Former Haas title sponsor Rich Energy have created a bit of a storm on social media this week, after hitting out at a team in the British Superbike Championship (BSB) that they used to sponsor.
Rich Energy are best known for their controversial partnership with Haas in 2019, where the energy drink company suddenly dropped their deal with the American team prior to the British Grand Prix that year.
Since then they’ve gone on to sponsor OMG Racing Yamaha in BSB, with the team having used Rich Energy’s gold and black colour scheme as a result.
However, that partnership again came to a bizarre and sudden end in July last year, with the news having been broke again by a Twitter post reportedly by CEO William Storey, who previously referred to Haas in 2019 as a “milk float”.
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Rich Energy tweeted in July last year: “Rich Energy would like to thank @OMGRacingUK for their work in the last 2 years but the whole agreement is now at an end. Rich Energy is expanding its portfolio in many spheres including sport.”
This tweet suddenly started another back and forth exchange similar to what happened with Haas, after OMG Racing released their own statement clarifying that they were never sponsored directly by the energy drinks company.
“Following certain social media posts, press interviews, and publications over the last few days, the Rich Energy OMG Racing team would like to make a statement of facts regarding the sponsorship of the team in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB),” read the statement.
“Rich Energy OMG Racing is not, and has never been, sponsored by William Storey.
“Rich Energy OMG Racing is not, and has never been, sponsored by the Rich Energy brand owners.
“Rich Energy OMG Racing is sponsored by RichOMG Limited, the global sales and distribution rights holder for the drinks, Rich Energy (classic) and Rich Energy Sugar-Free.
“This sponsorship agreement was established in March 2020 ahead of the 2020 BSB season and remains firmly in place at this time.”
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It appears that Rich Energy remain unhappy with OMG Racing after once again taking to Twitter to criticise their livery for the upcoming 2023 BSB season, with the team having retained a black and gold livery for this year.
Rich Energy’s admin wrote on Twitter: “After we ended the partnership why are @OMGRacingUK still using our colours? We recommend a return to their original fluorescent pink, blue & yellow colours or even (a novel idea) use colours of their title sponsor? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”
OMG Racing are yet to comment on Rich Energy’s tweet.