Motorbikes Sale

When did visible sponsorship start on racing motorbikes?

Something I looked up for the devil spawn F1 racing and wondered if someone knew the Motorcycle equivalent, seeing as there isn't any open motorcycle racing questions in the UK section.

Public Comments

1. Of the top of my head, I really dont know ! I think in F1 it was Jim Clark on the Lotus, when I turned from B.R.G to white and red. Was is Texaco ? or NGK Plugs ?? As for the bikes, I will get on to Google on Wednesday afternoon and have a look......... unless Proc / Girl Racer / NeilGTTI or Dingo ... ETC beat me to it !
2. I certainly have a picture (in Racing review) of Bill Boddice on his outfit with Bill Starr on board in 1955,advertising the "Watsonian" chair,dogged onto a Norton.Would that count? Also a B.S.A. Victor in scambler trim with Champion and Lucas on the tank. Mike's Ducati was full of em on the dustbin in the 70s. Sorry for interfering,probably miles out.
3. Hi Julian G, I started looking at tobacco sponsorship and got imperial tobacco gold leaf 1968 for F1 nascar early 70s, from wikipedea im sure there would have been oil company sponsors befor that. but the earliest image I can find for bikes is from 1966 http://www.virhistory.com/vir/bikes/unknown/rem-258.jpg looks like private sponsorship from a local sponsor or this one which looks like a sponsorship on the faring http://www.flickr.com/photos/27812736@N05/2595908304/ edit.. Albert;s 55 looks like a winner. I dont go back that far. lol edit 2.. I thought it must have been when fairings started to appear, so I tried that avenue and ended up back at wikipedea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle backs Alberts mid 50s.