Speedway Grand Prix & World Cup ‘royalties’ 2002-2019 (paid to the FIM)

AWARDING the exclusive rights to for the Speedway Grand Prix and Speedway World Cup (latterly Speedway of Nations) 2001-2021 has been hugely lucrative for the awarding body The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).

According to various business entities – a veritable alphabet soup of Benfield Sports International Limited, BSI, BSI Speedway (An IMG Company), BSI Speedway Limited, IMG Worldwide Holdings Inc & WME Entertainment Parent LLC – annual company filings at Companies House, these “other commitments” – primarily/effectively royalty payments made to the FIM – are published in those official documents as follows:

2002       £851,152

2003       £778,813

2004       £887,020

2005       n/a

2006       £817,595

2007       £1,042,459

2008       £1,045,940

2009       £1,476,749

2010        £1,415,292

2011         £1,541,739

2012        £1,601,116

2013        £1,567,634

2014        £1,560,450

2015        £1,747,660

2016        £1,895,174

2017        £2,373,357

2018        £2,089,617

2019        £2,245,748

Total      £24,937,515

The level of prize monies paid to competing Speedway Grand Prix, Speedway World Cup and Speedway of Nations RIDERS are DERISORY compared to the above (or BSI revenues* for 2001-2018 of £129,445,136). These are set by the FIM and paid separately from the above by the exclusive rights holders.

Though FIM royalty payments for the exclusive SGP rights contract for 2022-2031 are likely to have performance and incentive based component, the FIM are probably looking at ‘earning’ £3,000,000 per annum.

*excludes 2004 as NO accounts were filed for 2004 & 2005, though 2005 is available in brief form as it was re-stated in the acquirers 2006 financial filings