Gulf Oil strengthens Adventure Sports Portfolio by Partnering with Piaggio Group to aim for the top in MotoGP

Global lubricant major announces a new multi-year partnership deal with the Piaggio Group’s technical flagship, Aprilia Racing

After two years of working together in global motorcycle racing’s upper echelons – in the World Superbike Championship arena - the iconic Gulf brand and Aprilia marque continue to make concerted progress together, making the step up into the pinnacle of motorbike racing, MotoGP, thanks to a new multi-year partnership. This association further strengthens Gulf Oil’s diverse sports portfolio catering to high adrenaline sports.

Gulf Oil is globally renowned for its high performance products and width of product portfolio. The brand has been instrumental in supporting various sporting initiatives, which include the likes of Manchester United, Chennai Super Kings, and Gulf Racing in motorsport. The entry into the MotoGP arena unequivocally underlines the commitment to the brand values of quality, endurance and passion.

“We are ecstatic to join hands with Piaggio Group’s Aprilia Racing team for the MotoGP Championship. Gulf Oil has always associated with leading sports properties, be it cricket, football, volleyball or motorsport. Entry into the top flight of the motorbike racing segment enhances our adventure sports portfolio and helps us develop future-ready and top-notch lubricants. I am certain that the Indian audience will enjoy this adrenaline-filled sport”, said Ravi Chawla, Managing Director, GOLIL.

The 19 race MotoGP calendar features races across five continents and the 2019 season starts on March 10th in Qatar.

“The opportunity to move up into MotoGP, as a major partner of Aprilia Racing was a logical next step forward after World Superbikes,” explains Gulf Vice President International, Frank Rutten. “Aprilia is one of the most successful racing marques of all time while Gulf, of course, has a long history of success in motorsport. Making the move up to Grand Prix racing with a manufacturer that we know matches our ethos of quality, endurance and passion and our desire for progress.”

Aprilia is concentrating hard on MotoGP development for 2019, looking to be regularly in the mix at the sharp end of the MotoGP field. To this end, Piaggio has brought in former Ferrari Sporting Director, Massimo Rivola to head up Aprilia Racing. With two new crew chiefs and a talented rider line up of Italian, Andrea Iannone, Spaniard Aleix Espargaro and Briton, Bradley Smith, Aprilia is putting more resource than ever before into making strides forward in this intensely competitive series.