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The AMA has announced the withdrawal of the USA team from the 2021 Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Motocross of Nations, slated for northern Italy on September 25-26. "A number of issues have contributed to the logistical difficulty of attending the 2021 Motocross of Nations, on both an individual and team level, and these have been exacerbated greatly by current and expected COVID-19 mitigation efforts surrounding the event," said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier. "Due to the sizeable financial risk faced by all the team stakeholders, and the unknowns in play here, we came to the unanimous conclusion that suspending our participation was the responsible decision. The AMA takes great pride in our efforts to compete in the Motocross of Nations each year, and we hope to bring back the Chamberlain Trophy to the U.S. once again in 2022." The USA last won the event in 2011.
Women's Motorcycle Tours (Alisa Clickenger) has named 'Final Salute' as the Official Charity for the Suffragists Centennial Motorcycle Ride and the Women's Motorcycle Festival & Conference at Arlington, Virginia, on August 19-22, 2021. Final Salute Inc. was founded in 2010 by a woman Veteran and cancer survivor who became aware of the many homeless women Veterans in the United States. She realized a need for an organization designed to meet and understand the unique needs of homeless women Veterans and their children. "Since the Revolutionary War, over 2,000,000 women have served with honor. They have fulfilled their obligations to their country. We need to support them during their time of need."
Ducati is now an Official Series Partner of MotoAmerica - sponsoring both the series and The GEICO Motorcycle Superbike Speedfest at Monterey that took place July 9-11. "Having Ducati back in the series as an official partner after 15 years being away is a big deal," said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey.
Arcimoto and Lightning Motorcycles have begun development of what is intended to be the fastest electric three-wheeled tilting motorcycle. NASDAQ listed Arcimoto bought Tilting Motor Works earlier this year - they describe their 'TRiO' (with optional TiltLock levelling system) as the leading tilting three-wheel conversion kit for touring motorcycles. The new model will be built on the platform of the Lightning LS 218 and outfitted with the patented tilting trike technology they acquired - they are eying the record for fastest three-wheel motorcycle at Bonneville.
Mentor, Ohio based Race Winning Brands (RWB - the owner of Wiseco Piston and Rekluse clutches among others) has acquired Mooresville, North Carolina based Victory 1 Performance - "a leading automotive supplier of manufactured and forged high-performance titanium and alloy valves." Victory represents the eighth add-on acquisition for RWB - a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries that is headed up by powersports industry veteran (ACCEL/Mr Gasket etc) Bob Bruegging as President.
AFT has upgraded this season's New York Short Track at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, New York, to be a doubleheader weekend, adding an additional round on Friday, August 13, to the previously scheduled round on Saturday, August 14. Included on the original, pre-pandemic 2020 schedule, the newly announced doubleheader helps to make up for last year's missed visit to NY while also returning the 2021 slate back up to the planned number 17 rounds following the weather-related cancellation of the Texas Half-Mile on the Get On! Moto Fest weekend in May.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com