The match-made-in-heaven continues, with Triumph Motorcycles and The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride inking an agreement to remain partners for the next five years.
Triumph will be the major sponsor of this streetbike event, a role the company has held since 2014. That means it will continue to contribute resources and support to help raise awareness of the event and the causes it supports, prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. The first ride staged with Triumph as the main sponsor of DGR brought out more than 20,000 riders across 58 different countries. That year the event raised $1.5 million. At its peak, in 2019, 116,000 riders participated and raised $6 million across 104 countries.
“In 2014 when we first partnered with Triumph Motorcycles, I was incredibly excited,” explained Mark Hawwa, the founder and director of DGR, in a press release. “They are the only motorcycle manufacturer that I felt perfectly fit with The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. We’ve done some wonderful things since then; together we have been able to reward some of our top and most dedicated fundraisers with brand-new bikes from the Modern Classics range and built the custom one-of-one 2021 Triumph Thruxton RS. Today, eight years later, as we announce the five-year continuation of this partnership, I am even more excited than I was in 2014 because, with the next five years, I know that we can do even more together with the goal of raising funds and awareness of men’s health.”
Triumph Chief Commercial Officer Paul Stroud added:
“From the very beginning, we could see the DGR was something truly special that the team at Triumph were incredibly keen to be involved with, both for the cause it represented but also the great day of riding and fun of dressing dapper it delivered. We are proud to have been the main partner for the last eight years and honored to have been able to play a part in helping grow such a positive and impactful force for good.
“Across our world, from our dealers to our staff, to Triumph fans and DGR riders globally it’s very easy to see how much passion and engagement there is for this significant event and riding cause. The renewal of our partnership with The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was a natural decision to take, based not only on the success and growth of participation that has raised Triumph’s profile but also because we share that passion and are committed to supporting Mark, his team, and the DGR community worldwide in their mission, to reach ever-higher.”
As with many events throughout the world, 2020 proved to be a challenge for DGR due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To cope, organizers created the Ride Solo Together event and were able to continue to raise millions in funds for the causes DGR supports. The difficulties persisted in 2021, but the combination of DGR events (where they were approved) alongside Ride Solo Together events saw more than 65,000 riders participate, raising more than $4 million. Since 2012, when the DGR had its first ride, the event has raised $31.5 million.
And if you don’t know, the DGR is a themed ride that brings together riders of vintage and classic bikes (though anyone is welcome), asks them to fundraise for the cause, and then don their finest attire during group rides across the world.
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com