Clear Channel Entertainment has announced a new agreement that will see the U.S.-based multi-national media giant produce the new FIM Supercross World Championship in collaboration with DORNA, a Spanish company that already produces the FIM road racing World Championship Series. The text of a press release announcing the arrangement follows:

Clear Channel Entertainment and Dorna Announce Agreement to Jointly Produce FIM Supercross World Championship

AURORA, Ill. and MADRID, Spain (December 28, 2001) – Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division and Dorna Off-Road announced today they have signed an agreement to jointly produce the FIM Supercross World Championship, beginning with the 2002-03 season.

The agreement between Clear Channel Entertainment and Dorna combines the resources of the recognized North American and international leaders in the promotion and production of motorcycle racing to position the FIM Supercross World Championship as the preeminent motorcycle racing series in the world, by creating one circuit comprised of events around the world.

The FIM, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, is the only recognized body to govern motorcycling events at the international level.

Clear Channel Entertainment produces more than 200 motorcycle events annually, including EA SPORTS Supercross, the National Arenacross Series presented by Speed Stick, the Formula USA Arenacross Series of regional events, IFMA Freestyle Motocross events, the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series, the Formula USA National Road Race Series, and the CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips USA for sportsmen road racers. The company also stages 150 four-wheel events sanctioned by the United States Hot Rod Association and the International Hot Rod Association.

In addition to staging the FIM Supercross World Championship, for which it holds the rights from the FIM, the Dorna group holds the commercial, media and TV rights to produce the FIM Road Racing World Championship, Grand Prix “Moto GP”, the FIM Motocross World Championship and the Motocross Des Nations.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO and managing director of Dorna, said, “Clear Channel Entertainment’s Supercross has long been recognized as the premier supercross series. The synergy of the resources between Clear Channel Entertainment and Dorna provide the strongest base possible to now expand the tradition and success of Clear Channel Entertainment’s Supercross program to the international level. Dorna is very pleased to have this opportunity to work with the Clear Channel Entertainment team to help bring supercross to the global marketplace and to the next level.”

Charlie Mancuso, president of Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division, said, “This is a great day for supercross fans, racers, venues and the entire motorcycle industry. We have produced supercross racing events for 27 years and always dreamed of elevating our Supercross Series from a domestic championship to one that is worldwide. Realizing that dream could not have been possible without partners like the FIM and Dorna. We are excited to take supercross to the next level by promoting the FIM Supercross World Championship. In particular we want to acknowledge the support of the FIM, which for nearly a century has been recognized as the world’s foremost motorcycle sanctioning body, and whose affiliation will help immensely to continue to grow the sport.”

The FIM will commemorate its 100th anniversary in 2004. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it has sanctioned international and World Championship motorcycle events since 1904. Each year, the FIM sanctions more than 1000 motorcycle events around the world in over 90 different classifications of motorcycle competition. The FIM structure includes over 80 affiliated national federations representing an equal number of individual countries, including the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in the United States.

The 2002-03 FIM Supercross World Championship calendar will shortly be announced by the FIM.


About Dorna:
Dorna is an international sports management group established in 1988 and focused on major international motorsports events. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, with branch offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo, the company is controlled by CVC Capital Partners, an independent private equity provider, with a 75% participation. The management controls the remaining 25%. The Dorna group holds the rights to Moto GP since 1992. This is the company’s leading activity, with 16 events across the five continents each year. In 2001, over five billion viewers in 208 countries watched the TV broadcasts. Since 2001, Dorna’s experience in motorsport was extended over the FIM Motocross World Championship, the Motocross Des Nations, and the FIM Supercross World Championship. Its TV images reached 112 countries in 2001. Dorna also markets ‘Ad-Time’ a rotating advertising system, in South America, Japan and Europe. The system in actively used in basketball, volleyball and soccer ((events)).

To fulfill the extreme requirements of such a competitive environment, Dorna counts on a multinational team of professionals with knowledge and expertise in advertising, sports, TV, media, technology and law. Currently 150 full-time employees and approximately 300 additional part-time contracted professionals during racing peaks make up Dorna’s workforce.

About Clear Channel Entertainment:
Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division is the producer and promoter of 2002 EA SPORTS Supercross, and the recently announced 2003 FIM Supercross World Championship. Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of live entertainment events, is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Worldwide (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the out-of-home advertising industry. Clear Channel Entertainment currently owns, operates and/or exclusively books 135 live entertainment venues, including 44 amphitheaters in the U.S. and 28 venues in Europe. Each year, more than 62 million people attend approximately 26,000 events promoted and/or produced by the company, including: Live music events; Broadway, West End and touring theatrical shows; family entertainment shows; and specialized sports and motor sports shows.

In addition, Clear Channel Entertainment owns leading talent management businesses that specialize in the representation of athletes and broadcasters, including independently operated baseball, basketball and football businesses. Clear Channel Entertainment is headquartered in New York City.

About FIM:
The FIM, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, is the body that governs motorcycling sport at world level. It groups together 85 affiliated National Federations and 6 Continental Unions, as well as Specialized Associations. The FIM is controlled by its statutes and standing orders, the Championships by the sporting code, and the specific rules of each discipline as well as by the technical rules and codes, disciplinary general to all disciplines. Its different executive, legislative and judicial bodies work for the development and the improvement of the motorcycling sport.

The FIM also takes care of matters concerning the non-sporting aspects of motorcycling: tourism, the motorcycle as a leisure vehicle, the subjects linked to public affairs and road safety. It is also concerned with aspects linked to the environment as well as the development of the motorcycle in general. It is present in Brussels by the intermediary of its representation office within the European Union where it fights for the defense of the interests of all users of mechanized two-wheel vehicles. With about 25 collaborators at FIM Headquarters, the Executive Secretariat takes care of the general administration of all the domains in which the FIM is involved.