MotoE News: Dorna kills electric MotoE series

Dorna Sports, the organizer of MotoGP and its supporting racing series, will suspend the all-electric MotoE championship after the 2025 season, citing insufficient advancements in electric motorcycle technology and lack of fan interest.

Launched in 2019 as a sustainable complement to MotoGP, MotoE aimed to showcase eco-friendly racing. However, Dorna noted that electric bike performance, particularly in the Ducati-supplied series, has not progressed as hoped, lagging behind even Moto2 and Moto3.

Additionally, MotoGP’s shift to 40% non-fossil fuels, with a full transition to 100% by 2027, has arguably made sustainability more relevant in its flagship series.

Editor’s Note: There is a safety factor as well. Motorcycle riders do not like quiet electric motorcycles; they want people driving cars and trucks to hear them because many times they don’t see motorcycles, and in an accident, it is the bike rider that gets the short end of the stick.

Jorge Viegas, president of the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM), remarked, “Despite our efforts with Dorna to promote this innovative category, we haven’t met our goals, nor has the performance electric bike industry.”

Dorna remains open to reviving MotoE if electric motorcycles or other sustainable technologies gain traction in the future. The decision’s impact on sponsors like Ducati, Michelin, and DHL, which signed a multi-year deal in 2024 for branding and logistics, remains unclear.

MotoE’s 2025 season concludes with two races: the Red Bull-sponsored Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera on September 13, and the Qatar-sponsored Grand Prix of Portugal on November 8. Other race sponsors include Michelin (France, Hungary), Motul (Netherlands), Bwin (Austria), and Monster (Catalonia).

In 2025, Liberty Media, which owns Formula One, acquired Dorna. In late 2024, Dorna’s chief commercial officer, Dan Rossomondo, told Sportcal that the acquisition would maintain “business as usual,” with Dorna operating independently from Spain. He highlighted Liberty Media’s optimism about MotoGP’s growth potential and the value of their Formula One expertise.

Looking ahead, Dorna projects €520 million in revenue for 2025, driven by an expanded 22-race MotoGP calendar with no cancellations so far. Dorna’s mandate to promote MotoGP, MotoE, Superbike World Championship, JuniorGP, and Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, all FIM-sanctioned, extends to 2060 following a long-term agreement signed in September 2024.