WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPEEDWAY UNTIL 2013
BSI Speedway, an IMG company, and rights holders of the world championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix series (SGP), has today signed a new five year contract with GotEvent, operators of Ullevi Stadium, to host the FIM Swedish Speedway Grand Prix until 2013. The new contract replaces the current deal which was due to expire in 2010.
Under the terms of the new agreement, both parties will be co-promoters of the events with support from the city of Gothenburg.
Commenting on this exciting new deal, Paul Bellamy, managing director, BSI Speedway said: “We are very proud to be associated with a stadium that has an international reputation as a world class sporting venue and this new agreement ensures the legacy of world championship speedway at Ullevi Stadium continues.
“Gothenburg continues to build its reputation as a great holiday destination and is a fantastic backdrop to the event that fans from all over Sweden and the world can explore. We are delighted to have the backing of the city and together with Ullevi will continue to grow the sport and make Gothenburg a ‘must visit’ Grand Prix on the calendar.”
This weekend (30 May) Ullevi will be the backdrop for round three of the 2009 world championship. The two Swedish riders in the field, Andreas Jonsson and Fredrik Lindgren, have already finished on the podium this year and Jonsson sits in second place, nine points behind current leader of the championship Australian Jason Crump. Antonio Lindback, who has resurrected his speedway career and world title aspirations following well documented personal problems, will be the wild card. These factors made the decision to make Ullevi a long term home for the FIM Swedish Grand Prix all the easier, as Bellamy concludes:
“With the new five year contract and the emergence of young Swedish riders already proving their ability to compete at the top level demonstrates the SGP series will continue to go from strength to strength in Sweden.”
The new contract is a feather in the cap for the stadium as Ullevi’s stadium manager, Anders Albertsson, explains: “At Ullevi we strive to bring events to the stadium that will provide us and the city long term gain. The FIM Swedish Speedway Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious motorsports events in the Swedish sporting calendar and we are delighted to have this new contract in place. With the security of a five year contract we can look towards further investment in the event and provide spectators with the entertainment and facilities they have come to expect at major sports events.
“We look forward to welcoming speedway fans from all over the world and showing them what the stadium and the city of Gothenburg has to offer.”
