The world’s largest producer of traditional Swiss watches chooses the FIM Superbike World Championship as new communication platform

Zug / Le Locle, Switzerland, 14 April 2011 - Infront Sports & Media has secured Tissot as Official Timekeeper and Sponsor of the FIM Superbike World Championship – the international road racing series organized and promoted by Infront Motor Sports (the Rome-based subsidiary of Infront). The comprehensive sponsorship agreement over several years will start immediately. Tissot will have its first appearance at the upcoming Superbike round in Assen, Netherlands (15-17 April 2011).

Long-term commitment to Superbike
The Swiss-based company Tissot is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor. Tissot’s long-term commitment to the FIM Superbike World Championship is a considerable extension of its existing sponsorship portfolio and acknowledges the strong international scope and fan appeal of the leading road racing series for production-based motorcycles. In 2010, the series was shown in 173 countries, reaching a cumulative audience of 498 million viewers (+33% compared to the previous year).

 

As Official Timekeeper, Tissot will benefit from a strong presence at all events in the series – involving 13 rounds in 10 countries this year. In addition, Tissot will present the Superpole – the Saturday afternoon qualifying session that establishes the starting position of the riders in the main races.

 

Close interaction between brand and fans
François Thiébaud, President of Tissot, said: “The image fit with Superbike – speed and timing, precision and high performance – presents Tissot products in the right context and the growing television audience ensures a worldwide transmission of our messages. For more than a decade, Tissot has been the Official Timekeeper of the top class of MotoGP. Now, Tissot is proud to add this other major motorcycling World Championship, World Superbike, to its sponsorship activities, a category which brings motorcycling fans the link between great motorcycling champions and the public."

 

“Tissot is a top international brand with a tradition in sports sponsorship. With the long-term commitment to the FIM Superbike World Championship it acknowledges the series‘ professional development and growing popularity in the past as well as its potential for future growth“, says Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports. „Time measurement is the essence of a racing competition and as Official Timekeeper, Tissot will strongly benefit from this focus. The global media coverage of the FIM Superbike World Championship will further multiply this effect and sustainably strengthen the association between brand and competition.“

 

For the 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship, Tissot will join Alfa Romeo (automotive), Pirelli (tyres), Arrow (exhausts), Axo (rider’s equipment) and ParkinGo (airport parking) in a growing line-up of sponsors. The series, now in its third round in Assen (NED), is being broadcast in Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, South and North America.

 

About Tissot
Tissot, ‘Innovators by Tradition’, have represented craftsmanship and innovation since their foundation in 1853. Today Tissot is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor. The company has its home in the Swiss watch-making town of Le Locle in the Jura Mountains,  but it has grown tremendously to have a presence in over 160 countries. In addition to sports partnerships with FIBA, AFL, CBA and the World Championships of cycling, fencing and ice hockey, Tissot is already involved in motor sport (such as MotoGP and with athletes such as Danica Patrick, Nicky Hayden and Tom Lüthi) and the new involvement with Superbike is a further extension in this direction. www.tissot.ch

 

About FIM Superbike World Championship
The FIM Superbike World Championship is the leading road racing World Championship using production-based motorcycles. The series is one of the sport’s fastest growing and most promising properties and is popular with fans, manufacturers, broadcasters and commercial partners. It is promoted by Infront Motor Sports in Rome, the motor sports division of Infront Sports & Media and governed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). www.worldsbk.com

 
For further information, please contact:

 

Jörg Polzer / Nike Möhle
Corporate Communications
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
press infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com

Annja Maerki
International PR and Communication
Deputy Manager
Tissot S.A.
Tel. +41-32-933 34 72
Fax +41-32-933 33 17
Annja.Maerki tissot.ch
www.tissot.ch

 

Julian Thomas
SBK Press Office Manager
Infront Motor Sports
Tel. +39-06-50 96 64 32
Fax +39-06-50 96 64 45 
julian.thomas infrontsports.com
www.worldsbk.com