concept of the 2 championships experimenting with a joint weekend, which in response to Dorna sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta was “not discarded” however not actively labored on both.
COTA chairman Epstein, whose circuit hosted final week’s eventful Grand Prix of the Americas and welcomes F1 in October, believes a double-header with each sequence could be attainable however faces a number of hindrances.
“I believe there are issues past the plain,” Epstein informed chosen media, together with Autosport.
“The primary ones that come to thoughts are simply the bodily ones, however from a sponsor activation standpoint they each carry totally different sponsors, totally different activations and producers, that we’d be bulging on the seams.
“And likewise, you’d must do quite a lot of changeover of monitor signage. The media centre would bulge somewhat bit on the seams. It is attainable, I do not know that it is possible.”
However amid struggles to develop MotoGP’s fanbase in North America, Epstein welcomed Liberty’s arrival with open arms, saying his circuit will probably be “one of many greatest beneficiaries”.
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“We’re excited by it most likely greater than anyone,” he defined. “MotoGP has come to the US and actually not had an entire lot of consideration paid to it. And as soon as they depart, that is all you hear for about one other 51 weeks.
“So this can be a implausible factor to have us be the one form of flag bearer of MotoGP within the US and to present assist to that sequence that we have had 12 years of dedication to, and actually imagine in.
“It is a implausible competitors and it is simply ready for extra folks to find it. I hope we’re one of many greatest beneficiaries of that buy.
“I do not assume they’ve to alter the game in any respect. They only must deal with shedding somewhat extra gentle on it, giving it visibility. They have the channels and the flexibility.”
On Thursday, COTA introduced a deal whereby early fowl ticket holders for October’s F1 grand prix can re-sell their weekend common admission tickets again to the circuit for a revenue, which runs till after the circuit unveils its music line-up on 29 April.
“We bought greater than 10,000 GA tickets at a worth of $299 and we’ll supply to purchase again their tickets at $350,” Epstein defined.
“Once we announce our performers, these tickets are going to be value effectively greater than then they paid.
“We will put a restricted quantity of tickets on sale once more, after the music announcement, at somewhat bit increased worth.
“We wish to present there’s worth in our tickets and I believe it is a robust assertion.”