June 2008

Official Tyre Partner
Maxxis was named as the Official Tyre Partner for the 2008 Isle of Man TT Races, which took place Saturday, May 24 - June 7. Maxxis enjoyed category exclusivity making it the only tyre manufacturer to be officially affiliated to the Races and actively promoted by the organisers in all their communications.
The sponsorship package entitled Maxxis to significant trackside advertising, branding on the footbridge crossing the start straight, branding on the start line grandstand, hospitality, prime position advertising in the TT Programme and branding on the press and winners' enclosure back drops and on the Isle of Man TT website.
"With 37 3/4 miles of public roads making up its legendary course, the Isle of Man has been styled the 'road racing capital of the world', and we' werere thrilled to be associated with such a prestigious event as the TT festival," says Maxxis International UK's managing director Derek McMartin.
"This was a tremendous opportunity for us to raise the profile of the Maxxis brand and our high performing new Supermaxx Sport tyre, among arguably the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic motorcycle sports fans."
In addition to its on-course presence, Maxxis supplyed tyres for the Yamaha R1 motorcycles used by the Travelling Marshals and running a brand awareness campaign with web-based competitions, both during and after the TT Races.

A period of corporate development
It has been a very busy second quarter period of 2008 for Infinity, a private brand from the Al Dobowi Group who in conjunction with their European associate company, Goldspark Trading have recently embarked on a progressive upgrade in the brand's corporate identity in the UK, Ireland and Europe.
This innovative step forward for Infinity which includes a more aggressive media approach commenced in April when the Al Dobowi Group invited a number of its leading distributors throughout Europe, UK and Ireland to attend a 'Partners Conference' in Dubai. At this conference, Rob Henderson, General Manager of Goldspark Trading announced a more prominent advertising campaigned head by a new corporate advertisement which will be implemented in all countries across Europe, UK and Ireland with immediate effect. A full summary of the Infinity Partners Conference is featured on page 18 in the June 2008 edition of Tyre Trade News.
This important event was followed by Infinity having a very active presence at the Reifen Show 2008 in Essen, Germany where the brand's stand was a hive of interest throughout the four day event from a constant stream of international visitors. A full summary of Infinity's activities at the show will be covered in a special Review in the July edition of Tyre Trade News.
Rob Henderson concludes, "Goldspark Trading is now looking to take Infinity to its next stage of development with regards to corporate identity in Europe and the UK and the recent Partners Conference and successful Reifen Show reflect on this new positive momentum for the brand.

Continuous European Growth
Having launched in January 2006 from headquarters in Hilversum, The Netherlands, GITI Tire Europe has swiftly evolved into Europe's most aggressive and fastest growing tyre manufacturer.
During 2008 it is anticipated that the GITI Group will manufacture in excess of 60 million tyres through their plants in China and Indonesia covering the PCR and TBR sectors of the market. Over the next three to five years GITI Tire Europe will embark on a very ambitious growth campaign centred mainly around local representation in each European country including the UK and Ireland and preparation for this project has already commenced through an imminent increase in personnel.
Twelve people are currently employed including two recently appointed technicians who are based at MIRA in Nuneaton working at GITI's very own research and development department. However the company is currently looking to appoint tyre specialists in a number of countries including the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Russia and other CIS countries eventually taking staff levels to around twenty-five.
GITI Tire Europe recently exhibited at the Reifen 2008 Show and a freport of their activities and new products launched at the event will be published in next month's edition.