The Hut sponsors Mongoose team

Mongoose riders will work with Pizza Hut on a number of joint marketing initiatives still being worked out, the deal is that piping hot.

"The support of Pizza Hut will enable Mongoose to further strengthen the team and will benefit the brand on a global basis," Russell Merry of Mongoose UK importer Hot Wheels International told BikeBiz.co.uk.

"There are no specifics worked out for UK marketing initiatives with Pizza Hut, but we’ll be in contact with Pizza Hut UK soon."

Pizza Hut is the world’s largest pizza restaurant chain, with nearly 12 000 restuarants and kiosks in 88 countries.

The link-up with Mongoose could give a major boost to the bike brand. With 4 million customers worldwide, that’s a lot of eyeballs.

In the UK, Pizza Hut is a sponsor of Fulham Football Club.

Pizza Hut is owned by Tricon, which also owns Taco Bell and KFC.

In 2001, Pizza Hut became the first company to deliver pizza to the pioneers living in outer space on the International Space Station.

The UK has the third highest number of Pizza Hut outlets outside of the US (Australia and Canada are first and second).