After a brief visit to the pit area, it was Rossi’s turn to climb into the driver’s seat and took his turn around the oval’s 24-degree banked corners, reaching speeds of about 185 mph. Continue Reading »
As we reported in December, energy drink producer Monster Energy has signed a sponsorship agreement with Yamaha‘s factory MotoGP program, putting its brand on the Yamaha YZR-M1 race bikes, team clothing and equipment, as well as riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.
Monster Energy already had a personal sponsorship deal with Rossi but the company will now also sponsor Lorenzo. The reigning MotoGP Champion had previously had a sponsorship arrangement with rival energy drink company RockStar, but Yamaha exercised a clause in its contract with Lorenzo allowing a buy out of the RockStar deal as it conflicts with the team’s sponsor.
The new agreement with the factory team does not affect Monster Energy’s deal with Yamaha’s satellite team Tech3. The team will still be known as the Monster Energy Yamaha Tech3 team, but all four Yamaha M1s on the grid will now sport Monster Energy’s green M logo. Continue Reading »
Yamaha has reportedly signed energy drink maker Monster Energy to sponsor its factory MotoGP team, according to Spanish site MotoCuatro.com. The new sponsorship deal created a bit of a problem however, as Yamaha‘s star rider Jorge Lorenzo recently signed a two-year contact extension to his personal sponsorship deal with RockStar, a rival energy drink maker.
To get around this sticky situation, MotoCuatro reports Yamaha will invoke a clause in Lorenzo’s contract allowing the manufacturer to veto and buy out his RockStar contract.
The two energy drinks managed to co-exist within the Yamaha garage this past season. Along with RockStar’s sponsorship of Lorenzo, Monster Energy had a sponsorship agreement with his teammate Ben Spies. The difference next season however is Spies’ replacement, Valentino Rossi. Continue Reading »
Last week, we wrote about retired Formula One racer Michael Schumacher taking part in a track day at France’s Paul Ricard circuit on a Ducati 1199 Panigale. The event’s sponsor, Monster Energy, has released a video offering a behind-the-scenes look at the event.
The seven-time F1 champion was joined by TT racer John McGuinness, retired MotoGP racer Randy Momola, Moto2 racer Pol Espargaro and Keith Flint, a musician from the group Prodigy and a racer in the U.K.’s Hottrax Endurance Championship.
Schumacher rode on a Panigale dressed in the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team’s gray color (perhaps a bit awkward considering Ducati‘s new owner Audi). As expected, McGuinness rode on his Honda TT Legends team’s CBR1000RR, and Espargaro on his FTR Kalex Moto2 bike. Mamola rode a Yamaha YZF-R1,while Flint rode his Suzuki GSX-R1000 endurance racer to complete the varied collection of sportbikes.
Check out the video after the jump, and especially the shot of the four riders pulling wheelies just after the 3-minute mark. Continue Reading »
Photo: Simon Cudby
American Speedway racing hosted perhaps its biggest night in history on Saturday, September 22, as the 44th Annual Monster Energy U.S. National Speedway Championship provided a captivating evening of competition in front of a packed house at Costa Mesa Speedway. At the conclusion of 26 races, it was a familiar name standing in the winner’s circle as Billy Hamill took home his third win at the iconic event. Continue Reading »
Two-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes has been invited to test Colin Edwards’ Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 at the MotoGP post-season test.
Tech 3 principal Herve Poncharal told MCN Hayes will get to ride a few laps on the Yamaha M1 Nov. 7 at the end of season test at Spain’s Valencia circuit.
Hayes won the 2010 and 2011 AMA Superbike champion with the Graves Yamaha team, which is sponsored by Monster Energy. The energy drink company also sponsors the Tech 3 MotoGP team, making Hayes’ invitation to the test natural fit.
