There are some interesting tidbits here.
Dave
Inside The Industry
Ducati Share Shift
Controlling Ducati Stake Set To Transfer to Investindustrial
The Texas Pacific Group (majority shareholder of the Bologna motorcycle manufacturer) has signed a preliminary agreement to sell its controlling stake in Ducati to Investindustrial Holdings.
"We had always hoped to have Investindustrial as our partner for the re-launch of the company," says Federico Minoli, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. "The transfer of shares provides the guarantees that Ducati needs in order to continue its growth and reach the goals it has been working towards. The agreement is subject to the approval of Ducati's banks. We will be working with all of our main banks, with the assistance of Unicredito Banca Mobiliare -- UBM -- to finalize the agreement as efficiently and quickly as possible. We expect to operate in a calm and harmonious way, combining forces and sharing results with those partners who have our same passion and pride for the worldwide success of Italian bikes."
Viva Italia!
Milan Showtime Teaser
Next month we will offer more comprehensive coverage of the world's largest motorcycle show, complete with a full gallery of photos. In the meantime, to help whet your appetites for what will be seen at the big trade events in North America like the Super Show in Toronto, Canada, the impending V-Twin Expo in Cincy and the granddaddy of them all, the Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo in Indy, there were a couple of show stoppers at the EICMA show in Italy that warrant a sneak peek.
On the OEM side, everyone from Aprilia (with a trick 450 twin dirtbike) and BMW (with four new models) up to KTM (with a tasty 950 Supermoto and Dakar-style Enduro bike) and Yamaha (with the entire evolution of its MT-01 air-cooled V-Twin super cruiser) had something show-stopping to show off. However it was home market favorite Ducati that took top accolades from the obviously partisan crowd and an impartial panel of motorcycle designers! During their Designers' Night, held at the Milan Science & Technology Museum, members of the Motorcycle Design Association (MDA) were asked to vote for the most impressive design introduced at EICMA. According to MDA frontman and noted designer in his own right, Glynn Kerr, models already presented at Paris and other shows during the year were exempt.
"Several models were proposed, ranging from the Derbi Rambla scooter to Sergio Robbiano's impressive Bimota Delirio," explains Kerr. "Finally, the majority vote went in favor of the Ducati Hypermotard on the grounds that the Ducati team had produced a fresh and an exciting design within the limitations of a long-established engine and chassis package."
Meanwhile on the aftermarket side, we had a chance to tour the STM facility the day before the show started and despite the misnomer of it being a "slipper" clutch, we can report that it is definitely worth a closer look. Currently distributed by Lockhart Phillips for the streetbike market and FMF for the dirtbike/Supermoto side, look for distribution giant Parts Unlimited to be adding STM's trick clutch by Indy.
Yamaha Vs. Yamoto
Knock It Off Already?
Yamaha Motor Corp. has reached a settlement in their lawsuit against Patriot Motorcycles Company. As reported earlier on http://www.mpnmag.com, the parties have agreed to enter into a Consent Judgment on issues raised in the initial lawsuit. However the legal wrangling continues with Patriot's product source in China. Yamaha originally filed suit in Los Angeles Federal Court against both Yamoto Motor Corporation and Patriot Motorcycles Corporation for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, false designation of origin, false advertising, copyright infringement and unfair competition (Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., et. al. v. Yamoto Motor Corporation, et. al.).
"Yamaha is pleased to have reached a settlement with Patriot Motorcycles Company in such a timely manner," states Yamaha's general counsel Russell Jura. "While we have settled with Patriot, our trademark infringement case against Yamoto Motor Corporation will continue. Yamaha will not tolerate Yamoto's fraudulent, deceptive imitation of its trademarks, copyrights and appearance of its products. Since Yamoto has not yet approached us about a settlement as Patriot did, our intention is to litigate this case against Yamoto Motor Corporation through trial." For his part, Patriot CEO Michel Attias adds, "Patriot wants to move forward. We will continue to remain in the U.S. market and will provide our customers with affordable products for the entire family that are defined by our own unique qualities and features." Watch for the legal precedents established by this case to have lasting repercussions throughout the entire powersports industry.
Cracking Down On Chinese Piracy
While Yamaha finishes squaring off with Yamoto, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is looking into possible Chinese violations of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIP). America, Japan and Switzerland have all initiated WTO action, and the three countries expect a response from China by January 23. According to our friends at Motorcycle Trader in the U.K., the move is aimed at increasing pressure on Beijing by taking the case to the WTO for multi-lateral negotiations.
"We will utilize all tools at our disposal to ensure that U.S. intellectual property rights are protected," says U.S. trade rep Robert Portman, noting that piracy and counterfeiting remain "rampant" in China despite years of bilateral talks. While the U.S. response is being motivated largely by the film and music industries, Japan has a vested interest specifically in the motorcycle market and has requested China to identify its enforcement actions undertaken between 2001 and 2005, noting it considers Beijing's measures to fight piracy to be "weak".
Cross-Marketing Coup
Toyota Steps Up Sponsorship
In addition to its existing support of events such as the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows and the Supercross series, Toyota has signed a three-year agreement as the title sponsor for the AMA National Arenacross Series and Mike Kidd's Upstart BooKoo AX events as well. "We are proud to welcome Toyota as the title sponsor of the AMA National Arenacross Series," claims Clear Channel's VP of motorsports marketing Ken Hudgens.
"During the next three years, Toyota will be an important contributor towards the continued growth of this great series." Toyota's VP of truck marketing Jim Farley explains, "It's important for Toyota to be where our customers are, to support their interests and activities. Those that ride off-road motorcycles also drive trucks; the two go hand-in-hand, which means Toyota should be part of this industry." But in the biggest coup of all, Toyota chose the AMA awards banquet in Las Vegas to announce the company will become the title sponsor of the "AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF" -- filling the title sponsorship void Chevy left a couple of years ago.
"The truck market continues to be a major growth opportunity for the auto industry," notes Brian Smith, TMS corporate manager, truck operations. "The average motocross fan is about 23 years old and about 75% have a pickup truck in their household. This is where truck customers go, and it's what they're doing. . . Toyota wants to be part of their activities and their interests."
Atlanta Auction Action
We offered an early look at National Powersport Auction's new 250,000 sq./ft. operation back in the November issue, but their official grand opening is actually slated for Friday, January 20th. The giant auction house now boasts an Internet cafe, a dealer lounge and even its own restaurant! However it is the 12 auction lanes where the real action is. For more information, call the toll-free dealer hotline at (888) 292-5339 or click onto http://www.NPAuctions.com to see about the NPA simulcast if you can't shut down the store long enough to attend the Atlanta auction in person.
Big Boys And Their Toys!
J&W Cycles 3rd Annual Mini Mountain GP
Somewhere in the woods southwest of St. Louis in an undisclosed location (the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty alike), the big boys gathered to race their little toys. Sponsored by J&W Cycles in Washington, Missouri, more than 20 racers, 70 family friends, some dealership personnel and a couple curious locals gathered for the biggest little race around. (Doesn't a "big minibike race" sound like something of an oxymoron? Former school teacher-turned-motorcycle dealer Bob Jones was quick to point out he never taught English.)
With an old-time front wheel between the legs shotgun start, the Third Annual Mini Mountain GP was launched. Small bikes on a big track made for more service work back at the shop as the four-lap main events were more than enough to cook a few clutches (and bodies). The mile+ course consisted of a combination of a half Hare Scrambles/half Grass Track/all fun format.
The "big" battle of the day came in the hotly contested 110 class. Local MX star Jacob Cullen pulled the holeshot, followed closely by J&W-sponsored Kurtis Reed and last year's winner, John Struckhoff. The bar-banging action raged throughout all four laps, but when the checkered flag was thrown, John Struckhoff once again took the overall victory, edging Justin Daniels and the crestfallen Cullen in third.
"Great racing, great food and great friends!" said one of the big kids responsible for the mayhem (remember, we are trying to protect the innocent). "See ya next year!" Well, just so long as nobody tells the dealer principal that half his staff was out playing hooky and racing minibikes when they should have been working, that is. -- Doug Jones.
Se Habla "Bombardier"
Canadian Company Moves South Of The Border
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) is transferring vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing operations for all of its ATVs well south of the border by moving to Juarez, Mexico. Company execs assert that external pressures brought on by a strong Canadian dollar and increasing Asian competition drove the company to turn to a low-cost country to increase profitability. "BRP is committed to the ATV business and to maintaining a solid value proposition for our dealer network," explains BRP president/CEO José Boisjoli. "Our goal is to continue manufacturing while increasing profitability and becoming more competitive. We looked at various scenarios and transferring our operations to Mexico just made more sense."
The move calls for a $30 million investment over the next three years, with BRP and Rotax (which manufactures the engines powering BRP's recreational vehicles), jointly establishing a facility in Mexico to build ATV engines. Bombardier claims the decision will have no impact on BRP's Canadian workforce in 2006. However, it is expected that 150 jobs will be lost in 2007 and another 150 by 2008 at the company's Valcourt, Quebec facilities.
Speaking Of BRP. . .
In another far-reaching move, BRP has struck a deal with Malaysian petroleum giant PETRONAS to develop a range of high performance powerplants. According to the official announcement, "Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) and Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) have signed a joint development agreement to design, develop and commercialize a family of high-performance engines." However this joint venture with BRP's Rotax engine arm will come into play even sooner than their move of ATV production to Mexico -- can you say effective immediately? "Under the terms of the agreement, BRP-Rotax will carry out the work in its Gunskirchen, Austria facility starting November 2005."
Although not that well known in the North American market (except for fans of English racer-turned racebike builder Carl Fogarty), PETRONAS has a history of vehicle production beyond its petroleum producing roots. They also have the financial wherewithal to make a new range of motorcycles powered by the engine they are working with BRP-Rotax on a reality: PETRONAS is one of the world's largest oil and gas companies. The Malaysian operation netted $9.4 billion in 2004 and 2005 alone! It may not be all that long before we start seeing PETRONAS dealerships selling Mexican-made ATVs in the U.S. -- hey, it could happen.
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Foreign Correspondence
The Rocketeer
If Triumph's Rocket III mega-cruiser isn't quite enough for your customers, then maybe your real high-rollers would have their wallets tickled by this British-made trike, based around the Triumph motor and front end. Grinnall Cars in Worcestershire (http://www.grinnallcars.com) have been making exotic trikes for some 15 years now, and their new R3T features a custom exhaust, rear bodywork, independently sprung rear axle, wide wheels from Image, Brembo rear brakes and a slightly re-positioned set of Triumph forks, enabling the trike to turn in a tight circle, yet maintain stability at speed. I test rode (drove?) the R3T for a day around the local roads, and apart from not having reverse gear, which is handy for parking, the trike was impressively rapid, braked well even on bumpy lanes and was a bit of a hoot sliding sideways out of corners. Top fun comes at a price however, which is some £22,000 sterling, or about $40,000 in U.S. currency. Trike supremo Mark Grinnall says the company is now looking for a few U.S. agents/dealers to promote their three-wheeled toys. E-mail [email protected] for details.
Slick
Just in time for this issue's look at oils and lubes, Morris Oils, an independent lubricant manufacturer based in England, recently launched new 2- and 4-stroke competition/road oils for roadracing and MX/enduro machines. The Morris Race MX2 oil is a fully synthetic, pre-mix type lube, aimed at serious off-road competition use. There are also Race MX4 and Action MX4 oils in the lineup as well, with 10W-40 ratings, low viscosity and multi-grade characteristics that make the lubricants ideal for irregular use or short trips. A one liter pack of MX2 Race oil retails in the U.K. for around £12.60, with the trade price being just £7.15, offering a healthy margin for dealers over here. Click on http://www.morrislubricants.co.uk to find out more about Morris or call their new U.S. agent, Classic Oil Supply, at (804) 261-4140.
Inside The Numbers
An inside look at the European sales numbers has been released by ACEM (an OEM association based in France). They collated data on the manufacture of mopeds and motorcycles within Europe, plus registrations of new motorcycles and the renewed registration of used bikes through 2004. The total new registrations of motorcycles above 50cc, for all 25 EU-member states in 2004 was 1.2 million units. Actually the true overall figure is probably lacking perhaps another 30,000 to 50,000 units, as several new EU states such as Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary and Poland did not provide data to ACEM. Of the markets tracked, Italy was the largest, with 420,000 units sold last year, followed by France, then Germany.
In addition to motorcycle sales, some 600,000 moped/scooters under 50cc were registered, with the majority of these being in Italy, Spain, France and Germany. According to ACEM, there are 5.9 million mopeds registered for use in Italy alone, with another 2 million in Spain -- all 50cc tuning kit manufacturers take note! When it comes to motorcycles in use, Italy again leads the pack with 4.3 million, followed by Germany with 3.7 million. Some way behind are Spain, France and the U.K., all hovering in the 1 million to 1.5 million range. Surprisingly, the Czech Republic has 750,000 motorcycles registered for use -- it is also the most prosperous of all the new Eastern Europe EU states.
Sales Snippets
Whoop-de-do for your Subaru? St. Leger, a dealership in Doncaster, England, is a unique Harley franchise in that they sell Subaru cars, too. The new premises represent an investment of £2m ($3.8 million in American money) for South Yorkshire's only authorised Harley-Davidson dealership, originally established two years ago at another location. Dealer principal John Cooke believes there is a synergy between the two high-image brands. "Both Subaru and Harley-Davidson have a strong following among people who appreciate fine engineering, and we expect some cross-over business as a result." The move is significant in the U.K., as this is the first time Harley is believed to have allowed cars to be sold alongside their motorcycles on the same site, albeit separated by a café facility within the store.
Speaking of U.K. sales, more good riding days this past summer helped drive motorcycle sales up by 6% in August alone. The Sport Touring sector experienced a revival following a slow spring as sales in this niche were up 10%. Adventure riding is still benefiting from the Long Way Round TV show, starring Ewan McGregor on his BMW, and has sustained its lead as the biggest growing sector in recent months with a 32% increase. Naked bike sales continue to grow, up 17%, and even custom bikes have shown some continued growth, achieving a 6% increase through last summer. Even with the fall slowdown, sales for the whole of 2005 should remain positive.
Lane Changes
The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI is similar to the MIC in the U.S.) has a new president. Former transport minister David Jamieson replaces outgoing MCI president Stephen Norris who is retiring after a five-year stint. Somewhat surprisingly, Norris was one of the longest serving presidents in MCI's 95-year history, but Jamieson is expected to fill his boots just fine. "As a fair-minded minister, he did much to allow a sensible policy debate about motorcycling to take place during the previous Parliament," notes MCI chairman Harley-Davidson U.K.'s Garry Brumfitt. "His experience and insight will be extremely valuable to the industry."
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V-Twin News
Thrill Ride Takes A Shot With Jack
Jack Daniels Branded Accessories Introduced
Apparel upstart Thrill Ride Sports has expanded into hard parts with an array of chrome and bolt-on accessories featuring the famous Jack Daniel's logos. "I got the inspiration for doing Jack Daniel's accessories after I kept seeing customized Jack Daniel's bikes showing up at all the bike events," says Thrill Ride boss Rick Miller. "The interest level was very high for these bikes, and I thought it would be a great compliment to the Jack Daniel's Rider Apparel Collection."
Miller is no stranger to hard parts -- he lead the Harley-Davidson accessory department in the late '70s and early '80s where he launched the Eagle Iron and Screamin' Eagle lines of accessories, before going into apparel at IFW. The new line of Jack Daniel's accessories will initially include derby covers, timing covers, air cleaner inserts, grips, handlebar clamps, and some medallions.
Harley-Davidson Recalls 13,400 Dynas
Harley-Davidson has issued a voluntary safety recall on all 2006 model year Dyna series bikes built between June 9 and October 19, 2005. Approximately 13,400 H-D motorcycles are included in the recall. Apparently the transmissions in the affected motorcycles have a defect which may allow the bikes to go into a false neutral position, even though the neutral indicator light is illuminated. The Motor Company estimates that the costs associated with this voluntary recall will be less than $5 million, and it will reserve these costs in the fourth quarter financials for 2005.
Hammer Hits The Mark
The Victory Hammer has been named the "2005 Cruiser Of the Year" by Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine. "The Hammer's distinctive styling and fat rear tire have caught a lot of attention since we began shipping units earlier this year," said Victory's Mark Blackwell (see news of his recent promotion on page 18). "But it's the bike's distinctive styling, 100 cubic-inch engine with six-speed overdrive and all the power our riders demand that make the Hammer an exceptional motorcycle. Motorcycle Cruiser's decision to honor the Hammer is very exciting, and it continues to build credibility for Victory as a rising player in the motorcycle industry."
American IronHorse Hits 10 Year Mark
IronHorse Dealers Honored
American IronHorse kicked off its yearlong birthday celebration at Biketoberfest with a concert featuring Foreigner. Other birthday plans for the coming year include the roll-out of a new riders group and a road tour of special events. In addition, AIH has released a special anniversary edition Texas Chopper.
"We are very proud of the company's achievements over the past 10 years," says company CEO Wil Garland. "As we hit the 10-year mark, we want to look back and recognize our founders, customers, our dealers and the countless individuals and companies that have helped American IronHorse come this far." Garland adds, "We also want to look forward in 2006. We anticipate another record year in every measured category, including production, dealer sales and profitability."
AIH started things off by recognizing some of the dealers contributing to the company's decade of success, including East Coast IronHorse which was named the #1 retailer for 2005. The Charleston, South Carolina shop also earned top honors in the new, eight-member Gold Club Dealers program.
Garland presented the award and unveiled the Gold Club Dealer program at the company's annual dealer meeting, noting that its members distinguished themselves by their commitment to excellence.
"We build the best choppers and cruisers in the world, but our dealers are the folks who bring people into our brand and turn them into loyal customers," says Garland. "The Gold Club members have raised the bar for our entire dealer network through their dedication to sales, service and customer satisfaction." In addition, the Best New Dealer Award for 2005 was shared by IronHorse of San Antonio (Texas), San Diego IronHorse and Tennesse Motorsports, with locations in Knoxville and Cool Springs.
All Balls Hits
V-Twin Expo
Power Sport Industries, Inc., the parent company of the All Balls Racing product line, will display its entire V-Twin product selection at the 2006 V-Twin Expo by Easyriders (Booth 451). Perhaps best known for its bearing kits, the company now features a small, but compelling line of products for the V-Twin marketplace, all of which will be on display for the first time in Cincinnati this spring.
Rolling Art
Pro-One Rolls Out '06 Choppers
Pro-One calls their newest generation of custom motorcycles, "nothing short of rolling art."
This next generation of Pro-One Custom Motorcyces will be based on four of the company's most popular kit bikes. The Hyper-Quad Chopper, Hyper-Quad Pro Street, Dominator Softail Chopper and Dominator Softail Pro Street, offer consumers a selection of unique options. Pro One makes their own Pro-Quad and softail-style frames, not to mention front forks, exotic custom bars, rugged steel tanks and fenders, custom wiring harnesses, oil tanks, leather seats and even their own custom designed exhausts. TP powerplants -- designed specifically for use in Pro-One Customs -- are about the only item sourced for outside. According to Pro-One, these bikes meet all DOT/EPA regulations, and will be listed in the Kelly Blue Book. Pro-One is now accepting applications for a limited number of dealers. If you're interested in becoming a dealer call Pro-One at (800) 884-4173 or click on http://www.pro-one.com.
Shifting Gears
Doug Stuhlsatz has been named vice president, administration at Big Dog Motorcycles. "Over the past year, Doug has evolved from focusing on only legal issues to making significant contributions in other operations of the company," says Big Dog founder/CEO Sheldon Coleman. "He brings an impressive depth of management and leadership to human resources, apparel, dealer development and compliance, and other operational issues. His insightful analysis, and business and strategic discernment make him ideally suited for this new title." Stuhlsatz previously served as the company's general counsel.
Erin Rucker has taken a step up in the family business, being promoted to chief operations officer of Rucker Performance. "Erin provides the continuation of our family-style management and shows a commitment to our customers, vendors and employees," says proud pop and company president Bill Rucker. "Erin's background in the motorcycle business has increased her abilities to direct her staff and develop a smooth operation." Erin led the company as acting CEO managing the business and producing strong sales during its first year while Bill recovered from a motorcycle accident.
American IronHorse has a whole herd of personnel posting starting with the news of Lindsay Chandler's appointment as assistant marketing director. Chandler holds both an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Information Systems from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Chandler has been with AIH for more than two years serving in various accounting and information systems positions.
Meanwhile, Courtney Reinhard has been hired as a marketing assistant at AIH. She holds a bachelor of business administration in marketing from North Texas University.
In addition, Cortney Strauss has been named AIH's marketing administrator. She has five years prior experience planning trade shows and promoting gifts and accessories.
Last, but certainly not least, AIH has tapped Jason Beltran as graphic designer to handle all print and electronic collateral communications. Beltran is a student at the University of North Texas pursuing an MBA in marketing. Back to top
Business Briefs
With all the big news surrounding the KTM and Polaris partnership, it is interesting to note that KTM North America, Inc. ended its 2005 fiscal year with by exceeding 21,000 unit sales and had turnover topping $100 million. This concludes a 10-year growth period where KTM's North American sales averaged a nearly 20% annual increase.
To jump-start the new year, Yuasa has recharged its battery website, incorporating a dealer locator and offering FAQs as a one-stop resource for the powersports industry. "We've made it easier to find information for each type of vehicle," says Brian Harris, Yuasa's VP of business development. "The site's design provides consumers and dealers alike with an easily navigable reference point with all the necessary powersport battery information, which now establishes Yuasa as a leader on the Internet." Click on http://www.yuasabatteries.com for details.
Speaking of websites, Ingersoll-Rand has revamped its site to encompass all its tools, pumps, air compressors, etc. into a single easy-to-use source. Punch http://www.irtools.com into your browser to see their new one-stop shop for industrial tools.
The Japanese OEMs are using production facilities in China and other countries to supplement their exports to worldwide markets. Product costs are low and quality is improving in their subsidiaries, so the Big Four are increasingly using them as bases for exporting to industrialized nations like the U.S. and Europe. Case in point, Yamaha launched the TT-R50E with the 50cc engine manufactured by its Chinese arm. Initial plans called for 15,000 units to be exported to the U.S. through December 2005, according to The Nihon Keizai Shimbun. The Japanese paper suggests that Yamaha intended to boost exports of motorcycles from overseas production sites to other countries by 40% for fiscal year 2005 (roughly 310,000 units). Meanwhile, Kawasaki has started exporting motorcycles made by an Indian partner company to South America. The target is 5,000 units as Kawasaki looks to bolster brand image in countries like Brazil, where the market is expanding. Meanwhile, Honda exported 570,000 motorcycles from foreign subsidiaries in 2004, or about 5% of its global production. Suzuki doubled exports of motorcycles from China and other countries to nearly 150,000 vehicles over the previous year. Suzuki is currently expanding exports from China to Nigeria and other African nations, in addition to Central and South American countries and Indonesia, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun report.
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Shifting Gears
Former Husqvarna, Suzuki and Arctic Cat exec Mark Blackwell has been tabbed to handle international operations for Victory. Blackwell has been promoted from GM to VP Victory Motorcycles & International Operations. "Mark has done an outstanding job over the past four years building a very strong team, developing new, compelling product and establishing Victory as a legitimate brand positioned for significant growth in the motorcycle industry," says Polaris president/COO Bennett Morgan. "There are many reasons why this is a good move for Mark and Polaris -- he is a proven leader with strong international experience running businesses and as a motocross champion early in his career. His experience will be a huge asset in our developing partnership with KTM."
In a related move, former Triumph exec Allan Hurd has been promoted to the Victory GM spot and now reports to Blackwell. "Although we do want Mark to have a key role in Victory Motorcycles going forward, we also want to ensure that he has sufficient time to focus on the International business," explains Morgan. An industry veteran with 30+ years of experience, Hurd joined Polaris in 2000 as director of engineering for Victory. "He understands our competition and has extensive experience in Europe and other parts of the world," adds Morgan.
Meanwhile, Marc Tullemans is Polaris' new international operations manager. He is responsible for managing the international staff based in Medina and overseeing global logistics, marketing and retail development processes. Tullemans started with Polaris as the Ranger product manager back in 2001, and later moved to the international team as global sales and dealer development manager. Prior to Polaris, Tullemans was with Arctic Cat.
In more Polaris personnel postings, Paul Tomsche was promoted to international business development and distributor sales manager, reporting to Tullemans. Tomsche was originally Polaris' PWC retail development manager. Prior to Polaris, he had a number of sales, marketing, dealer development and business management positions with Yamaha. Interim international go-to guy, John Corness, now returns to his "real" job as VP of human resources. "John stepped up and filled a key gap for Polaris at an important time," notes Morgan. "During his leadership, the international team continued to deliver outstanding growth, and we thank him for his tireless efforts."
With the untimely passing of Rod Bush and the new joint venture opportunities with Polaris, KTM has also experienced plenty of staff re-positioning. Former VP of finance Jon-Erik Burleson is now the president, responsible for all U.S. and Canadian operations including sales, marketing, parts/accessory distribution, administration and finance. Son of legendary Enduro rider dingle Burleson, Jon-Erik literally grew up in the motorcycle business and has been on KTM North America's board of directors since 2003.
Speaking of KTM's board, Winfried Kerschhaggl joins the KTM North America team as both a board member and as VP. "Winni" as he is better known, has been a member of the KTM Sportmotorcycle's Austrian executive management team since 1999, most recently serving as the company's worldwide marketing director. He also assumed a new role for KTM Austria as strategic product planner and is responsible for future development of the KTM model line, including bikes like the new 950 Super Enduro and the upcoming ATV racing quads that are already in the works.
At the same time new business development director John Zolikoff also joins KTM's board of directors. In addition to managing new business opportunities for KTM North America, Zolikoff is focusing on further developing the strategic partnership between KTM and the Polaris/Victory group.
And in one more KTM quip, Jakob Branner has been named vice president of KTM North America. Branner is responsible for coordinating KTM production planning with U.S. and Canadian model year sales plans and dealer order deliveries. Jakob has been an integral part of the KTM North America team since 2000 with responsibility in both finance and sales planning.
On the aftermarket side of things, Sudco has also staffed up, adding Andy Schwartz and Rudy Miyamura. Industry veteran Miyamura is Sudco's new R&D manager after 16 years with K&L Supply and another 10 years experience in the trenches as a technician for multiple Kawasaki dealerships. Schwartz steps into the role of national sales manager after a stint with Galfer. During his tenure with the brake company, he handled dual roles as both bicycle division manager and domestic manufacturing director. Spread over 20 years, Schwartz's stints with Triumph Motorcycles, Vespa, Wheeler Bicycles, and I. Martin Imports should serve Sudco in good stead.
Flame out? Mike Danger has moved on from Scorpion Sports for a full-time career in pyrotechnics. However the upstart helmet company is still heating things up by adding the Twin Peaks rep group in Colorado and additional reps in the East and Midwest regions, bringing their sales force to more than 25 dedicated reps. "Our growth curve is phenomenal," says Chief Scorpion Eric Anderson. "We sold as many helmets in 2005 as we had planned for in 2006!"
Motorcycle Industry News
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darthrider
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Motorcycle Industry News
Dave
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I've spent most of my life on motorcycles, the rest I've just wasted...
#226
I've spent most of my life on motorcycles, the rest I've just wasted...
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DJ Downunder
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Thanks Dave...any news on Pukka???....
http://pukkausa.com/ ......
.....and maybe skyrocket him tp stardom....
I'd love a job like that..
DJ
http://pukkausa.com/ ......
I hope his new career goes off ok.....Flame out? Mike Danger has moved on from Scorpion Sports for a full-time career in pyrotechnics
.....and maybe skyrocket him tp stardom.... I'd love a job like that..
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darthrider
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darthrider
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So... if it's not a slipper clutch, then what's trick about it?Meanwhile on the aftermarket side, we had a chance to tour the STM facility the day before the show started and despite the misnomer of it being a "slipper" clutch, we can report that it is definitely worth a closer look. Currently distributed by Lockhart Phillips for the streetbike market and FMF for the dirtbike/Supermoto side, look for distribution giant Parts Unlimited to be adding STM's trick clutch by Indy.
Not that I'm interested in a slipper clutch myself. Using tips from guys on this board (Andy from Poland among them) I've mastered blipping while braking failly well. Sure would be neat to have on the race car though
We've got a new sequential gearbox this year, so why can't we have a slipper clutch? Is the technology not transferable? Sorry for the hi-jack.
George
Member #191
Carpe momentum... y'all
Carpe momentum... y'all
