Tampere Supercross to Take a Break in 2023 as Search Begins for New Promoter
Tampere Supercross & Offroad Expo will not be held this year as the event enters a new chapter in its history.
Contrary to what many may assume, the cancellation is not related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the event is currently seeking a new owner and promoter to continue building on the success established over the past decade.
Since its debut in 2012, Tampere Supercross has served as the traditional finale of the Finnish motocross season, growing into one of Northern Europe’s premier indoor Supercross events.
Over the years, the event has welcomed many of Europe’s top Supercross riders, numerous American stars, and virtually every leading Finnish motocross racer. The most recent edition was held in 2019, before the pandemic forced two consecutive postponements.
In recent years, Gravel Sports Ltd. has promoted Tampere Supercross, transforming it into a consistently sold-out event with an international reputation.
Now, however, the company has decided to step away from organizing the event.
Time for New Leadership
Jarkko Nieminen, founder of Gravel Sports and the longtime Event Producer and Promoter of Tampere Supercross, says the decision simply comes down to time.
“The reality is that we no longer have enough time to organize the event. During the pandemic years, I’ve expanded my other business activities, and they now require so much of my attention that I simply can’t dedicate the time Tampere Supercross and Offroad Expo deserve.”
“Of course, I could organize the event with less effort, but that’s not how I operate. Every year we’ve raised the standard and introduced something new for the fans, and I have no interest in lowering that standard.”
A Successful Event Looking for the Right Successor
Nieminen also wants to make one thing clear: the decision has nothing to do with the financial performance of the event.
“The event has been profitable, and that’s exactly why we’ve continued organizing it all these years. Throughout the summer we’ve been looking for a new promoter who can continue where we left off, but we haven’t found the right person yet.”
“We don’t want to sell the event to just anyone. After everything we’ve built over the years, it’s become incredibly important to us, and we want to make sure it’s in capable hands.”
Looking Toward the Future
This is not the first time Nieminen has successfully passed on one of his events.
His FMX Challenge, Finland’s pioneering freestyle motocross competition held at Teivo Raceway between 2003 and 2005, was eventually sold to a new organizer, allowing the event to continue under new ownership.
Nieminen hopes Tampere Supercross will find a similarly committed successor and that the transition will prove just as successful.
For now, Tampere Supercross & Offroad Expo will not take place this year.
However, organizers emphasize that this is not the end of the event. If the right buyer and promoter can be found, Tampere Supercross is expected to return in the future.
Story and photo: Jani Hovi / Xracing
Tampere Supercross & Offroad Expo
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Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre
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33900 Tampere, Finland