WSBK to be Auctioned & Sold!

Numerous UK business sites are reporting this morning that the World Superbike championship, owned by FG Sport, is to be sold at auction by Merrill Lynch.

While most of the reports contain info that can only be termed oversimplifications at best, several peg the possible price World Superbike might bring at $97 million dollars US.

What's completely unclear is why FG Sport—owned by the Flammini Brothers—would be selling off World Superbike.

One report states an obvious buyer for World Superbike might be Bridgepoint, aka DORNA, owners of the MotoGP world championship. And while some feel such a move—Dorna owning the rights to both MotoGP and it's competitor WSBK—might trigger EU Regulatory investigations and require approval, DORNA already owns the rights to the British Superbike championship.

One entity not mentioned in any of the reports is the FIM, the motorcycle world's goveroring body. Which illustrates how small a part the FIM actually has in world championship racing now, after their sell-off of the rights to the championships in the last decade. The MotoGP championship was sold for a reported $500 million last year and the FIM received, according to FIM sources, nothing from the sale.

WSBK kicks off this weekend in Qatar.

Article Found Here

As long as those Flammini brothers arn't in control anymore this could be excellent news for world superbikes. It may become a decent world championship again rather than a glorified european championship designed purely for Italian glory.

hmmm...... interesting indeed. especialy if dorna take over.

Yes, i wonder if they migt try something to seperate te superbikes furter from the motogp bikes. I have read that BSB will run superstock engine modding rules in the near future to cheapen and slow them down

I agree that taking the Flamminis out of the picture is a good idea, but sell it to Dorna? I think this could be very bad for WSBK. I think Dorna would buy WSBK simply to dumb it down so that it dosen't rival GPs as it was beginning to do in the last days of the 500s and may start to do again. I belive competition between the two series is better for the sport on the whole, but it wouldn't be better for Dorna's bank account. I hope the EU bars them from the auction.

Dorna will be fine in charge as long as they actually have superbikes best interest at heart when dealing with superbikes, rather than just looking out for motogp. I'm not sure how well they could pull this off, but i don't feel like superbikes has a lot to loose right now.

IF Dorna get the rights it'd probably ruin WSBK, they don't want an 'inferior series' rivalling their crown jewel of GP. Even though GP is inherently more popular, they don't want some second rate series making them work harder for audiences.

It'd make small factory participation impossible for Ducati, they can only get in moto gp through the big sponsorship.

I don't think many people here realise how small a firm Ducati really is.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ Feb 22 2007, 04:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>IF Dorna get the rights it'd probably ruin WSBK, they don't want an 'inferior series' rivalling their crown jewel of GP. Even though GP is inherently more popular, they don't want some second rate series making them work harder for audiences.

It'd make small factory participation impossible for Ducati, they can only get in moto gp through the big sponsorship.

I don't think many people here realise how small a firm Ducati really is.

I know how small ducati are, but i don't see how it is so relevant now? Also, i don't see why it should be such a big deal if they leave world superbikes anyway, they need it more than it needs them.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 22 2007, 12:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I know how small ducati are, but i don't see how it is so relevant now? Also, i don't see why it should be such a big deal if they leave world superbikes anyway, they need it more than it needs them.

All types of auto racing needs a variety equipment to appeal to a wider mass of people. Ducati would no longer be around, or the size it is now, if they didn't take to the track.

I'd wish Triumph would join and Aprilia would get back in.

I would love to see the aprilia rsv back on track, the new ones are beautiful.

I always loved their swingarms, but they need to make that front look less like a RC-51.

Yes the swingarm is art. but i think the front is nice, maybe because i love the rc51.