FBI Seizes $40M MotoGP Collection from Fugitive Olympian

The FBI has seized a staggering $40 million motorcycle collection from Ryan James Wedding, a former Canadian Olympian now on the FBI's Most Wanted list for allegedly running a transnational drug cartel. The raid, conducted with Mexican authorities, uncovered an unprecedented private assemblage of MotoGP machinery, including race-used bikes from legends like Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez, all allegedly purchased with proceeds from crime.

Why it matters:

This case underscores the dark intersection of elite motorsport collecting and international organized crime. The seizure reveals how proceeds from large-scale drug operations are allegedly laundered through highly specific, valuable, and portable assets like rare motorcycles. It serves as a stark reminder of the illicit economies that can exist beneath the surface of the sporting world.

The details:

• Law enforcement officials described the collection as one of the largest private MotoGP and exotic motorcycle collections ever documented, with an estimated value of around $40 million.
• Approximately 62 motorcycles were recovered from multiple properties in Mexico linked to Wedding.
• The collection included premier MotoGP machines:
  • Two Ducati motorcycles ridden by Valentino Rossi during his 2011–2012 seasons with the team.
  • A Ducati MotoGP bike raced by Jorge Lorenzo.
  • A Ducati MotoGP bike raced by Andrea Dovizioso.
  • A Moto2 bike associated with a young Marc Márquez.
• The seizures were part of a coordinated effort between the FBI, Mexican authorities, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the LAPD.
• Other assets linked to Wedding's network have previously been confiscated, including a rare 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster valued at $13 million, along with drugs, ammunition, and artwork.

What's next:

The international manhunt for Wedding continues. He is currently believed to be hiding in Mexico and should be considered armed and dangerous. The FBI and the U.S. Department of State are offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. The seized assets, including the historic motorcycles, will likely be processed by U.S. authorities and eventually liquidated.