News 29 Apr 2024

WSX championship future unclear following Bailey resignation

Social media accounts transfer back to S-X Open Supercross branding.

Image: Foremost Media.

The World Supercross Championship’s future has become further unclear following the resignation of SX Global CEO Adam Bailey, with the series’ primary social media handles suddenly stripped of ‘WSXchampionship’ branding late this evening.

It became evident this week that Bailey had recently resigned from his position as chief executive officer of the turbulent series, however, no formal statement has been released to confirm his pending departure.

WSX teams had only recently been advised of Bailey’s decision to depart the Gold Coast-based business this month, but the move to rebrand the series Facebook and Instagram accounts under ‘S-X Open Supercross’ has blindsided even the most hardened stakeholders of the championship.

Bailey and longtime former business partner Ryan Sanderson – who himself left SX Global early last year – had made a significant impact on the sport in operating the AUS-X Open International Supercross in Australia and also the S-X Open in New Zealand as an FIM Oceania series prior to launching the FIM-affiliated WSX championship back in December of 2021.

The social media accounts in question had previously been utilised for the regional S-X Open Supercross Championship.

It’s uncertain if Bailey has intentions of reestablishing localized international events within Australia, the last of those which took place at Marvel Stadium in 2019. He was unable to provide any comment on the matter of WSX when contacted by MotoOnline this afternoon in Australia.

A two-event WSX ‘pilot’ season was staged in 2022 with rounds in Cardiff and Melbourne before multiple cancelations saw the 2023 season host just three rounds across Birmingham in the United Kingdom, Abu Dhabi, and Australia once again. There has largely been silence from WSX organizers throughout 2024.

Bailey had been a partner in the SX Global business with European-based investors Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori following initial investor Mubadala Capital’s exit in 2023, but it’s understood that Bailey will soon be out altogether. High-profile, polarizing founding CEO Tony Cochrane was effectively replaced by Bailey in late 2022.

When contacted by MotoOnline for further clarification today, SX Global chief operating officer Stephen Rogers provided limited information, indicating that plans are still in place for the WSX championship to continue, with a 2024 schedule to be released. No comment was made on Bailey’s position within SX Global.

More to follow.

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