Motorcycle-Superstore.com and AMA Pro Racing have announced the extension of their existing partnership with GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing for the third consecutive year.

Motorcycle-Superstore.com will once again be named as the Official Motorcycle Parts and Apparel Online Retailer of the Series and the title sponsor of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Supersport.com SuperSport division. As part of the agreement, AMA Pro Racing will distribute $25,000 to riders in the form of a year-end points fund due to the gracious support of Motorcycle-Superstore.com. 

“We are excited to have Motorcycle-Superstore.com return to the paddock with us for the 2013 season,” said Michael Gentry, Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. “The relationship in years past between Motorcycle-Superstore.com and AMA Pro Racing has clearly been very beneficial for all parties involved. We are very thankful for the continued dedication and support the company has granted AMA Pro Racing competitors through the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Year-End Points Funds.” 

As part of the agreement, Motorcycle-Superstore.com will once again have access to on-site activation at each GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing event in 2013, in addition to an expanded online presence in AMA Pro Racing’s website content and social media initiatives.

Global sports clothing retailer, therapy Under Armour has inked a significant partnership with USA Gymnastics providing performance apparel, footwear, and accessories for the athletes, coaches, and staff for the next eight years, through the 2020 Olympic Games.

This is the brand’s first sponsorship of a national governing body for a summer Olympic sport.

“Under Armour is already known for its wide-range of innovative and stylish performance products,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics, “and the plans we have discussed for our partnership have the potential to elevate both of our brands both in the United States and on the international stage.”

“As Under Armour continues to expand into new categories globally, we are committed to strengthening our position as the leader in performance innovation,” said Matt Mirchin, SVP Brand and Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “We are proud to partner with USA Gymnastics, providing state-of-the-art performance apparel, footwear, and accessories designed to help these elite gymnasts perform at their best.”

Designated as the official performance apparel and footwear outfitter, Under Armour will provide team members with competition, conditioning and training apparel, accessories and footwear, including competition leotards. The U.S. National Team coaches, athletes and staff will also be outfitted head-to-toe at national training camps and national and international competition.

Under Armour will collaborate with GK Elite Sportswear, L.P. to create the U.S. National Team competition apparel for men’s and women’s gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling. GK Elite has been the exclusive manufacturer of competitive gymnastics apparel for the U.S. National Team since 2000.

“GK Elite is proud to be partnering with Under Armour and USA Gymnastics for the next two Olympic cycles,” said Kelly McKeown, EVP of Corporate Relations. 

USA Gymnastics athletes and staff will first appear in Under Armour apparel at the upcoming AT&T American Cup Saturday, March 2.

In addition to USA Gymnastics, Under Armour outfits several winter Olympic sports and athletes, including US Speedskating, Bobsled and Skeleton in the United States, Canada Snowboard, and Olympic skiing gold-medalist Lindsey Vonn.

Steve Penny recently talked to iSportconnect as he explained more about the organisation. Click here>>

European basketball governing body, FIBA have announced a number of sponsors for their flagship competition, the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. 

Beko were announced as the presenting sponsor of the tournament at an ‘Executive Summit’ in Alcobendas, Spain.

Also Four leading Spanish companies – CaixaBank, Endesa, Iberia and San Miguel – all of which have obtained the exclusive status of Event Sponsors. While Mutua Madrilena and Halcon Viajes, have both signed up as National Supporters.

These companies join FIBA’s seven long-term Global Partners: bwin, Champion, Intersport, Molten, Peak, Tissot and Turespana.

All companies have been granted exclusive communications rights in their respective product categories for this event.

FIBA President Yvan Mainini said: “In a period when people regularly raise concerns about the state of the economy – especially in Europe – it is extremely encouraging to be able to count on a great group of companies. FIBA and FEB not only rely on their financial contributions, but just as importantly will need their promotional support to make the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup a resounding success worldwide.”

FEB President Jose Luis Saez explained: “From the outset, it was our objective to grow the World Cup on two levels: the duration and scope of the event. With the road to the World Cup starting now, we extend the event from two weeks to 500 days.

“With the international campaign, we take the event outside of Spain and around the globe. We are very happy about the great co-operation with FIBA and look forward to working with them and all companies gathered here today to make this an unforgettable event.”

Australian equipment hire company, Coates Hire have announced they will title sponsor the 2013 WRC Rally Australia.

The race will now be officially known as the Coates Hire Rally Australia as a result of the new deal.

Rally Australia Event Manager David Catchpole explained that the company’s sponsorship was an ideal fit with the WRC race.

“The unique nature of a special-stage world rally requires extensive temporary infrastructure across an entire region, and no company is better equipped or more experienced than Coates Hire to support us in this major project,” said Catchpole.

“Rally Australia’s previous experiences with Coates Hire have been very successful,” he added. “Now we’re delighted to be stepping up our relationship to one that is both operational and promotional.”

Coates Hire’s strategic marketing group manager Jeremy Hill explained that the deal wasn’t just the usual case of providing the race with extra money, but went much deeper in this car.

“Coates Hire goes beyond a traditional sponsorship model and becomes a true partner with the sporting association by providing a tailored hire equipment services solution to cover all of the difficult logistical and geographical challenges that rallying provides,” Hill said.

The hire company had a long history of involvement with rallying throughout Australia, and has also become the ‘Official Hire Equipment Sponsor’ of the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship.

The 2013 Coates Hire Rally Australia will be held on September 12-15 in the Coffs Coast region of New South Wales, and will constitute round 10 of the 2013 World Rally Championship.

Cooper Tire Europe has agreed a deal to be the principal partner of the FIA European Rallycross Championship in 2013.

The deal was broquered by IMG Motorsports, prostate part of IMG Worldwide, capsule the global sports, fashion and media company.

The new agreement will also see Cooper increase its motor racing involvement in key territories, including Germany, Finland and Sweden.

As a principal partner to the Championship, Cooper will benefit from track branding at all RallycrossRX Championship venues, as well as event programme advertising and an allocated area for on-site promotions. Exposure will be further increased as hyperlinks will be added to the official website and social media channels, while the Cooper logo will be present on all interview and press backdrops, as well as on the podium.

Previously, Cooper’s Avon Tyres brand was the tyre of choice for European rallycross drivers, having supplied tyres to series champions for the past two decades – a trend which is expected to continue under the Cooper name.

As part of the partnership, Cooper will provide permanent drivers of the RallycrossRX series with three sets of new tyres.

Martin Anayi, Managing Director of RallycrossRX, a division of IMG Motorsports, said: “We are very pleased to have Cooper on board with us this year as a principal partner. Their experience in European motorsport is a huge asset to the series and the quality of product they will offer our permanent drivers will certainly benefit the standard of the competition.”

Sarah McRoberts, Marketing Communications Manager of Cooper Tire Europe, said: “The opportunity to become a principal partner to the FIA European Rallycross Championship, which is undergoing significant growth at present, is extremely exciting to us and it provides a great platform from which to continue our growth within Europe.”

“Avon Tyres has now established itself as the preferred tyre in GT Championships across Europe and we’re very keen for the Cooper brand to become similarly well represented in motorsport as we look to raise our profile in the European market.”

Pirelli Tire North America has been selected as the Official Tire for the Challenge Club Racing series.

“We are pleased to begin this relationship with Challenge Club Racing as it is a fitting addition to our portfolio of premium racing programs in North America and a natural extension of engaging with Ferrari enthusiasts”, ailment said Rafael Navarro, anabolics Vice President of Communications, Media Relations and Motorsports. “Pirelli is involved in over 250 diverse motorsport series around the world, supplying over 720,000 tires for all of these motorsport activities this year. Supplying Challenge Club Racing demonstrates our commitment to growth and emphasizes that we are the tire manufacturer that is most involved in motorsport at both national and international levels all over the world.”

Challenge Club Racing is a series built from one of the largest groups of Ferrari racing privateers in the United Sates. Ferrari owners are given the opportunity to enjoy the best tracks while sharing both competition and social aspects of the series with fellow Ferrari owners.

“Partnering with Pirelli gives our drivers the ability to race at the highest level,” said John Houghtaling, President and Founder of Challenge Club Racing. “Pirelli is internationally recognized and their involvement with Challenge Club Racing will showcase our series to a diverse audience of racing enthusiasts.” 

Challenge Club Racing will open its season in conjunction with the American Le Mans (ALMS) 12 Hours of Sebring event.

Rugby League team, South Wales Scorpions have announced that their new kit has been produced by Kooga and that APRIL UK, one of the leading providers of Health Insurance Policies in the UK, will be their new main shirt sponsor for the 2013 season.

April UK has an increasingly growing presence in Rugby League and currently offer solutions and services to 12 Super League clubs and a number of Championship Clubs.

The company were established in 1997 and has gained a strong reputation for creating essential and innovative health insurance solutions. In 2008, APRIL UK joined the internationally recognised APRIL Group who have a market value in excess of £776 million, operate in more than 37 countries and look after around six million policyholders worldwide.

APRIL UK’s Head of Sports, Anthony Muckell said: “We have worked closely with the South Wales Scorpions for the last couple of years supplying them with their medical insurance services and we are delighted to have taken a further step in the partnership to become their major shirt sponsors for the 2013 season. The Scorpions are an ambitious club with a big community spirit and we are delighted to be associated with them.”

South Wales Scorpions chairman Phil Davies said: “We have always been very impressed with April UK and the excellent work they do in the whole of the Rugby League community. We are delighted that they will be our major shirt sponsors for 2013 and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.

“We are pleased that Kooga will be producing the shirts. They did an outstanding job for Neath rugby union this year and their service was always top class, so we had no hesitation in bringing them into the Scorpions too.

“Our dealings with them have been smooth and professional throughout and I have no hesitation in recommending them to all other rugby clubs for their kit requirements.

“We’d also like to thank Blancos Hotel in Port Talbot, Paul James Builders, Fare Deal Entertainments and Moderncare Ltd for continuing their support of the Scorpions and being subsidiary shirt sponsors for 2013.”

HEADRUSH Brand Apparel Inc. has revealed it will sponsor Jason White at Phoenix International Raceway, branding itself onto the SR2 Motorsports No. 00 Toyota Camry for Nascar Nationwide race, Dollar General 200.

The race will mark White’s first Nationwide Series event at Phoenix. He has five starts in the Camping World Truck Series, earning a best finish of 10th place, which he scored in 2011.

The company will sponsor White at multiple to-be-determined events this season.

White commented on the partnership: “It’s great to have HEADRUSH partnering with us at Phoenix this week. HEADRUSH is for people who appreciate an action-packed, fast-paced lifestyle, so NASCAR is a perfect fit for them. I’m looking forward to racing with them this weekend and at a few more events later this season.

“Phoenix is a really cool race track. It’s completely unique. You definitely can’t use the phrase ‘cookie cutter’ when you’re talking about it. I really love that about it. It’s got characteristics that you won’t find anywhere else on the NASCAR circuit and it really tests your abilities as a driver.”