Right in the midst of the World Championship weekend at Mugello, Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer of Dorna Sports, met with the Italian press inside the circuit to take stock of the first part of the MotoGP season and look ahead to its future prospects. Starting with the number of races on the calendar, which is set to stay exactly as it is: "For us, the maximum remains 22. We have an agreement with the teams not to exceed that threshold for the next five years. We believe it's the correct number. MotoGP must continue to grow, but this won't happen by increasing the number of GPs; instead, it's about delivering a better event every single weekend."

Carlos, how do you evaluate the updates introduced by Mugello, from the facilities to the overall organization? "We are very satisfied. For us, Mugello is always a special Grand Prix, because of the history of the circuit but also because of its surroundings. Being so close to Florence means everyone in the MotoGP paddock loves coming here. It's also clear that every year we have an event that grows from an organizational and logistical standpoint. We really needed this paddock expansion, and I must say the circuit did an incredible job, leaving us highly satisfied. That’s why we are also discussing long-term projects."

So, will you be making further proposals for the coming years? "Yes, there is truly a massive demand, and we want permanent infrastructure upgrades to help everyone grow. Because of this, it’s crucial that fans in every area—from the general admission lawns (prato) to the grandstands—enjoy an even better experience than they do now."

At this point in the season, a new safety alarm is ringing after the numerous crashes in Barcelona. There have been several meetings with the riders—is there something that needs fixing? "We are always highly attentive to safety, but that wasn't the case in Barcelona. The two incidents that occurred there were unfortunately severe and spectacular, but they are a part of the sport, even though we do everything possible to reduce risk. In Barcelona, emotions were running high because of those two crashes, but the riders were out of danger, and there were no safety reasons not to continue the race. Everyone was in agreement on this."

Do you intend to modify anything for the future? "Following the meetings with the Safety Commission, we are working on four specific areas. The first is studying a different design for the starting grid and the first turn for the future, to give riders more space and reduce risk. The second concerns the front ride-height device (hole-shot); we have proposed to the manufacturers to stop using it, and they are currently checking if this can be implemented as early as this year. The third is a protection for the rear wheel because, as Johann Zarco’s crash demonstrated, it’s a highly exposed area. The fourth—as seen in the contact between Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez—is an system where the bike's rear light can alert the riders behind when a mechanical issue occurs."

A new era has begun for MotoGP with the arrival of Liberty Media and personnel coming from Formula 1. What has changed? "It’s a very positive impact. Having conversations with the people who built the F1 of today is an invaluable experience; they bring a fresh vision and mindset. However, everything we do will remain authentic to MotoGP, where pure competition must stay at the center. I think it’s hard to deny that these are the best motorsport races on the planet. Liberty sees the value in entering a sector where there's no need to 'fix' the sport itself. If anything, there will be more focus on the commercial side, marketing investments, the paddocks, or new locations, but we won't change things just for the sake of changing them."

Will Moto2 and Moto3 therefore continue to exist? "Absolutely, yes. Moto2 and Moto3 are intrinsic and fundamental parts of the championship. They are important products for broadcasters and fans alike, and they serve to build the stars of the future. We are working to make the procedures across all three categories as similar as possible to better showcase the young talent that can emerge."

Introducing new features helps expand the fanbase, but is there a risk of losing the "historical fan"? "This is the only possible path forward; we never look at it as having to choose between the fan of today and the fan of tomorrow. Innovations like the Sprint Race benefit both sides, as the Saturday TV ratings clearly demonstrate. We want fans to be closer to the riders—physically in the fan zones, and through content that allows them to truly get to know their personalities."