Sponsors confirmed for all races in centenary year - Commercial revenue dramatically increases

Insurance company Bennetts has been confirmed as the title sponsor for the Isle of Man TT races in 2007. They will also be the official insurance partner.

The deal means that the Centenary event will be called the Isle of Man TT Races sponsored by Bennetts and will include naming rights to Manx Radio’s Radio TT broadcasts which will extensively cover this year’s festival. They also have race naming rights for the Superbike race on Saturday 2nd June.

Mark Fells, Bennetts' Marketing Director commented:

"Bennetts has been involved with the TT for several years and to be title sponsor during its centenary year is very exciting for us. We are delighted to support the event once again and look forward to what is set to be the best year yet."

Other sponsors confirmed include Isle of Man based on-line gaming company PokerStars who will be the official gaming partner and will sponsor the TT Supersport, TT Superstock and Senior TT races. They will also receive Manx radio broadcast sponsorship packages for the same races.

Lynn Hunter, Group HR Director, PokerStars, commented:

“Having been involved in the Isle of Man for over two years now, we feel it’s time to start giving something back to the island. Our involvement with TT is an opportunity, through our sponsorship, to give something back to the community while at the same time raising the profile of PokerStars as a major employer offering opportunities across a whole range of disciplines in an industry that is new, dynamic and exciting. We are proud to be here in the Isle of Man and proud to be an official sponsor for this years Centenary TT events”.

Bavaria Beer has been confirmed as the official beer partner of the TT. Their package includes naming rights to the Sidecar A and B races. Sarah Swainson, Marketing Manager for Bavaria UK, commented:


“As part of Bavaria UK’s real men campaign, the company conducted some independent research to find out what makes up a real man. We discovered that real men love extreme sports and adventure, so we are thrilled to be associated with the Isle of Man TT races in its centenary year. The Isle of Man TT races are the only one of its kind so we are really looking forward to the event.”

Bavaria will also receive radio broadcast sponsorship packages and have pouring rights in the official hospitality area.

Cable & Wireless have agreed a multi year sponsorship agreement to become the official telecommunications partner of the TT Races with their new Isle of Man based mobile service Sure.

Simon Last-Sutton, Commercial Director of Cable & Wireless commented:

“The TT is always a prestigious event on the Island, but to become the Official Telecom sponsor in its 100th Year is a great honour.”

Unisys Corporation, the worldwide technology services and solutions company, will sponsor the new Sulby Straight speed trap. The speed trap will be known as the Unisys Sulby Speed Trap for a period of three years from 2007. The company has an established presence on the Isle of Man and is a key IT supplier to the island’s Government.

David Foster Vice-President, UKMEA, Systems and Technology, Unisys commented:

“We are delighted to be supporting the TT Races, especially in this exciting centenary year. We have been supplying data solutions for the Isle of Man Government for over 30 years and it’s wonderful to see the races going from strength to strength, and more popular than ever, as the island celebrates this exciting anniversary. Unisys believes the Isle of Man is a dynamic and exciting base for international enterprise and through our ongoing work with the island’s Government we are committed to help ensure that it retains its excellent reputation as a place to do business.”

Prestigious tyre brand Dunlop will be the official tyre partner and sponsor of the Centenary Lap of Honour on Monday 4th June. Weekly news title, Motor Cycle News, are the official media partner and sponsor of the TT Parade of Champions on Friday 8th June.

All sponsors will receive track signage, a presence in the TT programme and guide, advertising on the revamped TT website and be part of the official hospitality.

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Development Manager, commented:

“We are delighted at the interest in the 2007 TT Races being shown by major global brands. It is testament to the growing interest in the races that we are able to attract such prestigious companies. The races must become commercially viable if it is to have a long term future and these deals will help to ensure a second century of racing on the island.”

A number of major license deals have also been signed with exclusive partners, including limited edition products produced by Suzuki and Arai. All products sold generate additional revenue that is used to secure future racing on the Island.

Stuart McBride, Senior Account Manager, Signature Sponsorship, commented:

“The commercial partnerships, licensed products and sponsorships mean that the revenue generated by the TT in the centenary year has increased significantly compared to 2006. This is not solely attributable to the interest in the centenary as we are already receiving expressions of interest for 2008 and is great for the long term future of the TT”.

Hospitality packages are also selling out fast with all available packages for Senior race day on Friday 8th June already sold out. There are also only a limited number of grandstand tickets available and these are also expected to be completely sold out by the time racing begins.


For further editorial information contact: Simon Crellin, TT Press Officer, 020 8871 9477 or mobile 07976 568 222 Email: tt.press@gov.im
 

As a result of the sponsorships the official titles of the races are as follows.

The Isle of Man TT Races sponsored by Bennetts

Bennetts TT Practice Sessions

Bennetts TT Superbike Race

PokerStars TT Superstock Race

Bavaria Beer Sidecar Race A

Bavaria Beer Sidecar Race B

PokerStars TT Supersport Race

Senior TT sponsored by PokerStars

Dunlop Centenary Lap of Honour

MCN Parade of Champions

Bennetts
Bennetts, the UK’s number one for motorcycle insurance, is this years title sponsor of the Centenary IOM TT Races. Bennetts insures over 180,000 bikers in the UK and is heavily involved in the world of motorsport. With its ongoing sponsorship of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship and its involvement with Neil Hodgson and James Toseland, both of whom are IOM residents, it’s a natural progression for Bennetts to extend its support of the TT races.

PokerStars
PokerStars set up its Head Office in the Isle of Man over two years ago and now employs nearly 70 people in the island, with no let-up in recruitment. The island has proved an excellent base for PokerStars to grow; being a respected offshore jurisdiction, along with well controlled e-gaming regulations and a close proximity to the UK & Europe.

Bavaria Beer
Bavaria Beer UK is a subsidiary of Bavaria NV, the biggest family owned brewer in the Netherlands. Bavaria NV was established in 1719 and 50% of its beer is currently exported to more than 100 countries worldwide. For more information about Bavaria Beer UK products, call 0870 444 6842.




Cable & Wireless
Cable & Wireless is one of the world’s leading international communication companies. It operates through two stand alone business units – International and UK. The International business unit operates integrated telecommunications companies in 33 countries offering mobile, broadband, domestic and international fixed line services to residential and business customers, with principal operations in the Caribbean, Panama, Macau, the Channel Islands and Monaco. Cable & Wireless is investing over £40m to revolutionise communications in the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. The company is developing a new generation of services bringing choice to customers and supported by a commitment to innovate and deliver customers more quality and value than ever before.

Unisys
Unisys has provided scoring and results information for major sports events since 1985 including golf’s The Open Championship, the US Open and the Ryder Cup, the London Marathon, the Rugby World Cup and in motor sports the British Superbike Championship, the Macau Grand Prix and the British Touring Car Championship.

Dunlop
Throughout the history of motorsport, Dunlop tyres have played a vital role in many of its biggest successes. Still today, leading manufacturers and motor racing teams from the world of Grand Prix, Rallying, Superbike and Motocross trust our tyres and expert support. And in the UK, more racers compete on Dunlop than any other tyre brand. It manufactures over 250,000 competition tyres a year at Fort Dunlop - home of Dunlop’s global motorsport operations. From there, it ship tyres to almost every major worldwide event, including the FIA GT Championship, the World Motorcycle Grand Prix (Moto GP), and the World and British Superbike Championships and of course the TT.

Motor Cycle News
Motor Cycle News as a brand has been established for 50 years with products in print, web and mobile. It is the world’s biggest motorcycling print publication and website. The print product is the most established and launched in 1955, selling on average 135,000 copies per week and ranking 20th in terms of RSV on the UK Newsstand. The print product consists of an editorial based jacket of 60 pages plus, and includes a 60 page buying and selling guide called MCN Bike Mart.

Arai
Arai is different. Arai designs the best helmets for comfort, fit and much more - and passes safety standards with plenty of room to spare! All Arai helmets are handmade and top quality, offering the ultimate in helmet technology and innovation - the result of more than 50 years of experience devoted solely to the art of helmet-building. Arai has an unparalleled history of innovation and state-of-the-art advances in helmet comfort, fit, aerodynamics and design.