Racing Silly Season - Who is going where in 2014?

[Dare2Fail]

I hadn't heard the Pedrosa rumour until today, but Lorenzo was certainly being careful with his choice of language when questioned about splitting with Forcada.

[Dare2Fail]

The talk is that the Marc VDS squad would take at least one of the seats if they were to move up.

[FourWheelDrift]

Apriliaer said:

If Aprilia are being run by Gresini next year - who is moving into the PBM slot?

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/208376/1/aprilia-...

Suzuki.

[macdeb]

LoonR1 said:

graphene said:

There must be plenty of UK companies for whom a million or two is just a single percentage of marketing budget. We can't find one to partner with Marc VDS to back Redding on a Honda? How about Dyson, or JCB? (these were only brands I could think of that weren't biscuit/confectionary makers)

Where's the return for them though? Motorbike racing is a niche within a niche, why waste money in such a narrow area?

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

[LoonR1]

macdeb said:

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

I bet if you gave 100 non bikers of all ages the pictures and / or names of all the MotoGP stars they'd struggle to know who they were if they weren't in leathers. Swap that for F1 and a lot will know them. Sponsoring a bike racer is a vanity project not a business decision.

[egor110]

LoonR1 said:

macdeb said:

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

I bet if you gave 100 non bikers of all ages the pictures and / or names of all the MotoGP stars they'd struggle to know who they were if they weren't in leathers. Swap that for F1 and a lot will know them. Sponsoring a bike racer is a vanity project not a business decision.

Exactly.

Most would stuggle if they were in leathers.

Moto gp is tiny compared to f1, the crowds , the news coverage is so much more for f1.

Surely if you were in the position to sponsor something motorsport'ish you'd go for touring cars as everyone can watch it for free on itv4.

Most people have heard of rossi but i bet loads more know of hamilton or button.

[Lincsblokey]

FourWheelDrift said:

Apriliaer said:

If Aprilia are being run by Gresini next year - who is moving into the PBM slot?

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/208376/1/aprilia-...

Suzuki.

Carmelo says not, irta say not, apparantly they already have 2 grid slots agreed, in addition to the 2 pbm slots.

Marc VDS are the hot choice, and may even take the soon to be spare honda proddy bike slot aswell as the factory bike too.

[Dare2Fail]

macdeb said:

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

Although coverage on BT is brilliant the ratings are tiny. Way, way down on last year. This in itself isn't necessarily a problem but it does open up a whole new debate for a new sponsor. Would you rather have:-

1. A huge audience who are only marginally interested and are watching because it's free?
2. A tiny audience who are massively bought into the sport and are prepared to pay just to watch the races?

Seemingly there is evidence to suggest that the former aren't influenced nearly as much by sponsorship as the latter, and therefore it is the latter group that sponsors should be focussing on. This info came from a tweet posted by the guy who does sponsorship pitches for Marc VDS and therefore needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Ignoring all of that, my take on it is that if you are relying on British company supporting upcoming British talent out of some sort of civic duty then the sport is spectacularly broken. Sponsoring bike racing needs to be a proven, viable marketing tool if the current budget crises are to be addressed. For too long the sport seems to have relied on one or two bike mad billionaires or the latest trend (cigarettes, energy drinks etc) where everyone jumps on the bandwagon and therefore everyone's eggs are in one basket.

[egor110]

The trouble with option 2 '2. A tiny audience who are massively bought into the sport and are prepared to pay just to watch the races'

Is that most are going to be aware of the sort of companies that are sponsoring bikes anyway.

Biggest issue i see is it's not on 'free' tv, you sponsor a touring car or ginetta and potential customers can see your brand for free on itv4 , so you'll pick up non motorsports fans.

What i'd love to see is a water company like say evian taking the fight to monster/red bull.

[FourWheelDrift]

I'm puzzled as to why BT Sport or Sky do not provide sponsorship to young British riders & drivers. Rossi's Moto3 team Sky sponsorship is Sky Italia owned by BSkyB so it's not as if they don't get involved (Sky Italia cover MotoGP in Italy).

They would get coverage on other channels taking non-live race highlights as well as creating continued interest from their viewers to watch & pay for coverage whilst supporting young British talent.

[Turn7]

Dare2Fail said:

macdeb said:

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

Although coverage on BT is brilliant the ratings are tiny. Way, way down on last year. This in itself isn't necessarily a problem but it does open up a whole new debate for a new sponsor. Would you rather have:-

1. A huge audience who are only marginally interested and are watching because it's free?
2. A tiny audience who are massively bought into the sport and are prepared to pay just to watch the races?

Seemingly there is evidence to suggest that the former aren't influenced nearly as much by sponsorship as the latter, and therefore it is the latter group that sponsors should be focussing on. This info came from a tweet posted by the guy who does sponsorship pitches for Marc VDS and therefore needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Ignoring all of that, my take on it is that if you are relying on British company supporting upcoming British talent out of some sort of civic duty then the sport is spectacularly broken. Sponsoring bike racing needs to be a proven, viable marketing tool if the current budget crises are to be addressed. For too long the sport seems to have relied on one or two bike mad billionaires or the latest trend (cigarettes, energy drinks etc) where everyone jumps on the bandwagon and therefore everyone's eggs are in one basket.

BT bought it as they thought the audience would be higher - bigger audience equals higher advertising revenue.....

Pretty sure they will drop it at the end of the deal.

[egor110]

Turn7 said:

Dare2Fail said:

macdeb said:

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

Although coverage on BT is brilliant the ratings are tiny. Way, way down on last year. This in itself isn't necessarily a problem but it does open up a whole new debate for a new sponsor. Would you rather have:-

1. A huge audience who are only marginally interested and are watching because it's free?
2. A tiny audience who are massively bought into the sport and are prepared to pay just to watch the races?

Seemingly there is evidence to suggest that the former aren't influenced nearly as much by sponsorship as the latter, and therefore it is the latter group that sponsors should be focussing on. This info came from a tweet posted by the guy who does sponsorship pitches for Marc VDS and therefore needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Ignoring all of that, my take on it is that if you are relying on British company supporting upcoming British talent out of some sort of civic duty then the sport is spectacularly broken. Sponsoring bike racing needs to be a proven, viable marketing tool if the current budget crises are to be addressed. For too long the sport seems to have relied on one or two bike mad billionaires or the latest trend (cigarettes, energy drinks etc) where everyone jumps on the bandwagon and therefore everyone's eggs are in one basket.

BT bought it as they thought the audience would be higher - bigger audience equals higher advertising revenue.....

Pretty sure they will drop it at the end of the deal.

When ever i've been to there studios for the tuesday gp show it really does feel tatty and bodged up.

Beats me why they need so many presenters, also you used to be able to get tickets for every show now they've cancelled a few and when we asked why the week before silverstone the answers were pretty sheepish , from i don't know to re-jigging the schedule.

What amazes me though is at the home gp you'd think they'd have a big promotional push, they had nothing , you'd have no idea bt had anything to do with gp, and why not film the post gp show at the track with a live audience rather than just rehash the stuff the filmed before the gp?

[Dare2Fail]

egor110 said:

The trouble with option 2 '2. A tiny audience who are massively bought into the sport and are prepared to pay just to watch the races'

Is that most are going to be aware of the sort of companies that are sponsoring bikes anyway.

Biggest issue i see is it's not on 'free' tv, you sponsor a touring car or ginetta and potential customers can see your brand for free on itv4 , so you'll pick up non motorsports fans.

What i'd love to see is a water company like say evian taking the fight to monster/red bull.

That's the argument, isn't it. If the evidence referred to is correct then your example of 'picking up non motorsport fans' doesn't work, as although they will see your brand, they won't be influenced to actually use your brand (ie the advertising won't work).

[macdeb]

egor110 said:

LoonR1 said:

macdeb said:

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

I bet if you gave 100 non bikers of all ages the pictures and / or names of all the MotoGP stars they'd struggle to know who they were if they weren't in leathers. Swap that for F1 and a lot will know them. Sponsoring a bike racer is a vanity project not a business decision.

Exactly.

Most would stuggle if they were in leathers.

Moto gp is tiny compared to f1, the crowds , the news coverage is so much more for f1.

Surely if you were in the position to sponsor something motorsport'ish you'd go for touring cars as everyone can watch it for free on itv4.

Most people have heard of rossi but i bet loads more know of hamilton or button.

Understand all of that and agree, but cost of sponsorship for F1 compared to moto GP I would guess would be higher, no?

[Lincsblokey]

macdeb said:

egor110 said:

LoonR1 said:

macdeb said:

Such a shame that there are BIG UK companies out there that wont/can't/don't know about supporting rising British talent. It's getting decent coverage too now with BT sport and the odd mention on the news.

I bet if you gave 100 non bikers of all ages the pictures and / or names of all the MotoGP stars they'd struggle to know who they were if they weren't in leathers. Swap that for F1 and a lot will know them. Sponsoring a bike racer is a vanity project not a business decision.

Exactly.

Most would stuggle if they were in leathers.

Moto gp is tiny compared to f1, the crowds , the news coverage is so much more for f1.

Surely if you were in the position to sponsor something motorsport'ish you'd go for touring cars as everyone can watch it for free on itv4.

Most people have heard of rossi but i bet loads more know of hamilton or button.

Understand all of that and agree, but cost of sponsorship for F1 compared to moto GP I would guess would be higher, no?

petronas pay Mercedes F1 95m a year for titles sponsorship.

Monster reportedly pay 20m for a logo on each driver and a small bit on car.

to put it into perspective..

Monster pay tech 3 2m a year and factory yam 4.

Repsol get total naming rights for HRC factory team for 15m a season

[tight5]

Lincsblokey said:

Repsol get total naming rights for HRC factory team for 15m a season

how much do they pay for -

[theshrew]

Paul Bird just tweeted this pic. Is he going or just messing ?

[George29]

theshrew said:

Paul Bird just tweeted this pic. Is he going or just messing ?

I know PBM wanted to get into road racing next year. With Hutchy being released by FFX Yamaha it makes sense.

[egor110]

Surely he should get hickman too, over achieving on the track and great debut at the tt.

[Lincsblokey]

George29 said:

theshrew said:

Paul Bird just tweeted this pic. Is he going or just messing ?

I know PBM wanted to get into road racing next year. With Hutchy being released by FFX Yamaha it makes sense.

Birdy wants dunlop too, if his grand plan of pinching the bmw UK support from Hawk doesnt happen he is talking of letting MD loose on the PBM GP bike in the senior and running him & hutch on kwak for all the other classes