NEWS
BRIEFS
MAG continues to refine its structure under group CEO Andy Graves with its various off-road businesses being consolidated into an off-road specific division . Based out of Chandler , Arizona , former Arctic Cat and Honda Motor Company executive Chris Lindstrom will be President of a MAG Off-Road Group that will combine MAG acquisitions DragonFire Racing ( Mesa , Az .) and Renthal ( UK ), with former Tucker Rocky brands QuadBoss , ProTaper and MSR Hard Parts .
Indian Motorcycle sold 205 units in Germany in the first four months of 2017 , which is some 21 percent down on 2016 for a 14th spot , 0.49 percent market share ; some 170 Victory models are reported as sold in the same period .
Harley recorded 6th spot in market share terms in the UK for April , ahead of some notable scalps ( in European terms ) including Suzuki , Ducati and KTM . They also scored 6th place in the small but custom-friendly Austrian market for the first quarter – only 215 bikes , but up on 2016 in a country where there is quality and strength among the aftermarket shop and builder community despite the strict regulations there .
Last month we reported how Polaris CEO Scott Wine ’ s annual compensation had fluctuated inline with the company ’ s financial fortunes – dropping from $ 8.8m in 2014 , to $ 7.1m in 2015 to $ 5.46m last year . Meanwhile Harley CEO Matt Levatich ’ s “ compensation ” package has gone the other way according to the Milwaukee board , from $ 5.4m in 2014 , to $ 6.5m in 2015 to a whopping $ 9.3m in 2016 .
Birmingham , Alabama based high-performance V4 premium sport touring bike manufacturer Motus ( the brainchild of Lee Conn and Brian Case ) say they are looking to expand their existing network of around 25 dealers to some 100 or so by the end of next year .
<<< Continued from cover been confirmed . This will be an AIMExpo debut ( as indoor exhibitors at least ) for both Harley-Davidson and Polaris ’ Motorcycle Division , and it is expected that in addition to giving a public debut to their MY2018 products , both manufacturers will join others in offering visitors brand experiential exhibits and new model demo rides in the show ’ s outdoor space .
In Harley ’ s case expect to see their booth showcase their static ‘ JumpStart ’ Rider Experience and to profile their investment into their stated long-term strategic objective of “ building ” two million new riders in the United States through their dealer based ‘ Riding Acadamy ’ training scheme - in addition to the first major tranche of CEO Matt
As this edition of AMD went to press a historic American Flat Track win streak remained in play following another win for Bryan Smith aboard his Indian Motorcycle Racing backed by Allstate Scout FTR750 in the 6th round of this year ’ s 18-race series over the Memorial Day Weekend . A packed house witnessed another close contest in the AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines as Smith edged out the No . 9 Indian Motorcycle Rogers Racing Scout FTR750 of ‘ Wrecking Crew ’ team mate Jared Mees , with the Yamaha FZ-07 of Sammy Halbert third ( who posted a 34.571 fastest lap with six to go ) in the Harley-Davidson Springfield Mile I at the Illinois State Fairgrounds . This was the first of the two milelong races staged at Springfield this year ( the series returns there for the Springfield Mile II on September 3rd ), and saw Smith take a third successive Mile win for the defending Grand National Champion ' s fourth race win in a row overall , making him just the fifth rider in series history to accomplish that feat . The Harley-Davidson XG750R riders looked to have closed the performance gap on their Indian FTR750 rivals after a disappointing start to the season
Steve Menneto , President , Polaris Motorcycle Division : “ The Polaris Motorcycle Division is pleased to join the Motorcycle Industry Council event - one that has created a world stage for American produced products . We ’ re looking forward to hosting dealers and consumers in Columbus this September ”
Levatich ’ s pledge to introduce 100 new models in that same 10-year time frame , with rumors continuing to suggest that the technology seen in the new M-8 engine introduced as a new touring platform for 2017 will star in new cruisers to replace the existing Softails and Dynas . At the time of the May announcement about Indian Motorcycles ’ participation , Larry Little , Vice President
so far . Kenny Coolbeth ( No . 2 Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Team XG750R ), Jake Johnson ( No . 5 ) and Brandon Robinson ( No . 44 ) were all battling in strong positions before a freak incident saw the hopes of all three brought to a premature end - just as the race was shaping up to be a significant uptick in form for the entire Harley-Davidson team . The third member of the Indian ‘ Wrecking Crew ’, Brad Baker on the No . 6 Indian Motorcycle Racing backed by Allstate Scout FTR750 , came in 4th behind a photo-finish that saw Smith given the nod by 0.005 of a
& General Manager of organizer MIC Events , said : “ The show ’ s platform was created to shine a spotlight on American industry as well as the world ’ s largest recreational powersports market . The European style two-day trade / two-day consumer attendance formula will mean all our 400 plus exhibitors will be appreciated by media , trade and consumer audiences alike .” www . aimexpousa . com
Bryan Smith gives Indian ‘ Wrecking Crew ’ a 6-from-6 win streak at the first of this year ’ s two Springfield Miles
second over Mees , with Halbert in third position , 0.039 seconds behind Mees to prevent another ‘ Wrecking Crew ’ podium sweep . Next up will be the fourth straight AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines Mile race with the Red Mile at Lexington , which will have taken place by the time you are able to read this ( Kentucky , on June 30 ; following that the series heads to the OKC Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle two weeks later ( June 17 ) at Remington Park , near Oklahoma City ; followed by the Lima Half Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle , June 24 ( Lima , Ohio ) and the Rolling Wheels half mile , July 8 , near Syracuse in upstate New York .
www . americanflattrack . com
8 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - JUNE 2017 www . AMDchampionship . com