<p>It was an opportunity to earn revenue amounting to almost Rs 100 crore through track-related sponsorships that convinced JPSI, the owners of the BIC, to bring the World Super Bike Championship to India ahead of Moto GP, the world’s premier motorcycle championship. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The organisers were in talks with both Moto GP and the World Super Bike championship (WSBK) but the revenue-earning opportunities that came with the latter were too good to resist for JPSI, which successfully hosted India’s first Formula One race last October. <br /><br />“Moto GP too is like F1. So, for JPSI, World Super Bike championships was a much better option. But I can tell you that Moto GP will definitely come to India. If not in 2013, then in 2014,” a JPSI source said. <br /><br />“Talks are still on and who knows Moto GP may come to India in the second half of the season,” the source added. <br /><br />Logistically it made sense for both WSBK and Moto GP to have a race in India in March since they both start their season in Asia and would have liked to finish the Asian engagement before moving to other shores of the world. <br /><br />In the end, it’s WSBK, which has secured a race in India, the new motorsport destination of the world. <br /><br />Unlike F1, the organisers — Jaypee Sports International Limited (JPSI) — will have a say in deciding the sponsorships rights and commercial rights when it hosts WSBK. It costs a fortune to earn a sponsorship right in F1, so entering WSBK is financially viable for many Indian and other corporates. <br /><br />JPSI will also earn close to Rs 25 crore per year for the title sponsorships from WSBK, which will be held on March 9-10 next year. Many Indian corporates are eyeing the event for various sponsorship and commercial opportunities. <br /><br />According to sources, “a few corporate giants from the automobile and telecom sectors are in competition for the title sponsorship of the Indian round and are willing to peg a sum of Rs 18-22 crore per year.” <br /><br />“While other track-related sponsorship opportunities for the race may further add 90-100 crores in the race organisers’ kitty. It is at least 20 per cent more than what JPSI would have earned by organising Moto GP first,” said the source.</p>
<p>It was an opportunity to earn revenue amounting to almost Rs 100 crore through track-related sponsorships that convinced JPSI, the owners of the BIC, to bring the World Super Bike Championship to India ahead of Moto GP, the world’s premier motorcycle championship. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The organisers were in talks with both Moto GP and the World Super Bike championship (WSBK) but the revenue-earning opportunities that came with the latter were too good to resist for JPSI, which successfully hosted India’s first Formula One race last October. <br /><br />“Moto GP too is like F1. So, for JPSI, World Super Bike championships was a much better option. But I can tell you that Moto GP will definitely come to India. If not in 2013, then in 2014,” a JPSI source said. <br /><br />“Talks are still on and who knows Moto GP may come to India in the second half of the season,” the source added. <br /><br />Logistically it made sense for both WSBK and Moto GP to have a race in India in March since they both start their season in Asia and would have liked to finish the Asian engagement before moving to other shores of the world. <br /><br />In the end, it’s WSBK, which has secured a race in India, the new motorsport destination of the world. <br /><br />Unlike F1, the organisers — Jaypee Sports International Limited (JPSI) — will have a say in deciding the sponsorships rights and commercial rights when it hosts WSBK. It costs a fortune to earn a sponsorship right in F1, so entering WSBK is financially viable for many Indian and other corporates. <br /><br />JPSI will also earn close to Rs 25 crore per year for the title sponsorships from WSBK, which will be held on March 9-10 next year. Many Indian corporates are eyeing the event for various sponsorship and commercial opportunities. <br /><br />According to sources, “a few corporate giants from the automobile and telecom sectors are in competition for the title sponsorship of the Indian round and are willing to peg a sum of Rs 18-22 crore per year.” <br /><br />“While other track-related sponsorship opportunities for the race may further add 90-100 crores in the race organisers’ kitty. It is at least 20 per cent more than what JPSI would have earned by organising Moto GP first,” said the source.</p>