Why? The whole point of sponsorship is to be seen. Being 20th isn't much use to a sponsor. You want to be in the frame.
My Experience of British Finance/Business, by Loz 1. We need to build/make/sell something as part of our business. 2. How can we do it cheaper? 3. We can pare down the offering to a bare skeleton of what is required. 4. Is that going to be cheap enough? 5. We can pare it down even more. 6. OK, that's really cheap now but we no longer serve a useful function/product/service. 7. Who cares, it's really, really cheap to provide now! A British economic success story in seven parts!
Yes, I can see where you're coming from here. My experience of trying to getting companies to do motorcycle sponsorship is: 1. I don't watch motorcycle racing. 2. Motorbikes - aren't they for oikish, oily people? 3. They don't really fit with our brand image. 4. They're dangerous. 5. Where can you see that on the TV? In the scheme of things, sponsoring bike racing isn't that pricey for a top brand. It's just that you can't find that many bike enthusiasts in top management. Do you remember Cadbury's Boost? Do you suppose that it was a failure in sponsorship terms, or simply that managers changed and they decided to can it, having no affinity with bikes? In the Suzuka 8 hours there used to be all sorts of different sponsors, like Nescafé for example.
Loz, Here's an alternative view. 1. Invent a world beating technology or product. 2. Fail to find anyone interested in the UK to back it. 3. Sell the IP abroad. 4. UK pouts.
uk product? 9) have lots of overpaid middle managers 10) have lots of overpaid Directors 11) kick the arse out of the profit to the paying public
Hang on. Before you all start firing missiles at the Empire, take a look in the mirror. Cal Crutchlow is displaying all the classic signs of a man desperate to win; he doesn't care how he comes across, he doesn't care who he upsets, his primary motive is to find a good bike and win at motogp. And how do we treat him..? The British public are to blame for the dirth of British talent, because of the way we are. There's no shortage of backing, no shortage of money (there is a problem in the way bikes are portrayed in this country, we're scum basically, but it is changing). But we build people up only to knock them down again. At every available opportunity. And we end up with riders like Bradley Smith, who is enormously talented, but so scared of failure he's harming his own prospects - but is at least eloquent in defeat... No, the riders are there, it's us who can make the difference.
Cal is desperate to win because the end is nigh... Redding on the other hand is 8 years younger, has run at the top in moto2, Knows the tracks and doesn't smack of desperation. He deserves a top ride, If he's overlooked for too long it would be a travesty and whilst i used to really like Crutchlow's riding style, a Motogp paddock without him would be no great loss....
