WSX Championship is not dead yet

The reports of WSX’s death have been greatly exaggerated according to the troubled championship’s new owners.

Promoter SX Global and the FIM have signed an extension to the original deal for the World Supercross Championship rights, ensuring that WSX will continue until 2033. The partnership also includes the option of an additional decade, though it’s unclear what the conditions of that option are.

Started by Australians Adam Bailey, Ryan Sanderson, and Tony Cochran, SX Global was awarded the FIM World Supercross Championship rights in 2021 with a 10-year deal. Branded as WSX, the series was designed to take supercross to a global audience.

However, the promoters soon ran into issues that included strong opposition from the organisers of the popular AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross competitions in America. Those two championships eventually joined forces to create the self-proclaimed SuperMotocross World Championship as a rival to WSX.

The first year of WSX in 2022 consisted of just two events, while the 2023 season was cut from a possible six races to just three. In both years, the season finale was held at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

Late last year, SX Global was taken over by sports businessmen Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori, with Bailey staying on as CEO.

But recent reports have suggested that Bailey has left the company, with the series’ social media accounts reverting to the original AUS-X Open handles that acted as a precursor to WSX. New WSX accounts have since been opened.

The announcement of the rights extension, however, shows that both the FIM and the SX Global owners still have faith that the WSX brand can succeed.

“The FIM believes that SX Global has the expertise and know-how to deliver a first-class World Supercross Championship long into the future,” said FIM President, Jorge Viegas. “Their vision is highly impressive, and the long-term success of the series is in safe hands.”

Louis-Dreyfus added: “We look forward to continuing to expand and promote the FIM WSX, as we seek innovative and exciting ways to bring the sport to the loyal existing fanbase, while welcoming new audiences from across the globe.”

The press release from SX Global stated that the 2024 series “will enter new territories, breaking ground in the sport across multiple continents”. It also confirmed that reigning champion, Ken Roczen, will return to defend his title.

Dates and locations for the 2024 WSX Championship are still to be confirmed.