Dorna CEO Ezpeleta to miss first MotoGP race in 33 years

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta will miss the MotoGP British Grand Prix this weekend after undergoing surgery for a spinal injury.

The Silverstone event will mark the first grand prix the MotoGP boss has missed since Dorna Sports took over the championship in 1992.

The Spaniard has long suffered from a spinal condition affecting two vertebrae, which had been causing him chronic pain. While he had managed to cope with this until now, he finally opted to undergo surgery on Monday to address the issue.

Ezpeleta hopes to return to the paddock for the next round of the world championship, which goes ahead at Aragon in his homeland in two weeks.

Now 79 years old, Ezpeleta has been present at every event on the calendar since the 1992 takeover, serving as the public face and CEO of the championship.

Under his leadership over the past 33 years, more than 500 grands prix have been staged. Silverstone will be the 563rd of these but the first to be missed by Ezpeleta.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO Dorna Sports

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

In addition to serving as Dorna’s CEO, Ezpeleta is also the largest individual shareholder in MotoGP within the Spanish company. Following the upcoming sale to American entertainment giant Liberty Media, he will retain a stake of approximately 14% in the MotoGP world championship.

Confirmation of MotoGP’s sale to Liberty is expected before the summer – most likely in June – once approval from the EU’s antitrust commission is received.

The subsequent transition period will include both Carmelo and current sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta, who are expected to remain in their roles at least through the end of 2026.

From 2027 onward, MotoGP will adopt new technical regulations, including the introduction of 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, simplified ride-height devices and a new tyre supplier – all changes driven by Carmelo Ezpeleta himself.