Author: Riccardo Tafà
Riccardo Tafà is the founder and Managing Director of RTR Sports Marketing, the independent motorsport sponsorship agency he established in 1995. A law graduate of the University of Bologna, he began his career in PR in London before moving into motorsport, and has spent more than 30 years structuring sponsorship partnerships in Formula 1 and MotoGP - closing over 100 deals across eight championships with properties including McLaren, Williams, Ducati, Honda HRC, Yamaha Factory Racing and Dorna Sports. He writes on sponsorship strategy, commercial rights, pricing, and ROI measurement for brands entering motorsport at every budget level.
June 19, 2019
Sports events and tourism: why the marriage works
There is a growing marketing bond between sport and geographic territories that has become increasingly relevant in the landscape of sports sponsorships. On one hand, major sports events have[...]
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June 13, 2019
London and international sports marketing: why the City remains the industry’s hub
London is not just Europe’s financial capital: it has been for decades the world’s foremost hub for international sports marketing. Agencies operating from Soho, Farringdon or Can[...]
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June 11, 2019
International Sports Sponsorship: Why Sport Is the Global Lever for Brands
International sports sponsorship is one of the few marketing levers that manages to be simultaneously local and global: a logo on a MotoGP bike is seen by millions of people in 19 countries, [...]
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June 9, 2019
Can We Sponsor Just One Race? Local, Regional and Event-Based MotoGP Sponsorship
One of the most common questions we receive from companies with primarily local or national markets is: “Can we sponsor a MotoGP team just for our home race?” The answer is yes [...]
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June 5, 2019
What is the difference between sponsorship and donation?
As a brand that wants to support sports and invest in teams or athletes, it’s important to know what your aims are – and whether you want to provide monetary support only, or be invol[...]
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June 3, 2019
Sport sponsorship in Russia
There’s no question that Russia has been involving itself in the world of international sports for a long time. Before hosting last year’s Fifa World Cup, the Black Sea resort of Sochi he[...]
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May 19, 2019
Why has Formula 1 become such a bore? Causes and consequences
Practice without theory is blind: who could doubt this? This is why theory cannot be ignored and, when something does not work or practice gives poor results, it should be given back its cent[...]
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May 17, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in Germany: MotoGP, Football and Motorsport
Germany is the world’s third-largest economy by GDP, with 83 million inhabitants and one of the highest average purchasing powers in Europe. For a brand looking to use sport as a market[...]
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May 14, 2019
Sports sponsorship in Africa: the global brands leading the way
Africa is not tomorrow’s sports sponsorship market. For some strategic brands, it is already today. I say this because the cliché persists: Africa as a frontier, as a long-term bet, as[...]
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May 10, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in the Netherlands
The Netherlands and sports sponsorship: a passionate market with motorsport’s “Cathedral” The Netherlands is home to one of the most legendary circuits in world motorsport: [...]
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May 8, 2019
Sports sponsorship in Africa 2: the international brands supporting African sports
Sports sponsorships continue to find tremendous opportunities in Africa: from supporting emerging sports to projects linked to youth academies, from local teams to national championships, spo[...]
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May 4, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in Switzerland
Switzerland and sports sponsorship: a market of excellence with global brands in the paddock Switzerland is one of the countries with the longest and most sophisticated tradition of sports sp[...]
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April 29, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in Thailand
Thailand and sports sponsorship: a growing market where motorsport takes centre stage Thailand has for years been one of the most active sports markets in Southeast Asia. With over 70 million[...]
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April 25, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in Vietnam: the Market in 2026
Vietnam and sports sponsorship: a market in rapid transformation With nearly 100 million inhabitants, one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia and an increasingly large urban mi[...]
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April 25, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in Indonesia: the Market in 2026
Indonesia and sports sponsorship: a market of 277 million people With over 277 million inhabitants, Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation on earth and one of the most dynamic markets i[...]
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April 24, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in the Philippines: the Market in 2026
The Philippines: a rising market for sports sponsorship in Southeast Asia With over 113 million inhabitants and one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, the Philippines represe[...]
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April 23, 2019
Sports Sponsorship in Ireland
Ireland: a sports culture that creates unique sponsorship opportunities Ireland is one of the European nations with the highest rate of emotional identification with sport. Rugby, Gaelic foot[...]
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April 16, 2019
Food Brands and MotoGP Sponsorship: Yes, It’s Possible!
The marketing director’s dilemma: canned tuna and MotoGP Imagine a company that produces canned tuna. The marketing director understands the potential of sports sponsorship, has looked [...]
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April 16, 2019
iGaming and Betting: why sponsor MotoGP
Why MotoGP is the ideal championship for betting and iGaming brands Anyone who has watched a Moto3, Moto2, or MotoGP race knows that the outcome is nearly impossible to predict until the fina[...]
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April 15, 2019
Exercise equipment, fitness and MotoGP sponsorships
Not just riders — elite athletes The level of physical conditioning required to race a modern MotoGP machine is something the general public consistently underestimates. MotoGP bikes produc[...]
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