Monster plan MotoGP expansion

American energy drink giant Monster is planning to expand its involvement in the MotoGP paddock next season.

Monster is close to agreeing a new deal with Herve Poncharal’s Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP squad, despite losing Ben Spies who will replace Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s factory team when the Italian joins Ducati.

onster though is locked in talks with Poncharal about backing his Moto2 team in 2011.

The French squad has already won one race this season with Yuki Takahashi’s triumph in Barcelona and a deal could be closed soon after further talks during last weekend’s American Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.

Bob Moore, who oversees the Monster sponsorship in MotoGP while also looking after the interest of Bradley Smith and Cal Crutchlow, told MCN:

”I proposed extending the Tech 3 relationship to Moto2 and they are pretty happy with it. They are very happy with Tech 3 and the Yamaha relationship. I believe they will expand more in MotoGP and Moto2 for 2011 but they won’t make any decisions until they know what Valentino is going to do. That’s the high priority for them.”

Monster already has several personal deals with riders in all three Grand prix classes, including nine-times world champion Rossi.

Negotiations are on-going to retain that partnership with Rossi when he moves to Ducati in 2011 in a transfer that will be announced on Sunday night in Brno.
Monster also sponsors the French MotoGP as it tries to muscle in on Red Bull’s domination of the European market.