News 2002
Virgin Mobile sponsors legendary British Superbikes team for third year
20/03/2002
- Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa unveils new R1 Superbike
- Win R1 Superbike and Team Scooters
- Virgin Mobile launches special edition Superbike phone
- Ride the Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa simulator
- Enjoy Free race reports sent to your phone
Virgin Mobile, the UK’s fifth mobile operator, today announced its continued support of Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa for the 2002 season.
The Yamaha-powered team, managed by Rob McElnea, is the most successful British Superbikes team of all time, and has enjoyed Virgin’s support for the past three years. The team expects this season to be its most triumphant yet with the team riding the latest version of the new R1 Superbike. Virgin Mobile is again the team’s main sponsor and is joined by Aiwa, one of the UK’s leading audio/visual brands.
The agreement with the team includes title sponsorship of the team, branding on the bikes and riders and in the pit garage. Also, a variety of promotional, hospitality and marketing activities including competitions to win the legendary R1 Superbike and limited edition Team scooters. The Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa race simulator will take riders through the adrenaline fuelled experience of last year’s nerve wracking second race Donnington on 1 April. Virgin Mobile, in association with Make My Phone Limited, will be offering race-goers the chance to take photos of themselves with their favourite bikes and riders and have these replicated on mobile phone covers.
Announcing the deal, James Kydd, Brand Director, Virgin Mobile, said: “We are very happy to be continuing our sponsorship with Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa in 2002. This season looks set to be the best yet and we know that the tens of thousands of Superbike fans will turn out in full force to support their teams and riders. Motorbike racing has quickly become one of the best loved sports in Britain and as the development of Rockingham Speedway last year shows, the sport is going from strength to strength – as is Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa.”
During the 2002 season Virgin Mobile will also be embarking on a programme of special promotions and events, to support the team not only at the races, but in Yamaha dealerships, V.SHOPs and in Virgin Megastores. Virgin Mobile is also set to launch a Superbike phone with a bike branded facia for the Nokia 3310. The Superbike mobile owners will be able to receive news and updates through SMS sent direct to their phone and will also be given the chance to win an R1 race bike, an exact replica of the Superbikes that are ridden by Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa.
Rob McElnea, Team Virgin Mobile Aiwa’s manager, said: “This year’s riders have truly world class talent and with an experienced, strong team behind them, they are expected to go far. Simon Crafar is a very experienced and highly respected rider who is tipped as a serious race challenger this year. Steve Plater is an aggressive, determined rider in his third Superbikes-class season who has had some amazing results - we have high hopes for them both. This year our riders are on the new R1 Superbike and it has already proved to be a great success with the team’s fastest lap times ever reached at the Almeria circuit in Spain. This bike is definitely a race winner.”
Following the success of mobile text updates in 2001, all Virgin Mobile customers will again be able to follow the riders’ progress, with regular race updates sent free 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. There will also be many competitions and promotions running at race days including the chance for people to win a pillion ride on one of the Superbikes – something that speed demons everywhere will be dying to do.
