I can understand your position but I'd have to disagree.

I was in a similar position and it was the final straw that lead to my complete retirement (failed retirement) from the sport for most of 2008.

I started racing again in 2009 for another team and, coming from owning and running a team previously, just being a rider didn't cut it. I'm not a control freak or anything but I watched this team make mistake after mistake that I knew enough not to make. My input was mostly ignored and these bad decisions frustrated me enough that I decided to form my own team again for 2010.

Added to this the fact that I am now also throwing in my own money and running the team I want absolute say in how things are done and how this team is used to promote my business and that of the other sponsors. In fact, that is the whole point to the team.

One of the other riders is also a sponsor and a third rider owns the shop that we ride out of and will display and sell all of the bike related sponsored products we use.

A fourth rider is being set up as an outside sales guy for my company as well as another sponsor's company. A fifth guy works in another shop that will display product and the last guy, the talented one, has nothing to do with any of it but is a good guy and is happy to be with a team of people he likes.

I guess that was the long winded way of saying that if I am throwing down cash, at this point, I want a say in how things are run and how this team is used to represent and promote my business.

If my business were not cycling related then I think the approach you suggested would be a much better idea. I would still want some input as a sponsor under those conditions but I don't think it would be nearly as critical to the ROI.

My take is that Psimet is in pretty much a similar situation and that if he is going to sponsor and run the team anyway he might as well be the title sponsor.

I also think it will turn out to be a successful 2010 season.