MUMBAI: The International Cycling Union (UCI) and the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media have entered into an agreement for broadcast coverage of the UCI Road, Track, Mountain Bike and BMX World Championships as well as the UCI Track Cycling World Cup for four years till 2016.

Marking a strategic shift in worldwide coverage after cycling?s success at the 2012 Olympic Games in London in all disciplines, Infront Sports & Media will become the UCI?s exclusive agency to distribute the federation?s media rights globally, with the exception of the USA and Japan.

"The UCI is delighted to have this new and dynamic partner which has significant worldwide sales power," said UCI President Pat McQuaid. "Infront Sports & Media has a large network worldwide which is totally in line with the UCI?s goal to universalize cycling. Cycling is going through a boom as seen at the recent London Olympics. Our aim is to work together to continue to reinforce the development of cycling across the globe and the draw of our sport as a high appeal television product, which merges tradition and innovation in all disciplines."

Free-to-air coverage forms an important basis to this agreement. It will favour a flexible approach in order to find the best broadcast outlet for UCI events in each individual territory. "We will use their drive, their expertise and their input for the long-term development of cycling," said the UCI President.

Infront Sports & Media President & CEO Philippe Blatter said, "We are very much looking forward to contributing our comprehensive expertise in media rights distribution to further strengthen the international coverage of the prestigious UCI World Championship events. Our dedicated team shares the UCI vision to strengthen the public positioning of its various properties - in both the well-established and the growing disciplines - and to ensure access for the broadest possible cycling fan base around the globe."

In the longer term, the UCI and Infront Sports & Media envisage to collaborate also in other areas, including the centralised media production, sponsorship distribution and the introduction of new technologies, such as such as digital media solutions.

MUMBAI: Infront Motor Sports has signed an agreement with Jaypee Sports International, a subsidiary of the private Indian engineering and construction conglomerate Jaypee Group, to host a round of the FIM Superbike World Championship calendar at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).

Infront Motor Sports, a subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media, is the owner of the Championship and provides full promotional, marketing, hospitality, sales and broadcasting services to the events. The series is governed by the FIM.

The contract, which runs for four years from 2013 to 2016, is set to open up a new frontier for World Superbike in India as it becomes the first international bike racing championship to be hosted at the Hermann Tilke-designed track at Greater Noida.

The Indian Round of the championship is scheduled to take place on 10 March next season.

Infront Motor Sports CEO Paolo Flammini added, "The inclusion of the Indian round in the 2013 FIM Superbike World Championship calendar represents a great achievement for our series and reflects our continuous target to further extend its international presence. India today is one of the most important motorcycle markets in the world, not only in terms of existing bike sales numbers but also growth and the upgrading of the range offered to the consumer. Undoubtedly the inclusion of this event will greatly benefit all the protagonists of our series and will create significant added value for the motorcycle manufacturers."

India will become the 27th country to host a round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, which in 2013 will celebrate the 26th year of its existence since it started in 1988.

After signing the agreement, JPSI MD and CEO Sameer Gaur said: "We are extremely happy to announce that besides holding the Formula One and FIA GT1 motor racing series, we will also hold a thrilling motorcycle race, the World Superbike Championship, at BIC early next year. There are many in India who are passionate about bikes. I am sure they will love to watch famed motorcycle riders compete against each other here at their own world class racing circuit."