THE FIM SUPERBIKE World Championship (SBK) will have a new title sponsor for the 2012 season and beyond, after international energy company Eni agreed a multi-year deal ahead of round two of the series in Imola, Italy.
Under the terms of the deal, Eni will also become an official supplier to the SBK series, namely the fuel and lubricant supplier to Superbikes, as well as to the supporting Supersport and the Superstock motorcycle racing classes.
While financial details of the agreement remain undisclosed, Frontloaded values the deal at around €5m.
Becoming title sponsor of the Superbike World Championship further enhances the brand’s motorsport portfolio, which also includes title sponsorship of the MotoGP German Grand Prix, as well as backing a host of racing teams.
In Superbikes, Italian-headquartered Eni supports Aprilla Racing, in MotoGP the brand is an official partner to Pramac Racing Team and Cardion AB Motoracing, and in the Moto 2 series Eni sponsors Team Ducati.
As of 2012, Eni has also become an official partner of the fledgling Moto 3 series.
Its most high-profile motorsport partnership, however, is as the title sponsor of the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix, replacing Dutch brand ING in 2010.
The deal to title sponsor the World Superbike Championship was brokered between the International Sports Agency (ISA) on behalf of Eni and Infront Sports & Media as the rights holder to the Superbikes series.
By Luke Harman
Follow Luke on Twitter: @lukeharmanSBG