Supercross | Feld & FIM Sanctioning Agreement Ends

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The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme and Feld Entertainment have announced the end of working agreements for the Monster Energy Supercross Series, a change that will take effect in 2022. This development ends a complex partnership between the promoter (Feld Entertainment) and two sanctioning bodies (FIM and the AMA), which recognized the 450 Class as a “world championship” and supported past attempts to expand Supercross into international markets (Europe in the early 2000s, Canada until 2017). The AMA will assume administrative control over the competitive elements of the championship, including rule creation and enforcement for the 250 and 450 Classes.

Despite the FIM’s use of the term “domestic series” in their announcement regarding Supercross, Feld Entertainment has explained they aim to grow the sport’s international fanbase through content creation/expanded television packages/licensing agreements. Supercross is expected to be somewhat normal in 2022, as Feld Entertainment’s current plans are to re-establish live audiences post-pandemic while operating within North America.

A statement from the FIM and Feld Entertainment is posted in full below.

As a direct result on the impact of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Feld Motors Sports – the promoters of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship have today confirmed that they unfortunately will not renew their international sanctioning agreement with the FIM, as the series reverts back to a domestic series from next season onward, under the control of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

The long standing dual sanctioning agreement has been in place for the last two-decades and has seen a strong and successful relationship forged between the FIM, Feld Entertainment and the AMA. The FIM’s involvement started early in the new millennium, at a time when the international expansion of events was seen as the next growth area for the sport. From 2002 through to 2006, the series started in December and visited Switzerland, Holland, Spain and Canada before settling into a recurring domestic schedule.

From 2008, Toronto – Canada became a regular stop on the tour and served as the lone international round through until the 2017 season. The cancellation and postponement of several events due to COVID-19 restrictions has seen Feld Entertainment refocus their live events in North America, whilst adopting a watching brief in terms of the demand in international markets returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship continues to attract the some of the best talent from all corners of its home nation and from across the World, including strong representation from Germany, France, Japan and Australia. Additionally, Feld Entertainment will also continue to expand its global partnerships and licensing agreements plus world-wide TV outreach including through its own viewing platform that now boasts subscribers in over one hundred and thirteen countries.

Commenting on this announcement Jorge Viegas – FIM President said. “Firstly, I would like to say a huge thank you to Feld Entertainment not only for such a long and great partnership, but also for their immense work in making the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship the wonderful product it is today. I firmly believe under normal circumstances that this is an agreement that would have been extended for a further period and that would have continued to go from strength to strength. That said we fully understand the current situation and respect the decision that has been taken. With the ongoing support of our national federation in North America – the AMA – I am confident that the series will soon recover the levels it enjoyed before the pandemic and that in the future we will have the opportunity to explore a new agreement. In the meantime, on behalf of the FIM I would like to wish our American friends every success.”