Mazda ends sponsorship of MTB in SA

[martelpypie]

Dont know if this has been discussed

Mazda ends sponsorship of South African mountain bike series

by Bike Radar

 

Mazda has ended its seven-year sponsorship of South Africaon>?s

National Mountain Bike Series, blaming economic pressures.

The car company first became involved with mountain bike race

sponsorship in South Africaon>

in 2001 when it backed the Mazda Drifter Series, which combined the country?s

six premier marathon-distance races.

Since then, it has backed 17 events including the Mazda National

Series, the National Marathon Series, the National Cross Country Cup and the

National Downhill Cup, including the South African championships for each of

the three disciplines.

Fritz Pienaar, former multiple national champion and now director

of the national series, said: ?Mazda has been a very loyal sponsor and we?re so

grateful for its support over the past seven years.

?Unfortunately, with the economic pressures facing the motor

trade internationally, uncertainty prevails and much as the marketing people at

Mazda wanted to continue to support South African mountain biking in the long

term, they were restricted to a short-term budget.?

[Willehond]

What is a "a short-term budget"???  I am not good with marketing speak.

[Sean Badenhorst]

 

What is a "a short-term budget"???  I am not good with marketing speak.

 

Major corporates prefer to do sponsorships for at least three years, with options to extend. Because of Mazda buying some of itself back from The Ford Motor Company, Mazda is in a state of change and isn't yet able to make long-term commitments in terms of sponsorships. They were able to sponsor the National Series for a least another year but that would have come out of a short-term budget. There is a long-term replacement sponsor that will be announced very soon...