YAMAHA BOSS PAOLO PAVESIO WARNS LIBERTY MEDIA AGAINST A “DRIVE TO SURVIVE” STYLE TRAP IN MOTO GP

Yamaha’s MotoGP leadership has urged Liberty Media to avoid turning the championship into a version of the Formula 1 docu-reality model that helped make the sport a global phenomenon. Paolo Pavesio, managing director of Yamaha’s motor racing division, said the product MotoGP offers is already strong, but that it can be presented and promoted better as Liberty Media looks to grow the series.

Speaking to MOW, Pavesio argued that MotoGP’s challenge in attracting new fans is not the racing itself. “I think the product works, it’s a strong product, but it can certainly be done better,” he said. He suggested that part of the issue lies in how the technology and the way bikes are ridden can become overly extreme. “I think technological extremism sometimes forces riders to ride a bike in a certain way,” Pavesio explained. In his view, MotoGP could benefit from machines that allow more room for creativity: “Perhaps bikes that are a little less extreme, a little simpler, or even a little more challenging in some ways would give us a little more creativity.”

Pavesio also emphasized that promotion and storytelling should be handled carefully. “That said, the sport must remain a sport,” he said, adding a clear warning about how any media push should be structured. “I would be very careful not to fall into the Drive to Survive trap: we need to make fans and motorcyclists feel understood, without betraying them. And at the same time, find new ones.”

The comments come as Liberty Media attempts to expand MotoGP’s audience using approaches it has already applied in F1. While some fans are sceptical, the paddock mood described in the reporting is broadly optimistic, largely because of the scale of F1’s growth in recent years—rising viewership and increased team valuations—leading many to hope MotoGP could see similar momentum once Liberty has time to implement its plans.

The warning also aligns with signs that MotoGP could develop its own behind-the-scenes series. The report notes that Tech3’s ownership change brought Guenther Steiner into the paddock, and it previously emerged that Liberty Media was considering a two-wheeled “Drive to Survive” style spin-off. Steiner is referenced as a breakout figure from F1’s reality coverage, known for his outspoken reactions, while Christian Horner—also linked with a potential MotoGP role—was cited due to his involvement in the F1 show before his Red Bull Racing team principal departure.