Universal Studios Consumer Products Group Teams-Up With Honda Motorcycle Racing Teams for Sponsorship and Representation Agreement
8 December 2000
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group Teams-Up With Honda Motorcycle Racing Teams for Sponsorship and Representation Agreement
Agreement Will Highlight Universal Studios' Woody Woodpecker as Honda's
Official Team Mascot and Also Feature 'Jurassic Park 3' in 2001
TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 8 American Honda Motor Co. Inc.'s
Motorcycle Division today announced a unique Honda Racing Team(TM) sponsorship
and exclusive representation agreement with Universal Studios Consumer
Products Group (USCPG).
The companies have formed an innovative motorsports relationship. The
multi-year partnership creates a sponsorship that will feature Universal
Studios' character Woody Woodpecker(R) as Team Mascot for both the Honda
Motocross Racing Team(TM) and the Honda Road Racing Team(TM). Universal
Studios will become the primary racing team sponsor for two motocross and two
road racing events in 2001 and 2002. Additionally, Universal Studios will
represent the merchandising and promotional rights to Honda Racing Team's
motocross riders, Sebastien Tortelli, Ezra Lusk, Ryan Hughes and roadrace
riders, Nicky Hayden and Miguel Duhamel.
Feature-length Universal Studios films will be showcased with special
designs on the bodywork and uniform of one Honda Racing Team bike and rider
for each of the selected races. Although the specific races have not been
determined, "Jurassic Park III," the third chapter of one of the most
successful film franchises in Universal Studios' history, scheduled for
release on July 18, 2001, will be featured on the 2001 Honda Racing Teams.
The development and implementation of the global merchandising program for The
Jurassic Park franchise has to date resulted in over $2.5 billion in retail
sales and over $250 million in promotional media support.
"We are very pleased to bring Universal Studios into the Honda racing
family," said Ray Blank, vice president of Honda's Motorcycle Division. "As
leaders in our respective industries, Honda Racing and Universal Studios will
see 'Performance First' reach new heights in the coming years."
The selection of the feisty red-headed Woody Woodpecker as official Team
Mascot is a perfect compliment to the Honda Racing Teams featuring the Red
Riders(TM). During the 2001 and 2002 racing seasons, Woody Woodpecker will be
featured in AMA(R)-sanctioned (American Motorcyclist Association) Honda
factory racing efforts in Supercross(R), national motocross, and national road
racing competition. A special Woody Woodpecker / Honda Racing Team logo has
been developed and will be featured on the CR(R)250R, CBR(R)600F4i and
RC51(TM) racing bikes, the racer's uniforms, the Racing Team trucks and
promotional materials.
"Cross-licensing between entertainment and motorsports has been a very
successful combination for Universal," said Elliot Lederman, vice president,
licensing and sports, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. "Universal
has had successful programs with NASCAR(R) Champions Jeff Gordon and Bobby
Labonte, NHRA Funny Car Champion, John Force and Formula One Champions,
WilliamsF1(R). We are very proud to have the opportunity to sponsor and
represent Honda, the winningest team in motorcycle history."
About Honda
American Honda won its first National motocross title in 1973 when Gary
Jones rode the factory's first production motocrosser, the 250 Elsinore, to
victory. Two more titles came the following year, with Marty Smith also
earning the 125 National crown on Honda's then-revolutionary 125 Elsinore.
Since 1982, American Honda motocross teams have won a record 40 AMA National
championships out of a possible 71. Honda riders have won an inconceivable
13 of the last 19 AMA 250 Supercross championships, including nine Supercross
titles in a row.
American Honda has an enviable record in AMA Superbike racing. Since 1983
Honda has won 78 of the 182 Superbike races -- 43 percent -- and taken seven
of the 18 titles up for grabs. Honda has dominated the AMA 600 SuperSport
class even more completely than in Superbike. The source of that superiority
in the middleweight class has been Honda's CBR600 series, with a win record of
more than 50 percent of all 600 races since the class began in 1987, and eight
of the 14 titles.
American Honda Motor Co. Inc. is the sole distributor of Honda
motorcycles, ATVs and scooters in the United States. American Honda's
Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities
for these products through approximately 1200 Honda authorized dealers.
Further information about Honda products, racing teams, programs and dealer
locations is available at the Honda Web site at http://www.honda.com/.
About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
The Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is responsible for global
licensing and retail strategies for the company and its operating divisions.
This also includes Universal Interactive Studios, responsible for production
of video game franchises for the worldwide market based upon original concepts
and Universal Studios classic movie and television franchises. The global
licensing division focuses on building the brand value of the company's broad
portfolio of properties by securing world class manufacturing partners in such
categories as toys, apparel, accessories publishing and interactive, as well
as developing retail alliances that maximize product placement and consumer
sales. In addition, the division is responsible for the development of
promotional programs in support of its property portfolio, with a broad
spectrum of partners that include quick service restaurants, consumer packaged
goods and service companies.
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group and Universal Pictures are
divisions of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com), a diversified
entertainment company and worldwide leader in motion pictures, television,
home and location based entertainment. Universal Studios is a unit of The
Seagram Company Ltd., a global entertainment and beverage company.