From a press release:

Michelin to sponsor Trofeo Ducati AMA Superbike race at Brainerd International Raceway

BRAINERD, Minn. ­ Brainerd International Raceway today announced that Michelin will be the presenting sponsor of the Trofeo Ducati U.S. Superbike AMA Championship, which is scheduled for June 25-27 on BIR’s world-class 3-mile road course.

The event will be known as the Trofeo Ducati U.S. Superbike AMA Championship presented by Michelin. The Michelin brand will be prominently featured throughout the race weekend with signage, advertising and on-track announcements.

“We’re very pleased to be involved in such a world-class event,” Michelin Two Wheel Product Manager Bernard Jarrousse said. “Superbike racing has helped Michelin develop products like the soon-to-be-introduced Pilot Power sportbike tire. This is an ideal opportunity for Michelin to communicate its message of technological leadership and quality to AMA Superbike fans.”

“Michelin has excellent brand recognition in the racing world and has become a major force in Superbike racing,” BIR General Manager Scott Quick said. “We’re excited to have Michelin on board as a first-year sponsor for this event and we look forward to growing this relationship.”

The Trofeo Ducati is a perennial favorite at BIR. It features some of the top Superbike racers, including Eric Bostrom, Miguel Duhamel, Aaron Yates, Mat Mladin and Ben Bostrom. They challenge the 10-turn road course at speeds of up to 190 mph. Qualifying takes place Friday and Saturday for most of the classes, with finals on Sunday.

The event will feature an array of entertainment for fans, including live music Friday and Saturday nights, fireworks, contests, a bike show, a bike tour around the Brainerd Lakes Area, autograph sessions and more. It’s family entertainment at its finest, with camping available in BIR¹s 162-site PleasureLand RV Park or on 600 acres of rustic camping.

BIR President Bill Singleterry joined Quick in welcoming Michelin to BIR as a sponsor and looks forward to a long-lasting relationship.

Michelin North America is a division of Group Michelin, one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers, with 2003 worldwide net sales of $18.6 billion. Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs 23,920 and operates 22 plants in 17 locations.

BIR is a subsidiary of Michigan-based Sports Resorts International Inc., a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ exchange (SPRI). Now in its 35th season, BIR is one of North America’s largest racetracks. It’s about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities. Visit www.brainerdracewayandresort.com.