Photo: mtbs.cz

It’s the time of year when pro riders renegotiate their sponsorship deals, or indeed negotiate new ones. Most top riders have an extensive portfolio of sponsors, and making sure that all of them (right down to the official sock, inner tube and spoke nipple suppliers) are happy takes a lot of effort.

Obviously it helps if you’re regularly atop the podium, and Czech 4X and BMX racer Michal Prokop certainly does that. At 25 years old, in 2006 he became World 4X Champion for the second time and 4X World Cup Champion, also for the second time.

All of which brings us to the announcement that Prokop’s race wear/protective gear sponsor for the next two years will be UFO Plast. The Italian company is best known for motocross gear, but is looking to move more into the MTB and BMX markets. Prokop’s signing is intended not just to increase its exposure in the bike market – he’ll be helping to design new products, too.

“We want to test and develop together a new range of pants, shorts, gloves and body protection,” says UFO’s Simon Consoloni. “Michal, being so focused on all the smallest details of his equipment, is the perfect partner for this.”