Dan – Fox Shocks.
Tell me about the program, about Fox Shocks, how you ended up here, and what you guys are offering.
Fox Shocks was originally founded in 1974 on the motocross end by Bob Fox. Right now we’re trying to get back into the mini-moto program. We’ve been here for 3 years and we’re offering sponsorship to a variety of riders, amateurs and some pros involved. We just like to see everybody come to the website and check us out and send us a resume, or I’ll check out yours. We’ll see what we can do for really anybody right now with a lot of race results.
So when do you accept applications?
Applications on SponsorHouse are accepted year round. Works for us –we kind of check everybody out. Results are important to us, but you don’t necessarily have to be a winner. We do need to see those results. It’s nice that we can go back and check some of the local tracks you’re riding at and check some of those results to see if everybody’s on the strait up. We’re just looking to support amateur riders and guys who are going fast on their local tracks.
So tell me a little bit about how it works. Do you have programs for amateurs and pros? Is it nationwide or regional, or how does that all work?
Our programs are basically nationwide and also Canada. We try to cover everybody. Our ATV product is basically taking the ATV world by storm right now. But we haven’t done very well with mini-moto, so we’re kind of covering everybody. It doesn’t really matter where you’re from, we just want to see that you’re doing well in your local events.
How has the internet changed the way you manage your sponsorship program?
With the internet we can touch a lot of different riders with just the click of a button which is amazing. It’s nice to be able to communicate on the internet, to double check your results on the internet, and again just to touch everybody and to make a quick relationship and put a face together. Its been great for us.
What information do you look for when you’re actually reviewing rider applications?
We look for race results and how much participation by riders is actually going on. Again, we don’t have to have the guy winning every race, but we do appreciate the results. Exposure of our product at the races -you’ve got to be there to show it off. Basically with us, we like to see the results from the rider, write us back or email us how you’re doing. Whether it’s good or bad, we just like to hear how it’s going and how the product is for that rider.
What types of qualities and characteristics do you look for in the riders themselves?
Even with the youngest riders to the oldest riders, we really look for a professional attitude; they speak well at the track, they’re well liked at the track, they’re approachable by other riders. Even if they’re the top amateur guy, that if somebody were to come up to them, they can speak to them. The total pro is what we’re looking for, and I think that has to happen because you’re in a sport and situations where you’re kind of recognized and you’re a role model. So role model for us is key.
So who are some of your top riders, both amateur and pro riders? Do you have any pro riders?
Right now we’re running in our big bike end of it that we’re trying to get back into, we have a professional rider by the name of Gavin Gracyk, he’s doing really well for us right now in the national circuit. In the amateur sports, in the mini-moto we have Dion Treddle, Jason Anderson, Adam Cincerillo, and a variety of other guys who are just really doing well for us. On the ATV end of it, we do have Yoshimera Suzuki, we’ll soon be testing with Kowasaki and we probably have half the field on our new Fox Shocks E Ball X suspensions; we’re doing very well in ATV.
So when a rider actually does finally get approved to become part of your program what requirements do you have and what do you expect them to be doing for Fox?
Expectations for Fox, with new riders, is really communication. It is key for us to keep relating to the rider. If I come to a race and my riders are there, it allows me to know who they are, put a face with it, and kind of understand the results. Good or bad, it’s really not that important, but relationships are in communication. For us, communication, results, and professionalism are the three main elements.
What advice do you have for new riders trying to get a sponsorship or trying to get into the sport?
New riders, for advice, for anybody I speak to, I’m really looking for somebody with professionalism. I use that word a lot, but when they write me, it’s condensing into something we can all understand, it’s very professional, all your results are listed, personality is pretty huge for us, and I find that actually on SponsorHouse, it’s working well. Number one in any amateur thing, you still have to be very professional, speak well and let everyone know what you’re going to be doing, and communicate, absolutely.
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