2024 Motorcycle Racing Sponsorship Summit

3:00 - 3:30pm Pacific

Why Brands Sponsor & What They Want

Are you not getting a call back after pitching your program to a marketing director who seemed interested, but is now ghosting you? It’s probably because you offered exposure instead of value. Sponsorship has evolved. It's not about brand visibility anymore; it’s about financial results, creating content, forging relationships, B2B, and networking. This session will broaden your understanding of the business of sponsorships by explaining why brands sponsor, what they expect in return, how they measure ROI, and how you can generate value for them, even when you’re not racing. If you’ve ever sent out a deck or proposal and didn’t get a return call, this session is for you.

Alex Striler / SPONSORSHIP SUMMITS

Jackie Donahue / NGK SPARK PLUGS

Scott Lukaitis / ENGINE ICE

3:30 - 4:00pm

Personal Branding & Activations

Getting sponsored means becoming a brand ambassador for a company that compensates you to represent them. How you represent yourself and your sponsors is critical for long-term successful partnerships. To maximize returns on sponsorship marketing, riders and teams must act and activate in ways that resonate with participants, fans, and spectators. This session will dive deep into personal branding and professional activations to help you look and act like a pro while becoming one.

Jay Kliger / NORTH AMERICAN SUPER MOTO SHOOTOUT

Dystany Spurlock / NORTHERN TOOL + EQUIPMENT

Howell Pugh / TEAM OWNER, ELEANOR PUGH RACING

4:00 - 4:30pm

Strategies for Gaining & Maintaining Media Coverage

This session is designed for racers who aim to elevate their profiles and attract potential sponsors by gaining media coverage. Media visibility can significantly boost a rider’s marketability and create valuable opportunities for sponsorships.

Our panelists will discuss how to get into magazines, online platforms, and podcasts, and what makes a story newsworthy to capture the interest of journalists, editors, and podcast hosts. This includes the importance of press releases, storytelling, and engaging multimedia. The session will also cover networking strategies for building and maintaining relationships with journalists and editors in the racing industry, including how to pitch your content effectively.

Dylan Ecklund / HI-TORQUE PUBLICATIONS

Cory Texter / TANK SLAPPIN' PODCAST & 2X AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPION

Bob Walker / DEEGAN'S AGENT

4:30 - 5:00pm

Creating Value thru Social Media

Unlock the secrets to cultivating a loyal online community that creates value for sponsors. Discover algorithm insights and how to build hype before a race and elevate your and your sponsors' brands. Whether you're a racer, promoter, or motorcycle brand, this session will empower you to captivate and grow your audience across the most relevant, valuable, and rapidly evolving social media platforms.

Megan Meyer / DRIVEN BY SOCIAL ACADEMY

Fran Richards / HOOKIT

Jack Korpela / CYCLEDRAG.com