Looking to increase the company’s brand exposure in markets popular with the MotoGP such as Spain and Greece, Austria’s Interwetten has signed a deal to become the main sponsor of the Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team, providing the company with a presence on the starting grid for the 2010 MotoGP racing calendar, the premier class of grand prix motorcycle racing.
Following successful sponsorship agreements with the lower 125cc and 250cc motorcycle classes, Interwetten has signed up Japan’s Hiroshi Aoyama, this year’s 250cc World Champion, to join the Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team for the 2010 season, with the 18-race season beginning in Qatar next April.
“Interwetten is one of the most modern betting providers in Europe. Our dynamic innovation should also be reflected in our commitment to motorsports,” said Interwetten CEO, Wolfgang Fabian. “We want to support Hiroshi in gaining experience in MotoGP and to establish ourselves together in the premier class.”
“Just like Interwetten, MotoGP stands for spectacular action, first-class sports and excitement until the last corner. Interwetten markets itself in countries such as Spain and Greece, and also in Germany and Switzerland and therefore MotoGP is the ideal platform to increase the popularity of our brand in these countries,” added Fabian.
Interwetten also confirmed that it will partner up with Thomas Luthi next year, who will ride for the Interwetten Moto2 team which will replace the 250cc class.
The agreement will pit Interwetten against fellow Austrian gaming operator bwin which also benefits from a strong brand presence at various MotoGP events as a title sponsor for races in Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic.