...Red Bull sponsored speedway in a big way... Mid way through the 2009 season, it was announced that Jason Crump would be sponsored by Red Bull. On the surface, this sounded like major news for the sport, but it soon became clear that the deal was limited to a Red Bull crash helmet, cap and the obligatory drinks bottle. Admittedly for many years Red Bull have sponsored their "athletes" with a corporate crash helmet, but it is was disappointing that the deal wasn't taken further with Crump racing in the full Red Bull corporate livery. This would have given the sport a real injection of credibility, with the prospect of attracting other serious corporate companies to speedway.
Crumps friendship with Red Bull F1 racer Mark Webber has been well documented, and could help raise the profile of speedway around the world. During the press conference after Webbers victory at the Brazilian GP, he paid tribute to Crump for winning the Speedway World Championship after overcoming a serious injury.
At the same time, the organisers of the Speedway Grand Prix have to put their house in order, to make this sort of deal possible. At the British Speedway Grand Prix at Cardiff, the event sponsor was the rival "Rockstar" energy drink. This in itself is not a problem as long as the branding is on the air fence, podium, infield etc. But in speedway the organisers insist that the event sponsor has their branding on the front of all the bikes (and potentially on the riders race jacket bibs.) So we had the ridiculous scenario of the Red Bull sponsored Crump, and the "Monster" sponsored Greg Hancock being forced to carry the branding of a rival company on their bikes! This doesn't happen in other events any more because it is a sure-fire way to scupper any potential sponsorship deal...
As a sport, we can't really complain about the lack of major sponsorship, if we insist on crazy regulations that discourage potential backers.
Original Photo: Michal Szmyd
Photoshop Rendering: Dave Curtis
Image published in the Speedway Star
God help any sport if Red Bull branding = credibility. What is the big rush for third party money? Will it make the racing better? Will it make the person you're sat next to in the stands nicer? It might make the riders wealthier and while I don't begrudge them more money, when has that ever made sport better for the fans? And you're a fan, right? I like speedway, but I'm not a rabid fan. I don't see how Red Bull sponsoring anyone or anything improves a sport. So, Crumpy gets some money, invests it in machinery and creams the opposition. Where does that get anyone?
ReplyDeleteOr Red Bull sponsor a GP, the organisers get more money, the ticket price stays the same, perhaps a few more come in the door, what difference does it make? Speedway isn't going to rival F1 or MotoGP, but it isn't going to die either. Am I missing the point?
G
I agree with the point about the fork covers - this is silly - and IS seen also in Supercross - as Monster sponsored the series but had a smaller sticker presence on their competitors forks...
ReplyDeleteIt must be noted that these are sponsor selling points though - and to be fair the series should gain its revenues through TV / Media deals, Fence and Infield sponsorship and not so much on the actual riders!!!!
To the point about Red Bull - you do not again see this full branding in Motocross or on any other sponsored people apart from the F1, mainly as the F1 team is owned by Red Bull...
Crumpy has other sponsors to consider, plus his own personal livery and promotion, if giving in to one sponsor is to change this, then it would ruin personalities.
Also why would he change his covers mid season - this is a huge cost every season, and a mid season change would just waste revenue given by Red Bull, which could be channeled into other parts of the bike!!!!
In the forthcoming season He may come out as in the picture - although its doubtful - the RedBull deal is not likely to be as big as many think it may be...although it is hugely beneficial to crumpy with regards facilities at his disposal.
The Rockstar sponsorship is not as it seems either.... Rockstar hardly acknowledge their presence at Cardiff, which is strange considering the amount of effort seemingly put into it.. which is why I see it as a smokescreen.. they probably paid no money to be there, but instead said they would give out free product...
so in all it was a publicity stunt, because the GP is struggling to attract sponsors... and it was hoped by using one of these brands it would kick the others into action - hasnt worked has it...
I just wish RedBull would run their own speedway series like they do the FMX and New Year events (featuring riders sponsored by their competitors no less) - it would certainly show BSI/IMG how its done - as away from the lustre they brought in the beginning, NOTHING has changed or really been improved, they are just sitting on a format that promised so much and yet has capitalised on little...
sounds like promoters in speedway in general to me - all mouth no trousers and very little advertising outside the sport!