New motorcycle registrations in Spain were down by -26.41% in July (ANESDOR) at 17,524 units, but were still running at +11.70% (99,514 units) for the first seven months of 2021. That is around 10k units ahead of the same period of 2020, but 10k behind the same period in 2019 - the best first seven-month market performance in Spain since before the 2007/2009 financial crisis. Total new PTW registrations in Spain for the period (all Powered Two-Wheeler vehicles) were +9.71% (109,916 units).
After months, indeed years of speculation, Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has officially announced his retirement from motorcycle Grand Prix racing at the end of 2021. Over a career spanning more than a quarter of a century, Rossi won nine World Championships, took 115 wins and climbed the podium steps no less than 235 times. He remains the only competitor in history to win titles in the 125 cc, 250 cc, 500 cc and MotoGP classes. Known as 'VR46', his team will launch a MotoGP campaign in the 2022 season.
Pending "consultation," the UK has now confirmed 2035 as the end of the road for internal combustion engine PTW sales. It is acknowledged that PTWs only account for 0.4% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, but the deadline could be even sooner "if a faster transition appears feasible." There are presently 1.4 million PTWs licensed for road use in the UK, with an average age of just over 15 years.
Best known as the MIC's AIMExpo 'Chosen One', Cinnamon Kernes has a new role as Vice President of Market Expansion. As the MIC seeks to build momentum to get more riders riding more, Kernes will lead and develop a new multifaceted program, Ride With Us. With more than two decades in powersports, Kernes helped launch AIMExpo in 2011. Most recently she served as the Vice President of Marketing and Events for the MIC, developing the "foundational components currently being deployed in the Ride With Us program."
PSB reports that Steve and Anne Deli of American Road Group (ARG), have acquired Wildcat Harley-Davidson in London, Kentucky, from previous owner Scott Maddux - taking their network to six locations. The name will be retained. Existing ARG stores include White Mountain H-D (North Conway, NH); Laconia H-D (Meredith, NH); Orlando H-D (South, Kissimmee, FL); East Orlando and Orlando H-D Historic Factory (Orlando, FL). Steve Deli, ARG CEO, led the recapitalization and then IPO of Harley in the 1980s when he was an investment banker for Dean Witter Reynolds. He is credited by Harley by being among Harley's "saviors" and is featured at the H-D Museum in Milwaukee. He also started H-DFS before becoming a 'mega-dealer' - he and his wife started ARG in 2000. Anne Deli grew up in Milwaukee, next door to Bill Harley, and was an influential VP and Head of Global Marketing at the Motor Company, credited with doing much to set the foundations of the post AMF and near death experience brand values that served Harley so well.
In the United States, the U.S. Court of Federal Appeals for the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) has struck down an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling allowing year-round E15 fuel sales on the basis that the 2019 EPA rule "overstepped congressional authority." The rule allowed for the sale of a 15% ethanol gasoline blend during the summer months but concluded that the Trump-era waiver fell out of the administration's legal jurisdiction. The lawsuit was brought by the AMA and other stakeholders. The AMA opposes further expansion of E15 fuel in the marketplace, as none of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles in use in the United States are approved by the EPA to operate on ethanol blends higher than 10%. Using higher ethanol blends in those vehicles is illegal and may cause engine and fuel system damage and void the manufacturer's warranty.
Former Tucker Rocky, Biker's Choice and Tucker Powersports executive Steve Reed has joined Mentor, Ohio based Race Winning Brands (RWB) as Wiseco Brand Manager. Marking its 80th anniversary this year, Wiseco Performance Products is noted for its pistons and related components, and in the V-twin context especially for its 'Go-To' big bore kits.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com