FIM Superbike World Championship - Infront Sports & Media

Corporate Information
Infront Sports & Media
Experienced, passionate and with a capacity for innovation, the
international sports marketing company is helping to transform the
industry
Infront Sports & Media based in Zug, Switzerland is one of the leading international sports marketing
companies in the world with over 500 employees in more than 20 offices across 10 countries and. Its
experienced team of passionate sports business professionals and the high standards of delivery
make Infront successful in an increasingly complex and competitive sports marketing landscape. In
2011, the company successfully delivered over 3,300 event days including 17 World Championships.
Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 120 rights holders and hundreds of sponsors and media
companies worldwide. As a full-service agency, it is offering a comprehensive menu of specialised
services to sport and a diverse portfolio of top sports rights. In everything it does — including
distribution of media rights, host broadcast, production, event operations, brand development and
sponsorship — it has helped to introduce value-added approaches and services, ensuring the success
of its client partners.
Leading in winter sports, football and summer sports
Infront is the strongest, most experienced marketing agency in the winter sports arena, representing
six out of seven Olympic winter sport federations, including the FIS for skiing, the IIHF for ice hockey
and the IBU for biathlon. As a result, Infront is able to offer the very best winter sports opportunities
from one central source.
Infront also holds a unique heritage and portfolio in football. No other agency has the same depth of
involvement supporting the game at every level, working with international and national federations
(e.g. FIFA, DFB), leagues (e.g. Serie A, Ligue 1) and club (e.g. AC Milan, SV Werder Bremen). In total,
Infront represents more than 25 major football properties, including 10 national associations and 11
football clubs.
However, Infront’s portfolio in summer sports goes far beyond football and includes partnerships with
the EHF in handball and the CEV in volleyball, whilst also being involved in cycling and horse racing.
Through the subsidiary Infront Motor Sports, the company is promoter of the FIM Superbike World
Championship. In China, it has an agreement with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), which
covers all key aspects of not just the marketing but also the development of the Chinese national
teams and the CBA League.
Infront Sports & Media AG
Grafenauweg 2
P.O. Box 4442
6304 Zug, Switzerland
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
www.infrontsports.com
info@infrontsports.com

A key player in media production
Infront is also one of the world’s leading producers of the highest quality sports content, covering the
entire spectrum of media production and management – from signal production and transmission to
post production, digital media delivery and archive services.
Its subsidiary Host Broadcast Services (HBS) is a world-recognised resource for the host broadcast of
major events (such as the FIFA World Cup), whilst Infront’s production unit also handles a significant
number of smaller production-led projects (e.g. for Lega Serie A and B matches, FIS World Cup events
and the FIM Superbike World Championship). Another important area of activity is the distribution of
new media sports rights through the provision of tailor-made new media services and broadcast
programmes to major web, mobile and IPTV players and telecoms. Furthermore, it is Infront's
responsibility to manage two key archives in football – the FIFA Films and Serie A Archive.
Subject: Infront Sports & Media
Date: November 2011
Page: 2 of 2

Background information
FIM Superbike World Championship
In its 25th season, the leading production-based motorcycle series
visits the world’s greatest circuits with 14 rounds in 12 countries
The leading production-based motorcycle event
The FIM Superbike World Championship (SBK) is an intercontinental road racing series using
production-based motorcycles from world class manufacturers such as Aprilia, BMW, Honda, Ducati,
Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. The machines are competitively engineered to boost performance,
with top speeds exceeding 300 km/h.
Due to the technical appeal of the motorbikes and spectacular, close-fought racing between the
world’s top riders, Superbike is highly popular with fans, manufacturers, broadcasters and commercial
partners. It is arguably the most exciting form of motor sports offering a format of two races plus
additional Supersport, Superstock 1000 and Superstock 600 racing. With international stars like Max
Biaggi (Italy), Noriyuki Haga (Japan), Leon Haslam (Great Britain) and Carlos Checa (Spain) Superbike
is truly fantastic viewing.
The 2012 FIM Superbike World Championship will be the 25th season in the history of the sport with
120 permanent riders from 25 countries competing in the four classes of the event. Superbike and its
supporting categories is a truly global sport, not only popular throughout Europe but also in the USA,
Australia, South America, the Middle East, Japan and Indonesia. Next year, the series will for the first
time enter the Russian market with one round being held at Moscow International Raceway circuit.
Broadcast in approximately 175 countries across 94 channels the 2010 season achieved phenomenal
viewing figures with over 3,000 hours of broadcast coverage worldwide. The series reached a
cumulative audience of 498 million viewers – an increase of 33% compared to the previous year with
live TV coverage also increasing by 18%.
Rights opportunities and media production
Infront Motor Sports, a subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media, is the owner of the FIM Superbike World
Championship and provides full promotional, marketing, hospitality, sales and broadcasting services to
the events, which are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). All forms of
media and marketing rights to the series are handled by Infront.
Infront is also handling the host broadcast and new media production through its international
production operation, whilst at the same time ensuring the servicing of broadcasters and satellite
coordination with its specialised team. Continuous improvements have been applied to the production
of the SBK race feed with the addition of new cameras, new state-of-the-art TV graphics and the
introduction of HD features. On-board cameras were introduced in 2011 – adding even greater
excitement for the viewer as they experience the fast on track action from the viewpoint of the rider.
On an average race weekend, coverage is produced from seven events amounting to over 350
minutes of live material.
Infront Sports & Media AG
Grafenauweg 2
P.O. Box 4442
6304 Zug, Switzerland
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
www.infrontsports.com
info@infrontsports.com

2012 FIM Superbike World Championship Calendar
Dates Country Circuit Superbike Supersport Superstock
26 February Australia Phillip Island X X
1 April Italy Imola X X X
22 April Netherlands Assen X X X
6 May Italy Monza X X X
13 May Europe Donington Park X X
28 May United States Miller Motorsports Park X
10 June San Marino Misano X X X
1 July Spain Motorland Aragon X X X
22 July Czech Republic Brno X X X
5 August Great Britain Silverstone X X X
26 August Russia Moscow Int. Raceway X X
9 September Germany Nürburgring X X X
23 September Portugal Portimâo X X X
7 October France Magny-Cours X X X
Subject: FIM Superbike World Championship
Date: November 2011
Page: 2 of 2

Press Release
Infront introduces new brand and exciting visual
identity for FIM Superbike World Championship
25th anniversary of the series showcases a new look & feel
reflecting the sport, its image and style of supreme motor racing
Zug, Switzerland / Rome, Italy, 6 October 2011 – Infront Sports & Media has announced it is to
introduce a new brand and an exciting visual identity for the FIM Superbike World Championship in
2012, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the leading road racing World Championship using
production-based motorcycles.
The new brand will be launched as a symbol for the on-going development and innovation of the
series, addressing the needs and expectation of its partners and millions of enthusiastic motorbike
fans worldwide.
The revised identity represents one distinct brand clearly reflecting the sport, its image, ambience,
values and style of international motor racing at its highest level. A versatile branding system will
enable the series’ global appearance and overall marketing appeal to be strengthened.
Starting from the first round in 2012, taking place in Phillip Island (AUS), the new event mark and its
look & feel will ultimately be reflected in every aspect of the FIM Superbike World Championship
events, including television, new media, print, signage and as well as any of the commercial affiliates.
Rebranding as one of the key priorities
Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront Sports & Media said: “The rebranding of the championship
is one of our key priorities within the overall long-term innovation strategy for the series. A distinct
and cohesive brand, clearly reflecting the sport, its image, ambience, values and style of international
motor racing at its highest level, is an important element of the overall marketing approach targeting
new followers and providing all commercial partners with a strong communication platform. With our
investment in the new identity the championship is set to being recognised as one of the top global
motor sport properties.”
Stephan Herth, Infront's Executive Director Summer Sports, added: “We believe that the time has
come to enhance the presentation and branding of the FIM Superbike World Championship and its
support race series. The essence and value of the series will now be captured and conveyed in a new,
dynamic and well-structured premium brand. We trust that this can be achieved with the new strong
and consistent stand-alone family of brands to increase awareness and to make the event
commercially even more appealing for sponsors, TV, media as well as the public.”
Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports, commented: “Passion, competition and accessibility are
three key values that we continuously endeavour to communicate to our audience. People perceive
Infront Sports & Media AG
Grafenauweg 2
P.O. Box 4442
6304 Zug, Switzerland
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
www.infrontsports.com
info@infrontsports.com

and recognize them appropriate for SBK. The road is our origin: SBK comes from the roads, our bikes
are production-derived bikes, our races are competitive and exciting and enable fans to identify
themselves with the riders. This is why we have chosen to further develop the chevron, a familiar icon
from the roads worldwide, as a key visual element for the new SBK brand family and bring it to life
wherever we can.”
SBK Logo Architecture
The new brand has been developed by Designwerk, a leading international creative agency specialising
in brand communication for the sports industry. London-based Designwerk has vast experience
projecting brands to a worldwide audience. It is well-known for positioning its clients - such as UEFA,
the America’s Cup, FEI, Peugeot and now SBK – at the top of their respective markets.
About FIM Superbike World Championship
The FIM Superbike World Championship is the leading road racing World Championship using
production-based motorcycles. The series is one of the sport’s fastest growing and most promising
properties and is popular with fans, manufacturers, broadcasters and commercial partners. It is
promoted by Infront Motor Sports in Rome, the motor sports division of Infront Sports & Media and
governed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). www.worldsbk.com
Betreff: Infront introduces new brand and exciting visual identity for FIM Superbike World Championship
Datum: 21. November 2011
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