Jay - you are right... eg from the sponsors themselves...:
http://http://www.boeing.com/resources/boeingdotcom/media/dubai2015/pdf/releases_local/FinalEngStearmanflight_UAEPressRelease.pdf
..."Boeing sponsors solo open cockpit flight from UK to Australia"
So clearly that's what they felt they were paying for.
(Edit... since posting the above link I see Jay has added the same one to his own post - it does reinforce the ludicrous stance of TCT attempting to blame the media for claims of "solo").