The Indian media broadcasting firm, Viacom18 has announced a new sponsorship agreement with Yamaha for the ongoing MotoGP season, which is exclusively live-streamed by JioCinema and Sports18. Following this deal, Yamaha is set to serve as the co-presenting sponsor for the MotoGP event.
On March 26, the Grand Premio de Portugal served as the official start of the coverage by Viacom18. The network is providing a comprehensive live presentation encompassing Friday and Saturday practice sessions, Saturday qualifying and the Sprint, and Sunday’s main event.
The co-presenting sponsor of the 2023 season, Yamaha will be featured in both live and recorded coverage of the world’s best motorcycle racing. The company’s entry into sponsoring the MotoGP presentation in India is smooth as it also enjoys a well-known presence on the racing circuit, having won numerous team championships and producing numerous individual winners, including the illustrious Valentino Rossi. The team’s current Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo is also having a fantastic run. He won the 2021 MotoGP World Championship and finished the 2022 season as the Vice-Champion.
The 2023 season, the largest series to date, will have 20 races in 17 nations, with the historic round 14 taking place in India when MotoGP makes its debut there.
MotoGP fans in India will be able to see all of the action from the highest level of two-wheeled racing as the 11 MotoGP teams and 22 riders come to India for the Grand Prix from September 22-24. The India round is expected to include 80 riders and 40 teams during the racing weekend, which will include Moto2 and Moto3 races.
Eishin Chihana, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group, commented, “MotoGP is one of the biggest sporting spectacles in the world. Yamaha has had a long association with this motorsport and a rich legacy of more than 500 Grand Prix wins. I am confident that through this collaboration, we can make a stronger connect with millions of Yamaha MotoGP fans in India and showcase our technological prowess in the world of racing. It is a great opportunity for us and Viacom18 to create greater awareness on MotoGP and promote the motorsport culture in India.”
Hursh Shrivastava, Head of Strategy, Rights, Acquisitions and Partnerships, Viacom18 Sports, said, “Yamaha has a long and successful history in MotoGP, and their support as a broadcast sponsor would be a valuable addition to our coverage of the sport as we continue to bring a paradigm shift in digital consumption of sports. Through this partnership, Yamaha will have the opportunity to showcase their motorcycle range to a large and engaged audience, while also supporting the sport they are passionate about.”
The inclusion of the MotoGP expands Viacom18 Sports’ diverse roster of top sporting events, which already includes the National Basketball Association (NBA), LaLiga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Diamond League, Indian Premier League (IPL), and Women’s Premier League (WPL).