Rich Energy superbike team hits back by claiming sponsorship still in place

Rich Energy’s mysterious motor racing links became even more opaque today after the British Superbike OMG Racing team refuted claims that its sponsorship deal with the drinks brand had come to an end.

It follows Rich Energy CEO William Storey’s statement, saying that the firm had terminated its deal with the team, released hours after Rich Energy-branded bikes had competed in the Donington Junior Supersport round.

OMG Racing, which leads the British Superbike Championship with Bradley Ray, had remained silent until this afternoon, when it said that the sponsorship agreement with the team remains active.

In a twist, it said that neither Storey nor Rich Energy were in fact backing the team. Instead, the contract was between OMG Racing and RichOMG, which holds the global distribution rights to the drink.

Both team and distributor are controlled by the same man, Alan Lowe, and are registered at the same Stratford-upon-Avon address.

On Sunday, Storey had apparently claimed, via Twitter, that “the whole agreement is now at an end.”

He went on to speak to Superbike in which he claimed OMG had been “slandering” its title sponsor.

“They could not do deal [sic] and our corporate partners indicated they were not appropriate to be involved with the brand,” he said. “We then heard first hand from people in the paddock that omg [sic] had been misrepresenting their position with Rich Energy and slandering the owners. This rendered their position tenuous at best.”

OMG declined to give an immediate response but has now released its statement on the matter.

“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),” it reads.

“Rich Energy OMG Racing is not, and has never been, sponsored by William Storey.