SX Global, the promoters of the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), confirmed today the sale of its business to an investment group led by tenured sports investors Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori. The pair join SX Global’s CEO Adam Bailey to form the new ownership and leadership group.
“We’ve identified exciting opportunities for the burgeoning championship and can’t wait to further showcase the thrill of the sport and talent of these amazing athletes to more people around the world,” said Louis-Dreyfus. A French businessman, Louis-Dreyfus became the youngest Chairman in English football history when he purchased a controlling stake in Sunderland A.F.C. in 2022. He also has interests in the renowned French football club Olympique de Marseille and esports’ organization Ovation. “While we aspire to expand and elevate WSX to become a globally renowned championship, we also recognize the need for immediate short-term changes to ensure a brighter future. There’s a lot of work to do, but we’re excited for the challenge.”
Sartori is a successful Uruguayan businessman, senator and co-owner of Sunderland A.F.C. alongside. He is the President and founder of Union-Group, a privately owned investment firm that holds significant interests across an array of industries worldwide. “I’m incredibly excited to be involved in this fresh start for SX Global and the FIM World Supercross Championship,” said Sartori. “Supercross is an incredible spectacle with huge, huge potential. I’m very excited to get started on the task ahead, to grow the sport and showcase it to more fans and new locations around the world.”
As one of the original founders of SX Global and a long-time motocross and supercross industry executive, Bailey looks forward to joining forces with Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori. He began his career as a competitive athlete and fan of the sport before founding multiple businesses in athlete management, sports marketing and event promotion. He also co-created Australia’s largest ever supercross event, the AUS-X Open. He emphasized that WSX remains steadfast and is focused on driving the long-term sustainability and growth of the championship, enhanced by the backing and expertise of the new investor group.
“Our vision has always been to add value to the sport of motorcycling and complement its growth, globally – we have a number of plans and initiatives already underway that we look forward to sharing in due course,” concluded Bailey. “We’d like to thank our fans, supporters, athletes and teams for their support since our inception and into this next phase of our progression.”