Hero MotoCorp will support the Erik Buell Racing effort in 2012, sponsoring both Danny Eslick and Geoff May (above).American sportbike designer Erik Buell has struck up a surprising new partnership. Buell’s latest venture, Erik Buell Racing (EBR), has entered into a strategic partnership with Hero MotoCorp - the largest motorcycle manufacturer in India. Hero will sponsor EBR’s American SuperBike racing effort, while Buell will lend his design skills to Hero for new model development.
Hero’s backing ENSURES funding for EBR’s 2012 AMA Pro Racing racing program, with the opening round next month at Daytona International Speedway. Hero will sponsor both EBR 1190RS American SuperBike entries, with newly signed Danny Eslick campaigning aboard a Team Hero branded bike, while returning EBR pilot Geoff May will ride an AMSOIL Hero branded mount.
Hero MotoCorp was formerly known as Hero Honda, a joint venture company with the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. In December 2010 Honda announced it would divest its 26% interest in the JV and focus instead on its wholly owned Indian subsidiary Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI). The partnership with Erik Buell helps fulfill Hero’s need for R&D assistance, as dissolution of the JV removed technical input from Big Red (though terms of the split allow Hero to sell some Honda developed product under license).