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By Riccardo Tafà| Posted January 8, 2020 | In MotoGP, Sport Sponsorship
The MotoGP World Championship travels 5 continents and 19 races along 9 months of fierce competition. From Australia to Italy, from Argentina to Japan, from the United Kingdom to the United States, almost every corner of the planet is reached by the most spectacular two-wheel racing series in the world. Are you looking for 2020 MotoGP Packages?
The feeling of attending a MotoGP race is unique and truly unforgettable. Everything screams excitement and adrenaline: the roaring of the engines, the ooh’s and aah’s from the crowd, the smell of petrol and rubber, the immense speed of the bikes on the tarmac. If you’ve never been to the racetrack before, pay a visit: you’ll be thankful.
Need some memorabilia like hats, shirts, glasses, flags and other paraphernalia? If you’re at the track, head over to the Commercial and Vending Area and get ready to make them banknotes rain.
Since 1991 Dorna has been running the MotoGP championship, alongside many other motorcycle racing series. The company manages 52 events, 175 races, 436 riders along the year, so the guys know a thing or two about a day at the races. While their world-class organization only rarely is recognized from the TV screens (as they’re elegant enough), once you’re at the track it’s pretty obvious they’re all over the shop. From huge TV compounds to race direction, from security to logistics, from media to hospitality services, you’ll see plenty of their white shirts around. Hat off to them.
With four races in the Calendar (Jerez, Barcelona, Aragon and Valencia), Spain truly is the home of the MotoGP championship. And while Italy and the UK may show the same amount of sheer passion, there can be little doubt this is mainly a Spanish paddock. Their love for the sport is infinite and their faith in their heroes unlimited. So, if you have the chance, catch a plane to Barcelona or Valencia, and witness the excitement right where it springs from.
Maybe you’re too young to remember, but some 34 years ago the World Motorcycling Championship used to have a race in Finland. The MotoGP Finnish Grand Prix will finally see the light again in 2019 when the mob will race on the brand new Kymi Ring in Iitti (it’s so brand new they’re still building the thing).
Not only it will be a historic comeback for the Championship but a very interesting round too, as it’ll easily become the most northerner round of the calendar. Hello, Santa!
Did you know a MotoGP weekend could provide a great food & wine experience too? Well, if you’re a guest of the MotoGP VIP Village, get yourself ready for a sumptuous gourmet experience. Along the 19 rounds of the Championship, the chefs and cooks of this exclusive hospitality experience will treat clients with local delicacies, traditional dishes, superb wines and great bartending. Tasty!
Believe it or not, the whole paddock is one moving circus. And it’s travelling via trucks. Much like futuristic Transformers, these wheeled beasts quickly turn into sumptuous lounges, functional kitchens, multi-connected meeting rooms and luxurious bedroom. Go to the circuit one week before the race and nothing is there. Return to the same place onFridayy, and it’ll look like a village from the fairy tales, with people watering the plants, kids zooming around in scooters and managers having a drink on the top of parquet-finished terraces. Magic. Trucks are what brings MotoGP to your town, so if you ever see one of these big boys on the highway, let them know you’re a fan with a polite honk.
The infield is the part of the circuit nested between the bends of the racetrack and is usually reachable via an underpass or a bridge. If you’re planning to buy a MotoGP ticket, keep in mind this is usually the best place to watch the race, as the action unfolds totally around you. The “prato” in Misano is a good example of this, with an excellent view of the Quercia and Tramonto sectors.
The European leg of the calendar kicks off in the historic circuit of Jerez de La Frontera and erupts in a burst of joy and passion. Nested in the sun-scorched province of Cadiz, Andalusia, Jerez is the roaring heart of Spain. And boy, oh boy, what a show they put on during the Grand Prix weekend. Thousands and thousands of bikes and cheering bikers meet here, in a fiesta of horns, burnouts and chants of joy. Inspiring.
The Matrix actor and living legend Keanu Reeves is a true petrol head. Not only the guy loves his bikes to bits, but he’s also started his own company and showcased his creation earlier last year at EICMA Milan. A genuine fan, Reeves can easily be spotted in the MotoGP paddock, strolling around like he’s Mr Unknown. Coolest bloke on earth.
If you plan to use the MotoGP Championship as a platform for your business meetings, which of course we strongly suggest, there’s nothing better than a corporate Lounge in the MotoGP VIP Village. In an exclusive, luxurious environment you and your team will enjoy all the room and time you need, while the World’s fastest championship zooms by the windows.
We mentioned Jerez before, but Italians are no slouches when party time hits the clock. The old saying goes “No sleep at Mugello” and the belpaese fans stick to their word. The superb hills of Tuscany become stage to a 72-hour party, while yellow flags, hats and shirts can be spotted everywhere. On the other hand, Misano is no different, as the Rivera becomes the perfect setting for all the motor valley passion. Romagna mia, Romagna in fiore.
One of the most touching and heartfelt moments of a MotoGP weekend is the National Anthem. Riders standing in the grid, music blasting through the speakers, jet fighters passing by while the crowd are standing and flags are flown. Heads up.
Who doesn’t like a thrilling overtaking? And while TV broadcasting is often quick to show the details of the best moves, at the track passing manoeuvres are saluted with the ooh’s and the aah’s of the crowd and the roar of the fans. Mind you, nothing beats being there when your favourite rider takes the top spot via a remarkable showcase of courage and skill.
Unfortunately, loads of poor communication has surrounded this object. Advertising and media had fans chasing this little piece of plastic, and thinking they could meet the riders, enter the trucks, see the race from A-list seats. Time to break the myth.
MotoGP Paddock Pass are not designed for fans: rather, they actually provide a very patchy day at the races. And they are absolutely not for sale. With nowhere to eat (hospitality trucks are for guests only), nowhere to sit (it’s not a public park) and not a single place to watch the race, you’ll be longing for a general admission ticket pretty soon.
I’m a bit of a purist here, and for me, nothing beats the thrill and the excitement of qualifying. I know, no points are given on a Saturday, but at the end of the day, if motorcycle racing is about pure speed, this is the real thing. The concentration of the riders to set the perfect lap, the beauty of the fastest lines, the power of the engines detonating on the straights. If you have the chance, take advantage of your MotoGP weekend and witness the show of a qualifying session.w
The Doctor, the legend and, quite possibly, the greatest rider the world of motorcycle racing has witnessed. There can be little doubt Valentino Rossi is one of the main reasons fans attend a MotoGP race by the thousands, with large crowds waiting outside the Yamaha Trucks just to get a glimpse of the champion.
If you think Sunday is the perfect day to hit the racetrack, think twice because there’s nothing quite like a MotoGP Saturday. Not only Saturday is the longest day of the weekend thanks to the combination of free practice runs and qualifying, but it’s also the build-up to the big day ahead. So, like, everybody’s pumped up and the paddock is pretty lit. Parties are thrown, music booms from hospitality trucks and guests are served with aperitifs and glasses of wine. Everyone’s favourite.
The Chang International Circuit in Buriram, north est of Bangkok, will be home to the first historic Thai Grand Prix. With interest in Thailand incredibly high, the paddock will hit Thailand on October 7th, with contracts for the 2018-2019 and 2020 season.
Colorful and ever-stylish, team uniforms can be spotted everywhere in and outside the paddock during a MotoGP event, and quickly became a fan favourite for the fans. You can buy the original thing at official stores in the Commercial Area or at the MotoGP online shop.
The most exclusive two-wheel hospitality package on the planet, the MotoGP VIP Village truly is the place to be. From paddock tours to pit lane walks, from gourmet catering to exclusive venues, the VIP Village is the perfect option for those willing to enjoy a MotoGP weekend in grand fashion. Oh, by the way, we happen to be an Official Agency. So if you’re curious give a look at our dedicated page here.
Along with the Paddock Tour, the Pitlane Walk is one of the most loved services offered by the MotoGP VIP Village. This exclusive experience will take you right on the tarmac and in front of the pit walls and garages. Basically, it’s as close as you can get.
Frenchman Johann Zarco has ridden an incredible season. Onboard his Tech3 Yamaha the former Moto2 champion has scored 174 points in the championship and finished 6th overall, some 40-ish points clear of Ducati superstar Jorge Lorenzo just like why not. The direct consequence of this was a platoon of French fans flooding the tracks all over the world to cheer for their hometown hero and celebrate motorcycling. Vive la France.
Want to read more? Discover out other ABC of MotoGP Hospitality!
Are you ready to explore the transformative power of athlete sponsorship for your brand? Click here to learn more about how sponsorship can help brands grow and thrive in the exciting world of motorsports.
Managing Director for RTR Sports, Riccardo graduated in law at the University of Bologna. He began his career in London in PR, then started working in two and four-wheelers. A brief move to Monaco followed before returning to Italy. There he founded RTR, first a consulting firm and then a sports marketing company which, eventually, he moved back to London.
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By doing so, we are convinced that we are shortening the value chain, saving time and money. However, these DYI methods are anything but risk-free and what initially appears to be a competitive advantage soon turns into a problem that is difficult to resolve. That’s why there are agencies. And this is why you should rely on us for your sponsorships.
When first approaching a sponsorship or sports marketing project, it is difficult to know immediately which stakeholders are correct, what the decision flow is, and what the right timelines are for each process. Sports is a very specialized field of action, and fitting effectively into its paths can take a lot of time and therefore money. We, on the other hand, know referents and spheres of action and know who to talk to, when and how. So you are also more effective.
Sports is an immense passion, and for our heart colors we would be willing to do anything. But business is a different business, and it is important to make the best possible strategic decisions based on independent research, statistics and reliable data. A sports marketing and sports sponsorship agency like RTR has an objective, 360-degree picture of the scenario and can tell you what is really best for you: which sport, which athlete, which team. This is because we possess a great deal of data and information on ratings, segmentation and attitudes. Because the numbers don’t lie. Never.
Activations are the real heart of sports sponsorship. Without them, there remains only a blank sticker on a motorcycle, car or uniform and no contact with the public, no emotional connection, no impact on the bottom line. Then how do you do it? It certainly won’t be the teams or the athletes who will help you leverage sponsorship and enjoy the many marketing rights you have paid for. To bring out the best in a sports marketing project you need an agency that knows how to use sponsorship to engage the fanbase on the Web, to reach out to Shopping Centers, to organize hospitality, to develop B2B and B2C opportunities, and to get “your” athletes in front of millions of potential consumers.
Would you ever go to the dealer who sold you the car and ask if the competitor’s car is better? No, of course. So, how do you expect to get firm measurements of the effectiveness of your sponsorship if you do not rely on someone super partes? At RTR, we have always worked with independent third-party agencies that allow us to know the return on any exposure of your brand on TV and in the media. In addition, we believe in calculating ROI as the ultimate measure of your success-so we can tell you for every penny you spend how much you are making.
We have been involved in sports sponsorship and sports marketing for more than 15 years. We are consultants in the sense that our goal is to maximize your investment, but we are also an agency that manages the project from start to finish. We have been doing this since 1995 with passion and professionalism, following three principles that have become cornerstones of our business: independence, verticality and transparency.
I would like to highlight the fact that one of the qualities of RTR is its great ability to approach the sponsorship scenario strategically, together with its passionate attitude, its amazing enthusiasm for solving problems, and its high level of professionalism.
Gianluca Degliesposti
Executive Director Server&Storage EMEA
Eurosport is truly delighted with its business relationship with Riccardo Tafà, who has become extremely popular, thanks to his detailed knowledge of the sports marketing sector and his highly diligent attitude to work.
Francois Ribeiro
Commercial Director
Passion and Expertise are the features that I have found in RTR since the very beginning. Serious and reliable professionals but also very helpful, nice and open-mind people, willing to listen and compare different ideas. All the values in which RTR believes make this agency a partner, not just a supplier, a partner with whom we have had the opportunity to achieve significant commercial results in term of success and image.
Luca Pacitto
Head of Communication
We have been working with RTR Sports Marketing for over 10 years. The objectives and the programmes of collaboration continue to be renewed and to grow with mutual satisfaction. I believe RTR is a team of great professionals led by Riccardo Tafà, who I consider a manager of exceptional skills and with a great passion for his work.
Lucio Cecchinello
Team Principal
I have known and worked with Riccardo Tafà since 1995 when we collaborated for the first time on a project for the Williams Formula 1 team. Several clients followed. After leaving Williams to work for Gerhard Berger then owner of the Toro Rosso F1 Team, I turned again to Riccardo to seek his help in finding a tool supplier for the team and Riccardo duly obliged with an introduction to USAG, a partnership with Toro Rosso which endured for five years. I recently started a new role as Group Commercial Director for the renowned Andretti Autosport organisation and I find myself working with Riccardo once again on a number of interesting projects. Why has this relationship with Riccardo endured ? He’s smart, knows the commercial side of sport inside out and back to front and he’s honest and trustworthy. Riccardo Tafà is a “doer” not a “talker”: in over 20 years I have never had a dispute either with him or with a company that he has introduced and each partnership introduced by Riccardo has delivered quantifiable ROI to rights holder and sponsor alike. I can think of no better testimonial of Riccardo’s diligence, knowledge, contact base and hard work than that.
Jim Wright
Group Commercial Director
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