Mazda and Triathlon

Exhilaration. Performance. Gaining an edge through innovative technology. It's no wonder that Mazda feels a natural affinity with the fast-growing sport of triathlon.

The most high-profile event this year has been the Mazda London Triathlon 2009. As the title sponsor, Mazda has built on the success of previous years with what is the largest triathlon in the world, by attracting over 14,000 entrants.

Taking exhilaration seriously

Anyone who's driven a Mazda car can relate to the sheer exhilaration that triathletes feel when racingSimilarly, they'll understand the triathlete's satisfaction in exploiting advanced design and technology to enhance performance.

An Olympic distance triathlon comprises a 1500 metre swim, followed by a 40 km bike ride and then a 10 km run to the finish line. It takes a special kind of person to compete in such a testing sport - someone who takes performance seriously but also knows what having fun is all about.

This feeling of exhilaration attracts people of all ages and abilities as well as high profile racing personalities such as Formula 1 championship leader, Jenson Button who was joined by British MotoGP 125cc rider Bradley Smith at the Mazda London Triathlon this year. Jenson displayed his physical fitness and passion for the world's fastest growing mass participation sport, recording a personal best - a remarkable time of 02:07:02 over the Olympic distance.

Bradley Smith was not far behind and recorded a time of 02:13:36. The motorsport pairing exchanged some pre and post race banter, but it was Button who finished as the narrow victor after both men put in impressive performances.

"I had to wake up at 4am to get here this morning and I loved it - it has been my best ever Sunday morning," said Button. "I enjoyed it today, it's such an amazing event, it's so big and it's great that triathlon is doing so well in the UK. I hope that its growth continues."

And that's why Mazda is the perfect fit for triathlon. Because the attitude that's at the heart of triathlon, happens to be what Mazda already calls 'Zoom-Zoom'.