BSI Speedway, an IMG company and rights holders of the world championship FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series (SGP), today announced a new five year contract with PARKEN Sport and Entertainment to host the FIM Danish Speedway Grand Prix until 2013.

Following signature of the contract, BSI Speedway and PARKEN Sports and Entertainment confirmed next year’s FIM Dansk Metal Danish Speedway Grand Prix will take place on Saturday 13th June 2009.  Tickets are now on sale and fans that purchase their tickets before 31st December 2008 will be able to buy their Grand Prix tickets for PARKEN at 2008 prices.

Commenting on the new deal, Paul Bellamy, Managing Director, BSI Speedway, said: “This new deal is another milestone for the SGP Series and guarantees the future of world championship speedway in Copenhagen for the next five years.  The Grand Prix in Copenhagen has developed into one of our biggest events and we are looking forward to working with PARKEN, Wonderful Copenhagen, Dansk Metal and our Danish suppliers to ensure each year the event gets bigger and better for the fans.

“The supporters, who come from across Denmark, Europe and the world year after year, make this event very special for everyone involved and to reward their loyalty we are holding ticket prices for a limited period.”

One man who has been integral to the continued success of the Grand Prix at PARKEN is  current FIM Race Director, Ole Olsen.  All six speedway tracks at PARKEN have been constructed under Olsen’s watchful eye and he, more than many, knows what it means to the riders to take part in such a big event under the floodlights of a national stadium.

“PARKEN creates its own unique atmosphere,” the former three times world champion explains, “As the stadium fills up with spectators you can feel the excitement and anticipation building.  As a rider, you feed off the fans, when a stadium is full you can hear them from inside your helmet and you automatically respond to that reception.  It is a very special occasion for both riders and supporters and I’m looking forward to being part of that experience in PARKEN over the next five years.”

Flemming Østergaard, Chairman of the Board, PARKEN Sport and Entertainment, said:

“After long and hard negotiations with BSI Speedway, we are now extremely happy to present world class speedway at PARKEN for the next five years. The FIM Danish Speedway Grand Prix is the largest single sporting event in the country, together with the biggest football games, and it has developed into a genuine Copenhagen event. It would therefore have been a great shame if this event could not again have been held in the nation’s capital city. Fortunately both BSI Speedway and PARKEN were willing to go far to ensure the future of the Grand Prix at the National Stadium, where it attracts nearly 30,000 spectators and is sent to over 100 countries on TV. I am already looking forward to the 13th June 2009.”

In addition to the new five year contract with PARKEN, Paul Bellamy also announced two new sponsorship deals.  Current title sponsors Dansk Metal have signed a three year extension to their contract and host destination sponsors, Wonderful Copenhagen, have also extended their deal for another five years – the same length as the PARKEN contract.

“It is a reflection of the success of the Series and the growth of the event in Copenhagen that we continue to attract sponsors of such calibre as Dansk Metal and Wonderful Copenhagen.” explained Bellamy. 

“To both these organisations their sponsorship is not just about seeing their name up in lights, they get behind the event and fully support it.  Wonderful Copenhagen has played a prominent role in ensuring the Grand Prix stays in this great city and we are extremely grateful for Dansk Metal’s continued backing and look forward to working with both of them to continue the success story of the Grand Prix in Copenhagen.”

Thorkild E. Jensen, president of The Danish Metal Workers Union, Dansk Metal, said:

“Danish Metalworkers Union is proud to announce, that we have decided to continue our title sponsorship for the period of 2009 to 2011. Our decision is driven by the fact that speedway is about team work between the drivers and their crew. It takes a huge amount of technical ingenuity and professional know-how to participate in this sport, and we hope that sponsoring the FIM Dansk Metal Danish Speedway Grand Prix will put more focus on the various jobs possibilities in the metallic industries. We are also keen to show our enthusiasm for this sport, that interests so many of our members”