THE BIGGEST MYSTERY OF THE PANDEMIC: MOTORCYCLES SALES SOAR
According to the MIC and Lightspeed DMS sales figures, motorcycles sales were up 60.7% in May of 2020 versus May of 2019. Average revenue for motorcycle shops jumped up 51% over last year, while parts sales jumped 16.4 %. The only negative number was in the service departments which were down 6%. In addition to seeIing impressive and mysterious sales numbers are reports that aftermarket suppliers, distributors and and accessories companies are having the biggest sales months of their history in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.
The most common explanation is that during the lockdown period, when people had nothing to do and no place to go, they turned to motorcycles for fun, exercise and a chance to get away from the world’s worries. Contributing on the street bike sales side was that public forms of transportation had been cut back in many regions and that commuters were wary of the crowded spaces of trains, planes and buses. Bikes represent a unique form of transportation that came with built-in social distancing.
The sales burst caught many motorcycle dealers off guard. They have reported selling out of lots of models, especially small play bikes, with no opportunity to refill their stories in a short time. No one predicted this and no one knows if it means a revival in motorcycling once the pandemic subsides.
WHAT’S NEW IN THE EUROPEAN ZOO: BIG GRAND PRIX CHANGES AFOOT
Trentino is one of four GPs that will be held in Italy in 2020.
An updated 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship was released on Friday, July 3, 2020 with a lot of surprises; Here is a quick list:
(1) NEW DATES: The new schedule boasts 15 confirmed GP races—down from 20 races at season’s start.
(2) TRIPLE HEADERS: Eight of those 15 races are being held at three tracks. The Kegums track in Latvia will host three GPs in seven days (Sunday, August 9, Wednesday, August 12 and Sunday, August 16). The Faenza track in Italy will have a double-header races on Wednesday, September 16, and Sunday, September 20. Lommel will host three consecutive GPs in Belgium on the same Sunday/Wednesday/Sunday cycle as Latvia on October 18, 21 and 25.
(3) SPECTATOR LIMITS: The first MXGP event, since the World Championship series was stopped after rounds one and two will be the AMA Supercross-like Latvian trio of races, but only 1000 spectators will be allowed to attend each of the three events.
(4) REJECTED NATIONS: Obviously with three nations taking up 8 of the 15 dates more half of the 2020 FIM World Motocross Championship will take place in three nations. Which countries got the axe? The Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Germany and, unless otherwise announced, Russia and Portugal don’t have dates and are iffy for 2020.
(5) MXDN ON THE MOVE: The 2020 Motocross des Nations at Ernee, France, has been canceled. It will move to England’s Matterley Basin track on the same ill-timed September 27th date. It is ill-timed because that date is in mid-season—with 7 GPs scheduled after it. Hardly the season-ending jubilee that the MXDN is known for.
(6) MXDN COMING TO AMERICA: Ernee will get the MXDN in 2023, but according to the MXGP organizers, Italy will have it in 2021 and the USA will get it in 2022.
(7) AMA FORMAT: For the 2020 season, the MXGP race day schedule will be changed to the AMA National schedule. The 450 and 250 GP classes will be held on one day with timed practice in the morning and the main races starting at 12 Noon. No more Saturday qualifying races for gate pick on Sunday.
REVISED 2020 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 1…Matterley, Great Britain (Held)
Mar. 8…Valkenswaard, Holland (Held)
Aug. 9…Kegums, Latvia
Aug. 12…Kegums, Latvia
Aug. 16…Kegums, Latvia
Sept. 6.…Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
Sept. 16…Faenza, Italy
Sept. 20…Faenza, Italy
Sept. 27…MXDN, Matterley, Great Britain
Oct. 4…Mantova, Italy
Oct. 11..Arroyomolinos, Spain
Oct. 18…Lommel, Belgium
Oct. 21…Lommel, Belgium
Oct. 25…Lommel, Belgium
Nov. 1…Trentino, Italy
Nov. 22…Neuquen, Argentina
BETTER THAN MULTI-COLORED GRAPHICS: A DECAL THAT ACTUALLY DOES SOMETHING
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INDIA NOW OWNS MOST OF THE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE BRANDS OF THE 1960s
NORTON
Norton, the iconic British motorcycle brand, was bought by TVS, one of India’s biggest two-wheel manufacturers. in an all-cash deal for $19.98 million dollars. The Indian firm took control of the 122-year-old brand and picked up where the cash strapped British management left off. TVS currently sells lots of mopeds, scooters and small displacement bikes in the Asian markets. It had previously partnered with BMW to manufacture the G310 GS and G310 models in India. The Norton Atlas, which was the model replaced by the Commando in 1962, is now the newest model in the Norton line-up and could be the first to see Indian production.
BSA
The Indian firm Mahindra has a subsidiary named Classic Legends Private Limited, and it acquired 100% of the BSA Company for $4.1 million. The $4 million purchase price seems outlandish, given that BSA licensing only returned $34,000 in apparel and marketing deals the year before. Mahindra is part of a growing trend for Indian-based companies to revive old brands for markets in Southeast Asia, South America and through partnerships with established Big Six companies (most notably KTM and Bajaj).
JAWA
Under communist rule after WWII, Jawa absorbed both ESO Motorycles and CZ under one umbrella company. But none of the three Czech brands could stay competitive and faded from the American scene. Mahindra signed a deal to build Jawa motorcycles at its facility in Pithampur. India has log history with Jawa going back to when Jawa India Ltd. produced Jawa-licensed street bikes for the 1960-70s domestic market, but after Jawa India folded Mahrindra’s Classic Legends bought the rights to the Jawa name in India and used the already in service Mahindra Mojo engine to power the bikes that were built in a former Honda factory in Pithampur —now run by Mahindra.
ROYAL ENFIELD
From 1901 to 1970 Royal Enfield was a British brand. It sold millions of motorcycles and even licensed their designs to other countries, including India, which produced copies of several famous Royal Enfield models, most notably the Bullet, for the Commonwealth market. During the decline of the British motorcycle business in 1970, Royal Enfield went out of business. Except, no one noticed that the India licensee kept right on producing Royal Enfields in the droves. Today, 45 years after Royal Enfield folded in England, the Indian firm sells 300,000 Royal Enfield machines a year.
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MOTOGP RACER ANDREA DOVIZIOSO BREAKS COLLARBONE AT MOTOCROSS RACE
Ducati factory road racer Andrea Dovizioso sustained a left collarbone injury at the Monte Coralli motocross track in Faenza province, Italy. Like many Italian road racer,s including Valentiono Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso likes to race motocross and reportedly was given permission by Ducati to attend the race—although there are reports that the higher-upa at Ducati had no idea that he was doing it. Andrea hopes to be ready for the first round of the 2020 MotoGP scheduled on July 19 at Jerez de la Frontera. To get back on his bike as soon as possible, Dovizioso, had immediate surgery to put a plate on the injured collarbone to speed up his recuperation in time for the first 2020 MotoGP race in Jerez.
Andrea Dovizioso said, “The surgery went well, and I want to thank all the medical team that did the operation so quickly. I don’t feel much pain, and that makes me very optimistic. I came home this morning, and during the afternoon, I will plan my rehabilitation. I am confident that in these weeks I will be able to recover and that I will be in full shape in time for the first 2020 GP in Jerez.”
Dr. Giuseppe Porcellini said, “We proceeded with the internal fixation of a plate with six screws with anatomic reduction and, from a mechanical point of view, we are delighted with the outcome of the operation. I want to thank the Direction of the Policlinico di Modena that made the operating room available in three hours, and all the staff who made possible to perform the surgery quickly.”
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MXA AD OF THE WEEK: AT FIRST GLANCE…
CLASSIC MOTOCROSS PHOTO: WHEN TRAVIS WAS THE KING OF THE X GAMES
CELEBRATE THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAY BOYS & THE 4TH OF JULY
July 3…Steve Stackable 1954
July 3…Jacky Martens 1963
July 3…Paul Carpenter 1981
July 4…Billy Mackenzie 1984
July 4…Scott Champion 1989
July 5…Kyle Cunningham 1989
EVERY 2020 AMA SUPERCROSS WINNER AT A GLANCE
Venue 450 250
1. Anaheim 1…………………Justin Barcia………..Justin Cooper (West)
2. St. Louis…………………….Ken Roczen…………..Austin Forkner (West)
3. Anaheim 2………………..Eli Tomac………………Dylan Ferrandis (West)
4. Glendale…………………..Ken Roczen…………..Austin Forkner (West)
5. Oakland……………………Eli Tomac……………….Dylan Ferrandis (West)
6. San Diego…………………Cooper Webb……….Dylan Ferrandis (West)
7. Tampa……………………….Eli Tomac……………….Shane McElrath (East)
8. Arlington………………….Eli Tomac……………….Chase Sexton (East)
9. Atlanta……………………..Ken Roczen…………….Chase Sexton (East)
10. Daytona…………………Eli Tomac………………..Garrett Marchbanks (East)
11. Salt Lake City #1……Eli Tomac………………..Shane McElrath (East)
12. Salt Lake City #2……Cooper Webb…………Shane McElrath (East)
13. Salt Lake City #3…….Eli Tomac………………Chase Sexton (East)
14. Salt Lake City #4...…..Eli Tomac……………….Austin Forkner (West)
15. Salt Lake City #5…….Ken Roczen…………….Austin Forkner (West)
16. Salt Lake City #6……..Cooper Webb……….Chase Sexton (East)
17. Salt Lake City #7……..Zach Osborne………Chase Sexton (East)
450 Supercross Champion…Eli Tomac
250 West Champion…Dylan Ferrandis
250 EastChampion…Chase Sexton
IN THE BOOKS: FINAL AMA SUPERCROSS POINT STANDINGS
FINAL 2020 AMA 450 SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(after 17 of 17 events)
1. Eli Tomac (Kaw)…384
2. Cooper Webb (KTM)…359
2. Ken Roczen (Hon)…354
4. Jason Anderson (Hus)…287
5. Justin Barcia (Yam)…272
6. Zach Osborne (Hus)…252
7. Malcolm Stewart (Hon)…252
8. Dean Wilson (Hus)…239
9. Justin Brayton (Hon)…227
10. Justin Hill (Hon)…213
FINAL 2020 AMA 250 EAST SUPERCROSS POINTS STANDINGS
(after 9 of 9 events)
1. Chase Sexton (Hon)…218
2. Shane McElrath (Yam)…209
3. Jo Shimoda (Hon)…122
4. Garrett Marchbanks (Kaw)…119
5. Enzo Lopes (Yam)…107
6. Jeremy Martin (Hon)…105
7. Jalek Swoll (Hus)…104
8. Kyle Peters (Hon)…94
9. Pierce Brown (KTM)…92
10. R.J. Hampshire (Hon)…80
FINAL AMA 250 WEST SUPERCROSS STANDINGS
(After 9 of 9 rounds)
1. Dylan Ferrandis (Yam)…200
3. Justin Cooper (Yam)…180
3. Austin Forkner (Kaw)…176
4. Brandon Hartranft (KTM)…158
5. Michael Mosiman (Hus)…139
6. Alex Martin (Suz)…124
7. Derek Drake (KTM)…120
8. Mitchell Oldenburg (Hon)…109
9. Luke Clout (Hon)…106
10. Jett Lawrence (Hon)…97
PASHA 125 OPEN TWO-STROKE RACE ON JULY 12 AT GLEN HELEN
2020 GREAT PLAINS VINTAGE MOTOCROSS SERIES: JULY 19, AUG. 9 & OCT. 11
THE 32:1 PREMIX CLASSIC COMING TO LAST CHANCE RACEWAY ON SEPT. 11-13
2020 WISECO WORLD TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 3, 2020
40TH ANNUAL CZ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 9-10 AT MARYSVILLE
36TH ANNUAL WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ON NOVEMBER 6-8: START PLANNING NOW
AIM EXPO CHANGES ITS DEALER SHOW FROM OCTOBER TO JANUARY, 2021, IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
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THE EVER CHANGING 2020 RACE SCHEDULES
TENTATIVE AMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
TBA…Crawfordsville, IN
TBA..Jacksonville, FL
TBA…Washougal, WA
TBA…Mt. Morris, PA
TBA…Southwick, MA
TBA…Red Bud, MI
TBA…Lakewood, CO
TBA…Unadilla, NY
TBA…Hurricane Mills, TN
TBA…Millville, MN
TBA…Budds Creek, MD
TBA…Pala, CA
REVISED 2020 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 1…Matterley, Great Britain (Held)
Mar. 8…Valkenswaard, Holland (Held)
Aug. 9…Kegums, Latvia
Aug. 12…Kegums, Latvia
Aug. 16…Kegums, Latvia
Sept. 6.…Afyonkarahisar, Turkey
Sept. 16…Faenza, Italy
Sept. 20…Faenza, Italy
Sept. 27…MXDN, Matterley, Great Britain
Oct. 4…Mantova, Italy
Oct. 11..Arroyomolinos, Spain
Oct. 18…Lommel, Belgium
Oct. 21…Lommel, Belgium
Oct. 25…Lommel, Belgium
Nov. 1…Trentino, Italy
Nov. 8…TBA, Indonesia
Nov. 22…Neuquen, Argentina
2020 FIM MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
Sept. 27.…Matterley Basin,Great Britain
REVISED 2020 CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
July 25-26…Courtland, ON
Aug…1-2…Chatsworth, ON
Aug. 15-16…Walton, ON
Aug. 29-30…Sand Del Lee, ON
Sept. 5-6….Deschambault, QC
REVISED 2020 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Aug. 9…Connondale. QLD
Aug. 6…Maitland, NSW
Sept. 16…Newry, VIC
Sept. 12…Horsham, VIC
Oct. 4…Gympie, QLD
Oct. 11…Coolum, QLD
2020 AMA NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Aug. 3-8….Hurricane Mills, TN
2020 WISECO WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Oct. 3…Glen Helen, CA
2020 MONSTER ENERGY CUP
Oct. 10…Carson, CA
REM OCTOBERCROSS
Oct. 31…Glen Helen, CA
2020 DUBYA WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 6-8…Glen Helen , CA