Rumor Has It That Red Bull's Christian Horner Might Be MotoGP's Next CEO

There's a new report that, after Liberty Media's takeover of MotoGP last year, that it may be looking to put Red Bull Racing's former team principal, Christian Horner, in as CEO for the motorcycle racing series.

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

By: Jonathon Klein

May 8, at 7:18am ET

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Look, do I like the Ezpeletas, the father and son duo who wield an iron fist over MotoGP? No, no I don't. I've found their tenure reigning supreme over the motorcycle racing series bafflingly bad, making inane decisions, ruining things we all held dear, and generally behaving as Bernie Ecclestone used to in his heyday running Formula 1.

OK, maybe there are fewer scandals, but fewer ain't none. And the Ezpeletas' history within the sport is marked by a number of legal entanglements, scandals, backlash, and more.

But does that mean I want former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner running the show? Also no. Yet, according to a number of recent rumors, as well as spotting the sacked team boss in the paddock, and the number of former Formula 1 officials entering the sport in recent months, that could be what we're getting in the very near future.

I feel like, at best, this is a lateral move in terms of skeeviness. But it's also somewhat of a downgrade, because at least the Ezpeletas have a history with motorcycle racing. Horner does not.

After Horner was spotted in Jerez during the last round, and sparking rumors about him taking over a team just as Guenther Steiner did with Tech3, the mill began churning that he was actually in Jerez to talk with the powers that be about him taking over as MotoGP's CEO. Those rumors were sparked as, according to Motorsport, "Horner was present at the Spanish Grand Prix alongside Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, with both spotted in the paddock on Saturday morning."

But while our siblings think that Horner's presence with Domenicali was one where the latter was courting Honda's HRC team, more fuel got poured onto the fire after he was asked some basic, straightforward questions.

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Speaking with MotoGP's official feed, and when asked about purchasing a team, Horner coyly said, "I have always been a big fan of MotoGP, and while I’ve got a little bit of time, I thought it was a good opportunity to come down and have a look at the championship. Obviously, [MotoGP] is under new ownership now, in common with Formula 1, and it’s great to see the bikes and how they have evolved."

He added, "I think it’s a really interesting time for MotoGP. It’s going through a period of change under new ownership as well. So, I wanted to come here and see a little bit for myself. It’s great racing. It’s a great show. The riders are incredible and the bikes are incredible. It’s only when you get to see it live that you appreciate how insane these machines are. I think as a sport, it has so much to offer. So, hopefully, the Liberty guys, with the experience they have in Formula 1, will be able to lean into that."

But here's where it gets interesting, and slightly worrying.

Horner told MotoGP's feed, "I know Stefano is very passionate. I’m here with him today. So, there’s going to be some synergies there." Did you catch that "synergies" word? Cause I sure did. As did many, with insiders and rumors stating that it was more than just a playful word choice, but a slip of the tongue, with the possibility of Liberty Media picking Horner as the sport's next CEO.

Right now, though, that's all we have. Liberty Media has been looking to shake up the series since its purchase of MotoGP, as it aims to grow the sport just as it grew Formula 1 to its current gargantuan heights. But since that purchase, and those decisions, it's roiled many with its quest to Formula 1-ify MotoGP, and do things seemingly antithetical to MotoGP as a whole. And appointing Christian Horner, a man with zero motorcycling credentials, would certainly accomplish that.

Although, it might get rid of Carlos and Carmelo, soooooooo...