News 2001
Virgin Mobile sponsors top British Superbike team
16/02/2001
Virgin Mobile, the world's most successful virtual network, today announced its continued support of Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa for the 2001 season.
The Yamaha-powered team, managed by Rob McElnea, is the most successful British Superbike team of all time, and has enjoyed Virgin's support for the past two years. The team expects this season to be its most triumphant yet. Virgin Mobile is again the team's main sponsor and has this year been joined by Aiwa, one of the UK's leading audio/visual brands.
The agreement with the team is wide-ranging and includes title sponsorship, team and bike branding, and a variety of promotional, hospitality and marketing activities.
Announcing the deal, James Kydd, Brand Director, Virgin Mobile, said: "The British Superbike series is one of the fastest and most exciting spectator sports there is, regularly commanding crowds of over 100,000 extremely loyal and dedicated fans. British riders are ranked among the most skilled and competitive in the world, and in James Haydon and Jamie Robinson we have two of the best. We've enjoyed working with the team so far, and are looking forward to a great year of thrills - without spills!"
During the 2001 season Virgin Mobile will also be embarking on a programme of special promotions and events, in conjunction with co-sponsor Aiwa, to support the team not only at the races, but in Yamaha dealerships and in V.SHOPs.
Rob McElnea, Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa's manager, said: "Virgin Mobile's continued support means the team can keep growing from strength to strength. We've had a great couple of years of being associated with Virgin and with their help we've been able to put on a great show for racing fans. But as they say - you ain't seen nothing yet. We're confident of a very successful 2001 season."
At each race Virgin Mobile will have a promotional stand and will give spectators the chance to experience the sheer adrenaline-rush of the race by taking a ride in a Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa superbike simulator.
Virgin Mobile customers will also be able to enter competitions on race days and will have privileged access to exclusive giveaways and promotions.
And new for the 2001 season, all Virgin Mobile customers will be able to follow the riders' progress, with updates of race results and league tables sent direct to their phones. All they have to do is log onto Virgin Mobile's web site at www.virgin.com/mobile and request British Superbikes free news alerts via the VirginXtras service*.
Race calendar:
| 1st April | Donnington Park | |
| 16th April | Silverstone | |
| 7th May | Snetterton | |
| 13th May | Oulton Park | |
| 27th May | Donington Park (World Superbike) | |
| 17th June | Brands Hatch | |
| 1st July | Thruxton | |
| 22nd July | Oulton Park | |
| 29th July | Brands Hatch (World Superbike) | |
| 12th August | Knockhill | |
| 27th August | Cadwell Park | |
| 2nd September | Brands Hatch | |
| 16th September | Mallory Park | |
| 30th September | TBA | |
| 14th October | Donington Park |
Note to editors:
Virgin Mobile is now established as the most successful virtual network operator in the world. Since its launch in November 1999 it has attracted well over 750,000 customers, making it one of the fastest growing mobile phone companies ever.
Virgin Mobile is a 50:50 joint venture company between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Deutsche Telekom's One 2 One, and is the UK's first mobile virtual operator.
It has scored a number of firsts, including being the first operator to scrap peak rate calls, introduce a daily discounting tariff and was the first company in the world to introduce an integrated MP3 mobile phone.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600; on the web at www.virgin.com/mobile; or on the High Street at over 3000 outlets including Virgin Megastores, Our Price, V Shops and in supermarkets such as Asda and Sainsbury.
Virgin has already taken the brand overseas with Virgin Mobile (Australia), a partnership with Cable and Wireless Optus, which opened for business at the end of October 2000. A similar joint-venture between Virgin and Singapore Telecom will see the launch of Virgin Mobile (Asia) in summer 2001. The global Virgin Mobile brand is also expected to launch in the USA and Europe within two years.
For more information please contact: Alison Bonny, Press Officer, Virgin Mobile - 07802 430276
*British Superbikes news alerts on VirginXtras will be available later this spring.
