WSB auction update

WSB rights holders FG Sport have issued a press statement following rumours that the series may be up for auction with a price tag of £50m.

The statement says: “With reference to the articles published in the last few days in certain newspapers and websites referring to a possible auction process for the disposal of the SBK World Championship by FG Sport, we would like to note that the founders and shareholders of the Group, have been managing the SBK World Championship since 1989 and have done so, for certain periods of time, in partnership with other industrial and financial corporations, including, most recently, the IPG/Octagon Group that owned the majority of the business and sold back its shares to the founders in 2003.

“FG Sport does not exclude that it could be partnered again in the future with strong commercial, industrial or financial entities in order to further develop the SBK World Championship and the company’s other projects.

“As such, FG Sport has been in constant dialogue with potential partners for the past few years, as part of its ordinary activities.

“Merrill Lynch is advising FG Sport in evaluating certain partnership proposals recently received by the Company.

“Furthermore, the continuity of the commitment of Maurizio, Paolo Flammini and of the entire Organization towards the FG Sport Group activities will support the further development of the SBK World Championship, the Superstars Series and the other important projects that FG Sport is managing or is going to launch in the near future.”