Photo: @LewisHamilton
Lewis Hamilton hasn't ruled out the possibility of him buying a MotoGP team in the near future.
The seven-time world champion has expanded his business empire over the past two years, becoming a part owner of the Denver Broncos in 2022 and also founding Almave, a non-alcoholic tequila in 2023.
Rumors in British publication The Race speculate that Hamilton is now in talks to purchease the Gresini MotoGP team, which currently has eight-time world champion Marc Marquez in its rider lineup.
"I've always loved MotoGP," admitted Hamilton in Thursday's FIA press conference. "I'm interested in the potential growth of the sport, but I haven't looked that far into it just yet.
"But anything's possible. I'm definitely interested in, as I said before, about equity and already with the Broncos, it was already a first step in team ownership. And so, yeah, I think over the next five to 10 years, there'll be hopefully more. We'll see where."
MV Agusta also produced a second special model for Hamilton called the F4 LH44, which produced 205bhp and had a limited production run of 44 models.
In 2019, Hamilton switched machinery with legendary nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi. The pair had a joint test at the Ricardo Tomo circuit in Valencia with Rossi driving the 2017 world championship-winning Mercedes W08 while Hamilton rode a Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike.
Although it wasn't a competitive test, Hamilton impressed Rossi, who praised the seven time world champion for his performance during the test.
In 1960, John Surtees secured his fourth and final 500cc world title before switching to cars full-time for 1961. Surtees immediately showcased his talent behind the wheel, finishing an impressive second for Lotus at the 1960 British GP.
Surtees moved to Ferrari in 1963 and made history in 1964 by becoming the first man to win the world championship on two and four wheels.
Mike Hailwood, another four-time 500cc world champion, was the next to trade bikes for cars in 1963. He took part in two races driving a Reg Parnell-entered Lotus and Lola. Unlike Surtees, Hailwood didn't enjoy instant success, failing to score a point.
Hailwood returned to F1 in 1971 and managed to finish on the podium twice during his second stint in F1. He was also awarded the George Medal in 1973 for his efforts in trying to pull Clay Regazzoni out of his burning BRM after the pair had collided on Lap 3 of the South African GP. Hailwood's actions saved Regazzoni's life. He would later retire from car racing after a crash at the 1974 German GP left him badly injured.
Johnny Cecotto is currently the last rider to make the transition from motorcycle racing to F1 signing for the unsuccesful Theodore Racing in 1983. However the Venezuelan's F1 career came to an abrupt halt in 1984 after breaking both legs in a practice crash at the British GP.
The team achieved success not long afterwards with Japan's Daijiro Kato taking the 2001 250cc world championship with 11 victories and 13 podium finishes.
Using Honda bikes, Gresini along with Kato graduated to the premier class in 2002. In his rookie season Kato scored two podiums for Gresini, finishing seventh in the riders' standings.
But tragedy struck a year later when Kato crashed heavily in the Japanese GP held at Suzuka, succumbing to his injuries in hospital two weeks later. Kato's teammate, Spain's Sete Gibernau, finished runner-up in the premier class championship in 2003 and 2004, losing out on both occasions to Rossi.
Fausto Gresini passed away from COVID-19 in April 2021, with his wife, Nadia Padovani, taking over the running of Gresini Racing following her husband's death. In what turned out to be a very emotional moment in motorcycle racing, Gresini won the 2022 Qatar motorcycle GP courtesy of Enea Bastianini on a Ducati.
Rumors in British publication The Race speculate that Hamilton is now in talks to purchease the Gresini MotoGP team, which currently has eight-time world champion Marc Marquez in its rider lineup.
"I've always loved MotoGP," admitted Hamilton in Thursday's FIA press conference. "I'm interested in the potential growth of the sport, but I haven't looked that far into it just yet.
"But anything's possible. I'm definitely interested in, as I said before, about equity and already with the Broncos, it was already a first step in team ownership. And so, yeah, I think over the next five to 10 years, there'll be hopefully more. We'll see where."
Hamilton's love of MotoGP
Hamilton is a keen motorcyclist and has previously been seen riding to and from the Formula 1 paddock on motorbikes, including his custom-made MV Agusta Brutale Dragster RR LH44.MV Agusta also produced a second special model for Hamilton called the F4 LH44, which produced 205bhp and had a limited production run of 44 models.
In 2019, Hamilton switched machinery with legendary nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi. The pair had a joint test at the Ricardo Tomo circuit in Valencia with Rossi driving the 2017 world championship-winning Mercedes W08 while Hamilton rode a Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike.
Although it wasn't a competitive test, Hamilton impressed Rossi, who praised the seven time world champion for his performance during the test.
Previous Formula 1/MotoGP crossovers
Hamilton's interest in MotoGP isn't the first time the F1 and motorcycle worlds have crossed pathsIn 1960, John Surtees secured his fourth and final 500cc world title before switching to cars full-time for 1961. Surtees immediately showcased his talent behind the wheel, finishing an impressive second for Lotus at the 1960 British GP.
Surtees moved to Ferrari in 1963 and made history in 1964 by becoming the first man to win the world championship on two and four wheels.
Mike Hailwood, another four-time 500cc world champion, was the next to trade bikes for cars in 1963. He took part in two races driving a Reg Parnell-entered Lotus and Lola. Unlike Surtees, Hailwood didn't enjoy instant success, failing to score a point.
Hailwood returned to F1 in 1971 and managed to finish on the podium twice during his second stint in F1. He was also awarded the George Medal in 1973 for his efforts in trying to pull Clay Regazzoni out of his burning BRM after the pair had collided on Lap 3 of the South African GP. Hailwood's actions saved Regazzoni's life. He would later retire from car racing after a crash at the 1974 German GP left him badly injured.
Johnny Cecotto is currently the last rider to make the transition from motorcycle racing to F1 signing for the unsuccesful Theodore Racing in 1983. However the Venezuelan's F1 career came to an abrupt halt in 1984 after breaking both legs in a practice crash at the British GP.
Who are Gresini Racing?
Gresini Racing is the brainchild of former 125cc world champion Fausto Gresini, who founded the team in 1997 alongside Fabrizio Cecchini.The team achieved success not long afterwards with Japan's Daijiro Kato taking the 2001 250cc world championship with 11 victories and 13 podium finishes.
Using Honda bikes, Gresini along with Kato graduated to the premier class in 2002. In his rookie season Kato scored two podiums for Gresini, finishing seventh in the riders' standings.
But tragedy struck a year later when Kato crashed heavily in the Japanese GP held at Suzuka, succumbing to his injuries in hospital two weeks later. Kato's teammate, Spain's Sete Gibernau, finished runner-up in the premier class championship in 2003 and 2004, losing out on both occasions to Rossi.
Fausto Gresini passed away from COVID-19 in April 2021, with his wife, Nadia Padovani, taking over the running of Gresini Racing following her husband's death. In what turned out to be a very emotional moment in motorcycle racing, Gresini won the 2022 Qatar motorcycle GP courtesy of Enea Bastianini on a Ducati.
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