Growth is good, but losing the soul of the sport is a real danger. That is the warning coming straight from Yamaha Racing managing director Paolo Pavesio, who has laid out his concerns regarding the ongoing changes under Liberty Media.
As Motorsport.com reports, the Formula 1 owner's takeover of the championship last year has sparked a heavy push to overhaul the look, feel, and appeal of MotoGP. Liberty has already floated aims to stage more races near large urban areas, eliminate wildcard riders from 2027, and work behind the scenes toward introducing a separate grid for sprint races. But speaking in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com Italy, Pavesio stressed that these new ideas must be managed intelligently to avoid alienating the current audience.
Then, if we are as good as F1 has been with the team property itself—turning it into an asset that generates revenue and profit—even better,
The 54-year-old Italian is hardly a traditionalist standing in the way of progress. He even keeps a stripped-down 2002 500cc bike in his office, noting how he could stare at the frame, engine, wheels, and exhausts for six hours—while acknowledging that it belongs firmly in the past.
"The evolution of things shouldn’t frighten us if we manage it with a clear and shared idea and strategy," Pavesio said.
Where things get delicate, however, is the fundamental business model of the championship. Pavesio pointed out the massive gap between Formula 1 and motorcycle racing, noting that the five MotoGP manufacturers shoulder seventy percent of the total investment in the sport. And unlike in F1, where manufacturers do not necessarily move road cars simply because a Grand Prix is won, motorcycle racing exists to sell machines.
"We have to be careful not to evolve this sport to the point where our fans no longer recognise themselves in it and we lose them," he warned.
Not all change is alarming, of course. Pavesio voiced no issue with the upcoming shift to 850cc bikes next season—a technical plan predating Liberty's involvement—describing the machines as remaining extreme while becoming a little more human, which should ultimately benefit the show. He also acknowledged that if new people arrive and help rejuvenate the audience, it creates a genuine business opportunity to sell more motorcycles and scooters.
Ultimately, Pavesio believes that lessons from Formula 1 should only be applied once a healthy, growing audience and clear business sense for the manufacturers are secured.
"Then, if we are as good as F1 has been with the team property itself—turning it into an asset that generates revenue and profit—even better," he said. "We have to be careful, yes, but we also have to be open to an evolution that is managed intelligently."
