Formula 1 "sounded out MotoGP for cooperation and advice as the sport embarks on a period of change" under Liberty Media, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. F1 Managing Dir Ross Brawn said that he was "open to learning lessons from any other series." The Briton said that he and MotoGP rights holder Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta discussed "areas of cooperation and how we can learn from what each of us does" at last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. On a "basic level," that means "working to limit a clash of calendars." The first two rounds of this year's F1 and MotoGP championships were on the same weekends, and "six more will clash later in the year." They include MotoGP's final round in Valencia, Spain, on Nov. 12, the same day as F1's Brazilian Grand Prix -- "both title-deciders in the past." Brawn said that such clashes were "not smart." Brawn: "We're not too proud to consult with other championships and work out the best way forward." He added, "I like the meritocracy that they have between Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. I like the progression that they have. I think it's interesting looking at the commercial side, the way they structure the teams and the deals and the way it works for the customer teams. I think it's an interesting element." Brawn said that the way in which MotoGP's junior series formed part of the same race weekend was also "a great example of where we should be" (REUTERS, 5/16).
