West to sponsor Yamaha WSB squad.
Yamaha's dreams of clinching the 2000 World Superbike crown may be in tatters with the suspension of Noriyuki Haga but they have good reason to smile about their future prospects.
From Misano onwards, the factory Yamaha R7's will be adorned with the logo of the West cigarette brand, title sponsors of the all conquering McLaren Formula One team. The deal actually began at Hockenheim but was kept low key due to Germany's ban on tobacco advertising. The West emblem was changed to read 'Haga' and the Japanese star immediately obliged by winning race two at the ultra-fast track.
Yamaha's dreams of clinching the 2000 World Superbike crown may be in tatters with the suspension of Noriyuki Haga but they have good reason to smile about their future prospects.
From Misano onwards, the factory Yamaha R7's will be adorned with the logo of the West cigarette brand, title sponsors of the all conquering McLaren Formula One team. The deal actually began at Hockenheim but was kept low key due to Germany's ban on tobacco advertising. The West emblem was changed to read 'Haga' and the Japanese star immediately obliged by winning race two at the ultra-fast track.
West have been synonymous with success in every formulae they enter with a glittering record in Formula One and Sportscars. The logo's will have limited space on the Yamaha's this year as the company prepares for a bigger involvement in 2001. The deal is a major bonus for Yamaha as sponsors as big as this very rarely appear in mid-season but it appears that the superb racing in the World Superbike Championship so far this season swung the pendulum for West.
Both concerns can now look forward to next year with a good degree of optimism. Barring injury and suspension's, Haga will be fully fired up in his quest to be the first Japanese WSB champion and the partnership should be blossoming. Sadly, Noriyuki will not be able to join the celebrations this weekend as he sits out his one month ban, imposed by the FIM for failing a drug test or two.
Despite the void that Haga leaves, both Yamaha and West are delighted with the new deal. "Our partnership with Yamaha opens up more great opportunities to present West as a global player," said the companies Head of Marketing, Volker Reeh. "The West brand stands for power, dynamism and fascination, Superbike racing machines are a perfect reflection of these qualities."
Yamaha's Motorsport Manager, Laurens Klein Koerkamp said of the deal, "The two companies have much in common, as we both aim to communicate our brands in original and emotive ways. We are confident that this co-operation will be the start of greater things to come."
