Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1457907
ers—two in WSX (450cc) class, and two in the SX2 (250cc) class. Furthermore, every event will allow for two wild card entries in each class, providing opportu- nities for local riders and spon- sor-driven exemptions to round out the 22-rider field. SX Global also plans to deliver an elevated experience for fans, through unique race formats, broadcast innovations, and in-stadium at- tractions that elevate the overall entertainment experience. Plans for the global champion- ship series were underscored by the news of Mubadala Capital's investment in SX Global, bring- ing an unprecedented level of financial support and develop- ment resources on behalf of the FIM Supercross World Champion- ship. Mubadala Capital, the asset management arm of Mubadala Investment Company, a sovereign investor with $243 billion in as- sets under management, brings a wealth of experience in funding the development of global busi- ness and sports ventures. "There is a massive fanbase and untapped demand for super- cross outside the United States and backed by the financial support and significant resource of Mubadala Capital, we intend to feed that, bringing the sport to new regions through the most ex- citing and lucrative World Cham- pionship series in the history of the sport," said Tony Cochrane, president of SX Global. "We have created an entirely new model for supercross—one that empha- sizes expanded financial support and opportunities for riders and teams, expanded opportunities for sponsorship and an elevated experience for fans." The FIM Supercross World Championship will annually take place in the second half of the year. With plans for five events from September through Novem- ber, 2022, will serve as a "pilot" season, allowing the series to establish itself and build mo- mentum. 2023, and subsequent years, will see the series expand annually between June and November. "Over the years, there have been various attempts to build a true World Championship series for supercross, but none of them have succeeded, due to defi- ciencies in funding and resource, lack of global and regional rela- tionships and a variety of other factors," said Adam Bailey, man- aging director, Motorsport, for SX Global. "Our team possess the necessary supercross and international event background, relationships and expertise, and the funding to make this World Championship a reality." SX Global brings a team of highly qualified motorsports and entertainment executives, armed with the experience to success- fully deliver a series of this magni- tude. Cochrane spearheaded the development and success of V8 Supercars, an Australian-based auto racing series that became one of Australia's most successful motorsports, eventually expand- ing with events in Shanghai, the United States, Bahrain, Abu Dha- bi and New Zealand. In addition, proven supercross event veterans Adam Bailey and Ryan Sander- son have been the driving force behind Australia's highest-profile supercross offering, the AUS-X Open. The duo has promoted five years of consecutive sold out AUS-X Open events in Syd- ney (2015-2018) and Melbourne (2019), along with successful events in Auckland, New Zealand in 2018 and 2019. CN VOLUME 59 ISSUE 10 MARCH 8, 2022 P33 Australian company SX Global, organizers of the AUS-X Open, announced it has won the FIM sectioning rights for the Supercross World Championship which is scheduled to get underway in September of 2022.