how to get sponsored

Hookit has good discounts; all adds up. 

Social media. Post small clips of him riding and racing and tag companies that make products he is currently using. Work on getting his follow count up on IG. You can spend $20 on Instagram and they will distribute a sponsored post for 3 days to people who follow the same people he follows. It’s a great way to boost followers which is a metric a potential sponsor will look at when deciding to lend support to his program. 

Win

Hit up @Brent for his Amex card number

Win every race at Loretta Lynn's....

Please don't tell me you have to be a social media star to make it in moto now. 

Adapt or die I guess.

You really just need to win at least 2 classes a year for a few years and kiddo will be a shoe in for that factory ride.

Start with where he buys his bikes, ask for support/discounts and let them know his results.

Send resume's to gear companies, tire companies, pipe manufacturers, etc. (knock on doors).

Let these companies know you exist, they will not seek you out....

When, you say he is beating factory pro's what class does he race, surely the factories are taking note of getting beat by a stock machine. Unfortunately you also need to be media savvy as well, seems like the kids coming up have been very successful at building a brand around themselves. 

Young riders need to learn skills such as social media, computers, taking videos, and simple editing.  Then they need to use it to promote themselves.  After all it has never been easier to do these things.  Do the work and not just ride.  Successful people all wear many hats along their journey.  Sponsorship needs to be good for the business as well and not just a handout.  If you go ask for money, parts, and bikes then have a presentation of how you are going to bring money back to that brand.  

As a sponsor at the highest levels, yes, social media, building a brand around yourself is a massive part of the process these days.  Your presentation must be super professional, your conduct in the pit area, bike presentation...  Of course, race results too.  If you do approach companies, don't just ask 'can I have free stuff, I'll tell my friends', as this will not get a response.  Think of an application for support exactly as a job application.  As that's exactly what it is.  You're asking to work representing the company. 

If you're successful, don't just take it as 'free stuff', as that won't last.  Work every way you can to spread the love of your supporter, Socials, word of mouth etc.  No effort means, no love from your supporter, you're on your own again.  All takes effort, on and off the track.

We put together a Rider Support Educational Series to help folks understand the ins and outs of rider support so they can make the most out of it. Most of us working for companies in the industry built those relationships through rider support. The blogs are a couple years old but still certainly helpful. Even if you need help building a quick resume. 

What is Rider Support? - https://www.fasstco.com/blogs/fasstcompanynews/rider-support-series-blo…

Resume Building - https://www.fasstco.com/blogs/fasstcompanynews/rider-support-series-blo…

Make The Most Out Of Rider Support - https://www.fasstco.com/blogs/fasstcompanynews/rider-support-series-blo…

Developing Relationships - https://www.fasstco.com/blogs/fasstcompanynews/rider-support-series-4-d…

Make a professional resume with race & academic achievements, and a few photos. Look up all the company addresses and get to mailing. Worked 20 years ago and it still works now.

As others have said..Running an Instagram with pics and videos posted regularly is a huge plus, easy to tag companies and get their attention if he’s something special.

+ call (like a job, cv + call, a life lesson), often not only once, asking someone responsible for sponsorship, then once you get the foot in with 50% discount or free parts (on brands you like and are helping you to perform), call them as well in average 2 times a year to let them know you are delivering results and promoting their brands (bike, gear, pits, social medias, riding school, charity, etc ; yes, you become at a young age suddenly a brand ambassador so you must behave, look good, look and ride clean, and occasionally make an effort about the brands that support you).

Someone doing that seriously and delivering results, even locally, can I think still get free tires, pads/disks, chains, oil/sprays, free or 50/70% on gear, 17/20% on bike, 30/40% on oem parts, etc etc, doesn't look like much but at the end of the year it is still a 10k discount as riding a lot/racing upfront costs a ton (30k+ to no limit), while it puts the pieces in the right place if the results are getting more viewed on the national or european level. The local dealership can also help getting sponsors as they are moving products and have preferred suppliers (that are not against a little effort especially if the bike is at the entry of the shop during the week). The importer will start to help too if the results are really good nationally. All in all, it is a worthy effort and as kid it is real life and a professional experience. Having someone as the mechanic saves also a ton too. Good luck ! The kid may or may not make it but it will taught him a lot of successfull keys to make it in life, the origin of business is all about selling your services while buying cheap

These days is easy to get sponsored! Two ways. The easy way is that he will identified like a girl and go race and beat all the chicks . The hard way is that he will have to be pinned everywhere and rust everybody in the pro. Just my two cents. 

Whoever you approach, emphasize what HE (The racer) can do to promote the companies you are applying for sponsorship to. Whether it’s IG posts and tags, banners in the pits, stickers on the bike, visits to sponsors and promo events etc…. Companies aren’t just looking to give money/product away. It has to be an exchange for services rendered. You’d be amazed at what a local C rider can accomplish sponsorship wise if you go into it not just looking for discounts and free stuff.

Hookit is a good way to get some discounts on some stuff. Its not really a true sponsorship per say but even as a 30 year old just racing here and there I was able to get 40% off a few compannies (usually the higher profit margin stuff like knee braces, graphics, etc.)

If he finished 5 points out of a title against fully backed/supported riders, and none of those teams are willing to hire him, HE is the problem.

I have worked in a dozen or so different moto shops and race teams, and seen plenty of people get sponsored.  First thing to understand about this business is that money attracts money.  When daddy spends $75K a year at the bike shop, then the kid usually gets the sponsorship, regardless how he finishes races.  Now its not always that dramatic, but there has to be a financial incentive for the sponsor. 

Sponsored doesn’t exist in 2024, paying for your ride exists

Ok either you’re from Great Britain or Green Bay. Either way to make em pay. You got to hv that invented character. Works for AP7.  Try using a hillbilly accent from the south east  if your from England . Man that would be funny.  Your aka rider name is now Roby Lee Hood.  Ok Robby Lee tell us about the big event coming up. No one ever attempted to jump preachers creek . You I was cat fishing down at preachers creek with a buddy of mine. And I mentioned that I wanted to jump preachers creek. My buddy Bobby Lee Bobby said  boy your just crazy thinking about that jumping the creek and all. Spoken with your new Alabama accent.  Sorry I just had an old timer walk up just south of charlotte and say you boys want them trailers  unlded tonight. We took care of that buisness & such. Then joked around a spell. 

Close my man, South West are the hillbillies of the UK and some of us in the South West do our best to keep it that way, though the city sprawl keeps growing 😂

OP, if you're in the UK, what championship and classes does he race?

Please never change Profeshanal, absolute gold. 

Haha thx. But you hv to admit Nick names r fun & people always remember that person because of the nickname . As a little kid a farmer I worked for called me a few Pieare, big Wally, etc. on the hhg rig in 39 states they called me Waldo or Where’s Waldo. In part because I was tall & skinny & had round plastic glasses with torch tip cleaning thing 4 bow screws . And kinda looked like the cartoon Waldo at Hardee’s . Then when I crashed out on the job site my glasses didn’t break. I flew around like Bruce Lee on crank then poof I disappear ed if things where going smooth, like a 4 hr 1 drill stem threw rock. I always had a great hiding spot.  I was joking with a women in NC in a shipping office today. She said do u hv a handle. I said oh hell yeah a few. She said her dad,s midnight Rambler & her uncles crazy handle. I bust out laughing. I hv Super Trucker on my front plate of my cr125. The graphics co made a sy when I order. Haha

I miss you and twostrokemotocross...hope yer still running that 40mm carb on the 125. 

Haha alright Man . I always wondered if anyone made it onto here. We hv to keep the Big carb a secret.  I,d like everyone to scratch their heads on why the 04 cr125 is such a rocket. Big carb big hp in conjunction with the DBP shouldn’t even b legal.  I hv a yellow background with better #,s with Super Trucker on the front plate. Make riding  a little more fun ya know. 

For sure man.. I liked my 39mm on mine with a divider plate.  Keep on keeping on man...I know the struggles, been beholden to a Bulgarian and running West to east and back the last few months. Hope you get to enjoy riding and shredding before the inevitable. Trying my best to do the same. 

Yes that’s a Honda ez pull lever with a Budd racing quick adjuster. The lever pull is soo light even with new springs.  2 sided tape on both levers.  I might hv to a find sponsors myself.  2 days ago at the office I brought up that I didn’t get paid hrs for my stops & a few hrs of hand unloading. The boss runs out of the room yells my name & runs towards the dispatches room. 4 of them ganged up on me. I stayed cool & said I can not be inside of trls pulling& dragging tens of thousands of lbs out for free. We hv to come up with an agreement, etc.  4 months ago he said I,ll get you another trk. This is the worst trk I ever saw on a rd since the 70,s. On my time off my dr & chiropractor said your blown disk in your neck r much worse, my back to.  Today I got into it with a dispatcher. It’s far too long to say everything. But I said tell the boss get another trk or I,m gone. And is this a Lithuanian thing that all of you hate Americans because 2 other co.s did the same thing. I get a wrecked 789k trk & Africans , hyti, Somalian get a 16k trk. A Lazy Venezuela or Mexican gets your best trk then Africans , blacks get the other good trks. I noticed they always hv palletized freight & I get garbage that I hv garbage that I hv drag out. I hv more exp than all your drivers put together. Do explain to me why my checks r 1/2 . They hv there heads shaved daily & showered . I get a shower ever 2 1/2 weeks. I,m trained by a Captain of the dot in charge of the world strongest hhg rig trk line . And a job site foreman. Meet & pay the mob 20 mil to be in there area & 250k a week. Biden is president because Joey Merlino a mob boss I paid millions to set up the election. I sweet talked actually treat people extra good to get lds unlded that are dispatched days late. Talk ware houses out of 500 fines to my co . Because I know that it would come out of my check. Work on there equipment 2-4 1/2 hrs most days. And I get fucked by this cheap Jew. I regret saying that but it’s true. All the Eastern European crooked thieves think your 139 hr week is there money. Aprox 1 million complaints of slavery in Chicago according the the iL. Labor dept. when I started  I was broke down ovr 2 days in 12 degree & windy weather bunk heater don’t work, can’t run the trk because the def fluid is pouring out. In a Chicago shop 7 times all day to get nothing repaired. But lie about repairs. The shop big surprise is in deep shit with co.s setting them up & any co that does buisness with the shop. Mega carriers , etc working a plan to get rid of 500k Eastern European co.s . Huge powerful co.s combined with more American power to clean them out. Ez pass has people showing electronic proof of trks  running 40 hrs +, ghost fuel card purchases, hacking po#,s. I could go on all night. The walls r closing in big time.  It’s funny they don’t know or probably don’t care there monitored in every way imaginable including satellite. The government just wants there money & property, etc.  they get rich off of our backs . So many rip offs & illegal activity. Including murder .  Payroll women say sorry I just do as I,m told. I say it’s illegal to steal ten of thousands of dollars from an American. Ovr 10k is a felony.  You always seemed like a good person . Go work at a w2 co of back to Eastern Europe. Because a slave tag on you in prison is torture, beatings & death. A judge doesn’t care if you do as your told and controlled by the men.  

I just came to read pro125s comments.