International Dealer News IDN 148 April/May 2019 | Page 64

news ROOM
NEWS
BRIEFS
In addition to extending its formal
partnership with Honda Racing for
2019, Spanish parts and accessory
specialist Puig has renewed its
collaboration agreement with the
official Kawasaki WorldSBK team
for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Puig
has been the technical supplier of
the Kawasaki Racing Team during
the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Fort Worth, Texas based Tucker Power-
sports has announced that Tucker is to
distribute Lextek exhaust products. Based
in the United Kingdom, Lextek produces
"high-quality, low-cost exhaust products
that exceed customer expectations". The
company was voted "Motorcycle Product
Brand of the Year" two years running by
British Dealer News.
German accessory specialist SW-
Motech will be celebrating its 20th
anniversary with a 10th annual
Open House event at its
Rauschenberg headquarters in June
this year.
The Financial Times has reported that
London-based private equity group
Bridgepoint, owner of motorcycle racing
rights owner Dorna since 2006, has seen
off interested rivals who were bidding to
acquire the Spanish company by selling it
from one of its owned funds to another!
Following the appointment of bankers to
explore a potential sale - a bid process
that attracted the likes of CVC, Eurazeo,
Blackstone, General Atlantic and KKR -
Bridgepoint used the price set by the bid
process to sell Dorna from a fund it raised
in 2008 to a flagship fund it raised in
2017. Under the private equity model of
ownership, buyout funds are rarely able
to hold assets for more than a decade
and are forced to sell. It is the second
time Bridgepoint has moved Dorna
between funds, having initially done so a
couple of years after buying it in 2006 for
a reported $500m. Investors in
Bridgepoint's 2008 fund will receive
about three times their money if the deal
is completed, now valuing Dorna at more
than € 2.5bn.
64
HRC and Puig Hi-Tech Parts
extend partnership
Spanish specialist Puig Hi-Tech Parts
and HRC have agreed a two-year
extension to their current
collaboration. Puig and the Repsol
Honda team have worked together
since 2016 and in that time have taken
three MotoGP World Championship
titles together, including two Triple
Crowns in 2016 and 2018.
Based in Barcelona, Puig is one of the
largest accessory suppliers and has
been designing and manufacturing
motorcycle accessories since 1964,
exporting to over 60 countries. Using
3D simulation technology during the
development process allows for rapid
experimentation to help meet the
demands of racing, and the results
speak for themselves – the company is
internationally recognised for their
dedication to maintaining high
standards of design and
manufacturing in their accessories for
racers and road riders.
Tetsuhiro Kuwata, HRC's Director and
General Manager of their Race
Operations Management Division,
said: “Puig Hi-Tech Parts are one of
several important technical partners
we have. When it comes to supplying
parts for the Honda RC213V, we must
be able to guarantee the best quality,
and Puig are always able to deliver
this. They supply what we need and
fulfil our requests quickly. We at HRC
are very pleased to continue working
together.”
Puig Hi-Tech Parts' CEO Joan Puig
(seen on the right with Manager of the
HRC racing Team Alberto Puig) said:
"Working closely with HRC across
several seasons has provided us with
an opportunity to test materials,
design and manufacturing processes
which we then apply to our accessories
for road motorcycles. As a team, they
demand only the best and also often
need a quick production time, which
we are able and pleased to meet. I am
sure that we can continue to emulate
the success we have already achieved
together".
www.puig.tv
ICON Spring 2019 catalogue
With a new helmet, new racing
suit, new jackets and new
gloves "it's worth taking more
than just one look at the ICON
Spring 2019 catalogue", says
Germany based exclusive
distributor Parts Europe.
"If there is a manufacturer of
motorcycle clothing that has its
own style, it’s definitely ICON.
No matter if helmets, jackets or
boots - the designers from
Portland/USA always deliver
new impulses that are far from
being mainstream.
"The new ICON Spring
catalogue is packed with a lot
of new stuff for everyone. The
sporty rider will find a one-
piece leather suit called
Hypersport, and there are also
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - APRIL/MAY 2019
CE approved gloves
(compulsory in France).
"Also, the retro line ICON ONE
THOUSAND offers a new jacket
with matching pants called
'Nightbreed', which will be hard
to top in
terms of
their
simplicity.
"But the most
AIRFORM
exciting new
product is
definitely the new AIRFORM
helmet. It takes up the form of
the AIRFLITE shell, but it comes
with a more classical shield
emphasising the aggressive
look. The helmet is equipped
with an integrated sun shield as
standard and the rear spoilers
can be easily replaced by
different spoilers, for example
one with the same mirrored
design as the shield".
www.partseurope.eu
www.rideicon.com
www.idnmag.com