Motorcycle registrations were +7.55% at 119,210 units for the period to August 2022 in Spain - still a little below the 2019 figure, but ahead of 2020 and 2021.
As BRP's acquisition program continues at pace, with the company confirming the closing of its acquisition of the Shawinigan (Quebec) operations of Kongsberg Automotive. KA Shawinigan is described as "a leading player in the development and manufacturing of electronic and mechatronic products and a long-standing supplier of BRP. This acquisition is in line with BRP's product strategy, particularly as it relates to its electrification plan. It is expected to allow the company to gain further expertise in mechatronics and bolster its innovation capabilities." The deal will see over 300 people added to the BRP payroll.
Motorcycle registrations were +5.77% for the year to August 2022 in the UK at 78,216 units - the highest for the first eight months in the UK since 2016.
Ducati continues to boost its V4 superbike engine for more muscle, with the updated 2023 version pushing the platform to just over 240 horsepower. In fresh-off-the-showroom floor spec, it delivers 207 hp at 13,500 rpm. But in case that simply is not enough for you, then either get therapy, or add the race exhaust to the 998 cc Desmosedici Stradale R engine to boost output to 237 hp. Still not happy? Then how about a specially designed Shell engine oil, formulated to Ducati Corse specs, and you end up with max. power of 240.5 hp. Adrenaline anybody?
The U.S. team was victorious at the 2022 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Vantaa, Finland - the fifth such title won by Team USA. The seven-rider roster finished the event (which spanned August 26-28) with 17 points - edging out the host country Finnish team, which took second with 25 points. The Netherlands rounded out the podium with 26 points. This year marked Team USA's first appearance in the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship since 2019 and its first win since 2014. The FIM Junior Motocross World Championship hosts competitors between 11 and 17 years of age. Countries select their own best and brightest motocross stars to participate in individual classes and team events.
In August, BRP was hit by a ransomware cyber-attack that halted production. To preserve the integrity of its data and systems, the entire IT system was shut down. This resulted in the halting of production and inoperability of digital dealer/supplier interfaces including ordering, shipment tracking and warranty claims processing. Manufacturing was restarted on 8/15 at Valcourt, Rovaniemi, Sturtevant and Gunskirchen, facilities that produce snowmobiles, three-wheel vehicles, Switch and powertrains. The Mexico facilities, where ORV and PWC are produced, came back online the following week (8/22), though some facilities were not operating at full capacity for almost three weeks.
A 40-year powersports industry veteran (and Mount Everest summiteer), Robert Kay has sold his Star City Motorsports in Lincoln, Nebraska, to the Englewood, Colorado headquartered John Elway Powersports Group, and sold Platte River Harley-Davidson in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Steve and Jeff Hinchcliff. Kay had owned Star City for 25 years and added Platte River H-D in 2016. The transactions were handled by the Performance Brokerage Services team. The Elway Group established a Powersports Division in 2021 and already had four powersports dealerships in Colorado before this first Nebraska acquisition. The Hinchcliffs own multiple automotive dealerships and acquired Frontier H-D (Lincoln, Nebraska) in 2018, and Renegade H-D (Springfield, Missouri) in 2021.
Performance Brokerage Services has announced the sale of Cowboy Harley-Davidson and Cowboy Powersports from Sheila Umphrey and the late Walter Umphrey to Ed the Morse Automotive Group. The Cowboy H-D stores are located in Austin, San Antonio and Beaumont, Texas - along with Cowboy Powersports. Umphrey acquired the dealerships in 1999, and they will remain at their current locations.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com