The 2022 MotoGP world championship is already in the thick of the action and we are pleased to present, once again, an updated and comprehensive guide to all the sponsors and partners of the main teams participating in the world’s longest-running motorsport championship.
Why we did it
Our intention is to represent the state of the art of sports sponsorship in MotoGP 2022, and therefore of the companies investing in the premier class of two-wheel racing. This is the result of in-depth research carried out by retrieving information from the websites of the teams and the companies themselves.
We would like to stress that this is a totally independent study; a true snapshot of the market to date.
Accompanying the various tables, you will find a detailed description of all the teams based on specific research into their history, past and current season trends. For each sponsor we have indicated the product sector in which the various companies operate. We believe this is an important feature to indicate, demonstrating how wide and varied the panorama of product sectors involved in this specific sporting sector is. You will certainly notice that big, medium and small companies, both national and international, coexist, invest and exploit sports sponsorship in MotoGP as a strategic marketing and communication tool.
MotoGP: great aggregator of markets
A preamble before we get to the point.
Not all teams offer well-defined titles to investing companies (such as ‘Title sponsor‘, ‘Official sponsor‘ or ‘Partner‘). For this reason, we have taken the liberty of categorising each company autonomously (in any case according to the order outlined by the teams) and not necessarily by the official title stated in the individual sponsorship contract.
Adding up all sponsorship programmes, we can count more than 270 entries (276 to be precise). This does not indicate the total number of sponsors in MotoGP, as a single brand can appear in more than one team, as is the case with Akrapovic, Michelin, Beta and many others.
Of these entries, 57 fall within the entertainment/food & beverage/clothing sector, accounting for around 21% of the total sponsorship. A further 78 companies, categorised under the label of general services (both for public and business) have decided to invest in motorsport, taking up 29%. Leading the way in this ranking could only be the engineering industry: 137 engineering companies (from component suppliers to oil distributors) invest in one of the most extreme and adrenaline-fuelled sports on the globe, covering 50% of the currently active sponsorship slots for each team.*
This guide demonstrates how MotoGP can be the ideal communication platform for both large international companies and smaller entities, or perhaps those interested only in their own territory. There are many sponsorship opportunities: packages are flexible and offers can be built and adapted to the different needs of individual companies.
Start your sports sponsorship today
The MotoGP numbers prove the ‘goodness’ of the property in terms of visibility (with peaks of 472,000 global spectators**), business (B2B opportunities) and prestige (closed circle of companies). Sponsoring a team, or becoming its partner, allows companies to obtain a series of marketing rights and exploit them in all their communication activities. It means having the team (in our case, the drivers) available for activities that are functional to your business idea. You will also be able to make a practical comparison (with real prices) between the cost of a sponsorship (which opens up the world of activations) and its benefits compared to a classic advertising campaign under the same circumstances.
Would you like to be recognised internationally and become part of an élite? Rely on RTR Sports Marketing for tailor-made advice built on your needs. No one better than an agency with more than 25 years of experience in the sector will be able to advise you, direct you and accompany you on this path only seemingly devoid of pitfalls.
Do not hesitate to contact us on info@rtrsportsmarketing.com for further information.
Aprilia Racing
Between the rider and manufacturer categories, Aprilia Racing, Aprilia’s sports division has won 56 world titles in the various motorbike specialities. 2021 saw the season start with Aleix Espargarò and Lorenzo Savadori on board, followed by the signing of Maverick Viñales in August. On the 29th of that same month at the Silverstone circuit, Espargarò delivered his team’s first ever podium finish in the premier class by finishing third. The season ended with a sixth place in the constructors’ championship. With the partnership with Team Gresini over, 2022 began in Argentina with pole position and the first ever MotoGP win for both Espargarò and Aprilia.
Ducati Lenovo Team
Since the very first day, Ducati has participated in the most important two-wheeled series on the planet since 1988 and has won 17 of the 23 world titles available until 2019. In the rider standings, those who have used a Ducati-branded machine have brought home distinguished results on no fewer than 14 occasions (one above all, “King” Carl Fogarty with four titles). 2021, with Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller, did not bring all the results hoped for despite the best bike on the grid and the constructors’ title, as well as the Pramac monopoly among independents with both riders and constructors. 2022 sees Borgo Panigale engineering at the service of the Gresini and VR46 teams, in addition to the stable Ducati and Pramac.
Gresini Racing MotoGP
Gresini Racing is an Italian motorbike racing team founded in 1997 by Fausto Gresini, who managed it until his death due to COVID-19. The year 2021 marks a return to slow normality for the Faenza-based team and the entire MotoGP paddock. Engaged in all categories, he had a good season in the top series and regained victory in Moto2 five years after Lowes thanks to a splendid ride by Di Giannantonio at Jerez. There were also podiums in Moto3 by Jeremy Alcoba and Gabriel Rodrigo, and third place in the world championship by Matteo Ferrari in MotoE. Optimism is high for 2022, with Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio in the team.
LCR Honda
Team LCR (Lucio Cecchinello Racing) was born in 1996 when Lucio decided to set up his own team following in the footsteps of other racing champions who had successfully done the same. Starting with just two mechanics and a van, over the years the LCR Team has continued to grow into a complex and highly organised structure. After nine years in the 125cc class and five years in the 250cc class, LCR currently competes in the MotoGP class (since 2006) with two riders and 46 highly qualified staff from 13 different countries. After a 2021 lacking in results, 2022 starts with good intentions and the confirmation of riders Alex Marquez and Takaaki Nakagami. The LCR Team is still one of the independent teams, but it is closely linked to HRC, Honda Racing Corporation, which considers Lucio Cecchinello’s outfit to be a reliable partner and over the years LCR riders have had direct contracts with HRC.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
Yamaha Racing is the sports division of the motorbike company Yamaha Motor. Yamaha has been involved in racing since the year of its birth, in which it won the 3rd. Last year was a triumphant one with Fabio Quartararo: the 22-year-old became world champion in his third season in the top class of MotoGP, a title that had been missing in the Yamaha box for 7 years. Will they be able to repeat this in 2022 with the new French winner and Franco Morbidelli at the helm?
Mooney VR46 Racing Team
Valentino Rossi’s ‘Patron’ Valentino Rossi stands in for his Mooney VR46 Racing Team in several MotoGP classes, including MotoGP. After making a name for itself as Sky Racing Team VR46 from 2014 to 2021, it struck a deal with Team Avintia and obtained the Ducati engine to be given to rider Luca Marini. After ending a rather unripe debut season, the aim is to improve in both the rider and manufacturer classifications.
Pramac Racing
2002 was the debut year for the then named Pramac Honda Racing. To confirm the excellent results achieved in 2021, the team presented during the official test week the bikes (powered by Ducati) with which they will tackle the 2022 MotoGP World Championship. On the saddle there is no doubt: Johann Zarco and Jorge Martìn will form the pair capable of bringing home 4 podiums apiece last season.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
The premier class of two wheels and KTM enter into an agreement for the first time in 2017 with the KTM RC16, built with the highest technical know-how to which the Austrian manufacturer was already accustomed. Right from the start, the main focus was on closing the gap to the front rows and being competitive on all fronts. The year 2021 brought excellent results, starting with Brad Binder’s all-time speed record of 362.4 km/h, through to victories at Catalunya by Miguel Oliveira and at Spielberg by his teammate. Therefore, the approach to the 2022 season cannot fail to be one of the best for the Red Bull Team (Official Title Sponsor). Red Bull is a munific but demanding sponsor, it is used to win in any discipline it is involved and we are sure that we will shortly see KTM on the podium very often.
Repsol Honda Team
The Repsol Honda Team, also known as the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), found its corporate independence in 1982 despite being founded in 1954. It is still owned by the Honda Motor Company, which was able to retain multiple champion Marc Marquez in its team. After a below-expectation 2021 for him and his team-mate Pol Espargarò, the good intention in 2022 is to improve on the fourth place in the constructors’ championship obtained last season. Repsol is honda title partner since 1995, this is one of the longest partnership that any factory team has ever enjoyed in MotoGP racing and in Motorsport in general.
Team Ecstar Suzuki
After a 2021 that saw Joan Mir’s excellent result in the top 3 of the riders’ classification, Team Suzuki Ecstar is preparing for another exciting season. Lots of novelties and updates for the GSX-RR, a competitive bike not only in looks but also under the fairings. The agreed goal for the Japanese team in the 2022 season includes both the confirmation of its riders (Alex Rins alongside the Spaniard), and continuity in obtaining maximum points in each race.
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing
The French team’s proud history in the top motorbike class began in 1989. The Tech3 KTM Factory Racing Team had a successful 2021 thanks to the distinguished performances of two-time world champion Danilo Petrucci and the talented Spaniard Iker Lecuona. The collaboration with Austrian manufacturer KTM in 2022 will see a change of saddles for both bikes: newly-crowned Moto2 world champion Remy Gardner and runner-up in the same category Raul Fernandes are called upon to make the leap.
WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team
The Malaysian team’s MotoGP debut takes place in 2019, known as Sepang Racing until 2021, with Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1. Last season was characterised by many difficulties, but it will nevertheless be remembered as the last in the premier class for the sport’s iconic rider: Valentino Rossi. Radical change for 2022 on the Japanese cars with the arrival of Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder.
*Adding up all the entries, the total you get is 272 compared to the 276 mentioned above. This is because some sponsors do not have a defined product category and/or reference site to check, despite being mentioned in the official sponsor lists of each team.
**(Motorsport Broadcasting – “Live MotoGP peaks with 472,000 viewers on ITV as broadcaster enters new deal” – https://motorsportbroadcasting.com/2021/08/31/live-motogp-peaks-with-472000-viewers-on-itv-as-broadcaster-enters-new-deal/amp/)
