KAWASAKI ANNOUNCE MONSTER PARTNERSHIP
The Kawasaki Racing Team is excited to announce that it will
be joining forces with the meanest energy drink on the planet,
Monster Energy, for its assault on the 2008 and 2009 MotoGP
World Championships.
One of the two leading energy drink brands in the United
States, Monster Energy has an undoubted passion for racing,
with involvement in many motorsport activities worldwide.
The partnership with Kawasaki in MotoGP, the pinnacle of two-wheeled
motorsport, is a natural progression for Monster Energy, as
they look to expand into the European market following their
successful collaboration with Kawasaki's factory road racing
and motocross teams in America.
It's an exciting start to a new era for the Kawasaki Racing
Team. The two-year partnership with Monster Energy marks the
first time that a major consumer brand has appeared on the
side of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machines since the Japanese
engineering powerhouse returned to the premier class six years
ago, after an absence of more than two decades.
The Kawasaki Racing Team's new livery, complete with Monster
Energy branding, will be unveiled for the first time during
pre-season testing in Phillip Island, Australia on 29 January,
when riders, John Hopkins and Anthony West, continue their
build up to the 2008 MotoGP season.
Yoshio Kawamura: Managing Director, Kawasaki Motors
Racing B.V.
"The partnership with Monster Energy is another important
indicator that Kawasaki are now regarded as a real contender
in the MotoGP World Championship, and not just in the racing
paddock. The fact that we've been able to attract a leading,
non-industry consumer brand to the team, and that Monster
Energy will use their association with Kawasaki to spearhead
their move into the European market, shows just how much progress
we've made as a manufacturer since returning to the premier
class in 2002. Monster Energy have had an incredibly successful
partnership with Kawasaki in the United States, and we are
looking forward to equal success as we take the same collaboration
onto the world stage over the next two years."
Michael Bartholemy: Competition Manager, Kawasaki
Motors Racing B.V.
"If we've learnt one thing about Monster Energy since
we started talking to them about this partnership it is that
they share the same passion for racing that is endemic in
Kawasaki. And, of course, they have the same affinity for
lime green; I guess you could say it's a perfect match. This
is a major departure for the Kawasaki Racing Team, as the
partnership with Monster Energy over the next two seasons
will mean for the first time Kawasaki will feature an outside
industry sponsor on the side of our Ninja ZX-RR machines.
We have made big steps forward over the past 12 months, which
is what attracted Monster Energy to Kawasaki in the first
place, and I hope that if we can continue this forward momentum
through the 2008 season then we will be able to persuade them
to make the step up to title sponsor for 2009."
John Lee: Director of Sports Marketing, Monster Beverage
Company
“Monster Energy enjoyed its first foray into the world
of MotoGP this past season with John Hopkins and we were very
pleased with the feedback we received – especially on
an international basis. We view MotoGP as the two-wheel equivalent
to Formula One and Monster Energy’s action sports marketing
philosophy was built on a motorcycle racing foundation, particularly
in American motocross and Monster Energy AMA Supercross. As
we move forward with our international marketing efforts,
involvement with MotoGP was a logical decision for us and
we’re looking forward to following Hopper’s spectacular
rides aboard the Monster Energy branded Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR
machines.”
Scott Sepkovic: Monster Beverage Company
“Monster Energy views MotoGP as the pinnacle of two-wheel
motorsports. That said, it’s a highly important platform
for building the Monster Energy brand. Monster Energy is poised
to take on the global energy drink market and what better
way to place ourselves than with the Kawasaki Racing Team
in MotoGP.”
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