American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 233 December 2018

NOW IN OUR ™ 27 EA th R Y T H E L E A D I N G B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L C U S T O M M O T O R C Y C L E A N D PA RT S I N D U S T RY Tucker and MAG Continue to Strengthen Management Teams as January’s Fort Worth Expo Nears ucker Powersports has announced the hiring of industry veteran Greg Blackwell to the new position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Blackwell adds 30 years of powersports experience with industry leaders such as KTM North America, LeMans Corporation, Metzeler Motorcycle Tire North America, and, most recently as President of MTA Distributing. Noting the Motorsport Aftermarket Group’s (MAG) strategy of hiring candidates with aftermarket or powersports credentials, interim CEO Buettner said that “we are aggressively hiring the best industry talent, and we’re thrilled to add Greg to our team. With his experience, he’ll hit the ground running and have an immediate impact. The velocity of change we are executing is necessary in this rapidly transforming industry.” The new role has been created following the September departure of Eric Cagle after two years as President. At the time, Buettner stated that “the change in direction represents a shift in philosophy T with a focus on better serving Tucker dealers and vendors.” True to Buettner’s stated aims, Blackwell’s role will be “focused on Industry veteran Greg Blackwell joins Tucker Powersports as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing building relationships, achieving Tucker’s sales and revenue goals, delivering an outstanding experience to dealers and growing market share through strategic partnerships.” Kenan Ikels, the current Vice President of Sales and Customer Support, will continue in his role and will report to Blackwell, with marketing becoming a separate functional group in the new organizational structure. “I’m really impressed with Tucker’s desire to grow their business and support their dealers,” said Blackwell. “My initial focus will be on meeting with key dealers, preparing for the January Dealer Show and planning programs that benefit Tucker dealers. The future is bright for Tucker and our partners.” Blackwell is a popular and widely respected motorcycle industry veteran, who is the “real deal” where being a rider is concerned. He is a passionate and accomplished street and off-road motorcycle rider and comes from a family with impeccable industry and riding credentials. His brother Mark Blackwell is an AMA Hall of Famer, winner of America’s first 500 cc national championship motocross race in 1972, a motocross school instructor, and was the midwife Continues on page 6 Bone X DEC 2018 ISSUE #233 FREE WITH THIS ISSUE 2019 Year Planner MILAN 2018 BAUMAN BROS JOIN AFT WRECKING CREW LONG BEACH THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ZODIAC ‘BIKERS BOOK’ Bizarre or brilliant? Everyone has an opinion about Omar Jumiran’s AJS 350 engined ‘Bone X’ – but the one opinion that everyone could agree on? Outstanding! See pages 32/33