Hayden, Aoyama go green, silver and black in Aspar MotoGP deal

Aspar has announced that Malaysian energy drink Drive M7 will be its new title sponsor for the 2014 MotoGP season – with Nicky Hayden and Hiroshi Aoyama’s Open class Hondas to be painted in the company’s green, silver and black colours.

The move is somewhat unexpected given that Power Electronics was still listed as Aspar’s title sponsor on the latest, January 14, version of the 2014 MotoGP entry list.

Aspar has been backed by Power Electronics for the last two seasons, during which it dominated the privateer CRT class with Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia ART machines.

CRT is being replaced by the more competitive Open class for 2014 – when Aspar will now have new riders, a new bike and new title sponsor. The Spanish squad will ‘soon’ be officially named ‘Drive M7 Aspar Team’.

“It is very positive for us to receive the support of a large international company like Drive M7 – above all in such an important year, with an enormous change planned for the Aspar Team project,” said team CEO Jorge Martinez ‘Aspar’

“In 2014 we have a new, more ambitious, challenge ahead. We are changing bike, changing our riders to two former world champions and introducing a new main sponsor. Both those in charge of Drive M7 and ourselves are delighted with this alliance, and are sure that it will be a long-lasting one.”

Drive M7 has had a presence in its home continent since 2011 and is now looking to make a gradual expansion into the Asian, European and North American markets. The drink ‘is scientifically formulated and tested to provide maximum power and endurance to its consumers’.

“We feel very happy to be joining forces with the largest private team in MotoGP – a structure directed by a multiple world champion in Jorge Martínez ‘Aspar’,” said managing director Mokhtar Datuk Ahmad.

“We are delighted to have two former world champions in Nicky Hayden and Hiroshi Aoyama as part of the project, and they will surely give us plenty to talk about over the coming season.

“We would like to underline the importance of our agreement once again; it is a very big year for our country, Malaysia, which will celebrate an international tourism expansion project under the Visit Malaysia 2014 banner this year.”

Although Aspar confirmed the colour change, it is not known if the new team livery will be in place for the opening 2014 pre-season test at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit on February 4-6.

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