Question for the MotoGP fans

[Jayson62]

Hey guys I had a question regarding the sponsorship of the MotoGP bikes. I noticed in some of the pics Melandri's and Rossi's bikes that sometimes they have Fortuna/Gauliose and then other times they have Spain no.1/GO!!!!. The same goes for the Camel/Biaggi bikes. Do they change sponsorship for a reason or what? I was planning on buying the 04 Fortuna bikes and Making Melandri's and Checa's bike and was wondering if you guys had an interesting way of displaying them. Thanks

[SeaBee]

This is not only for MotoGP, but all (motor)sport, check out the F1 cars as well as a very good example. Tobacco advertising bans (legislation) causes these differences in paintjobs. They aren't allowed to display tobacco logo's in certain countries and had come up with alternatives.

[freakray]

This advertising practice also extends to alcohol advertising - hence why the Mclaren Mercedes team had DIAGEO logos on their cars in Turkey instead of Johnny Walker (DIAGEO is the company that owns the JW brand).

[slightfan]

The odd thing is that the Motogp Suzuki team ,(Rizla) is a by product of smokingyet are allowed to carry full sponership every race????????????
Shayne

[joelwideqvist]

But Rizla is just cigarett paper isn't it? Nit picking at its best...?
/Joel

[SteveK2003]

If I recall correctly from an F1 broadcast earlier this year, some countries do allow the tobacco advertising, but some of the teams chose to stick with their alternate liveries. Probably due to pressure from the European governments and/or TV broadcasters.

The tobacco rules in the US were a big reason Roger Penske jumped from Champ Cars to the IRL. In the US each tobacco company is given one series/car/whatever to sponsor (Winston had to drop all the smaller oval series and drag racing to stick with NASCAR, and NASCAR chose to move on later for more mainstream acceptance), and since more and more Champ Car races were happening overseas, they wanted to get the most impact out of the US market.

[Brian Harte]

I think the Tobacco ban is stupid.
I THINK F1 is going full ban for 2007?
Maybe MotoGP too?

I don't recall.
Anyways, when I was in Cancun Mexico, it made me very happy to see Marlboro/Ferrari carton packages. And Mild Seven stuff too.