Sources : AMD , IDN , FT , Reuters , PSB , MPN , BDN , MCN , AP , Bloomberg , MSNW , Electrek , electricmotorcycles . news , RideApart . com , Motor1 . com , Cycle World , motorbikewriter . com
NEWS
BRIEFS
Honda Racing Corporation ( HRC ) in Sakura , Japan , and Honda Performance Development ( HPD ) in Santa Clarita , CA , have announced that HPD will formally become Honda Racing Corporation USA ( HRC US ) starting with the 2024 motorsports season . With this change , HRC U . S . will play an integral role in Honda ' s global motorsports activities , which includes contributing to the company ' s Formula One ( F1 ) program . HRC was established in Japan in 1982 as Honda ' s motorcycle racing arm and is recognized for more than 40 years of championship racing heritage in pinnacle global racing categories such as WGP / MotoGP , Superbike , Motocross , World Trial and the Paris Dakar Rally . In 2022 , HRC added auto racing , including Honda ' s F1 program to its responsibilities , with the Sakura Center dedicated to auto racing and Asaka Center focused on motorcycle racing . HPD was established by American Honda Motor Co ., Inc . in 1993 , as a separate racing arm to compete in the IndyCar series .
Based at its U . S . headquarters at Torrance , California , the American Honda Collection Hall is a 20,000-sq-ft museum " dedicated to Honda ’ s rich history in the United States . It
serves as an extension of the massive , multistory Honda Collection Hall located on the grounds of the Twin Ring Motegi racetrack in Tochigi , Japan . The products on display represent the more than six decades since American Honda Motor Co ., Inc . was established in 1959 as the first Honda company outside of Japan . The collection features 20 iconic Honda models , including the 1992 Honda NR750 - the only motorcycle ever made that used oval-shaped pistons .
In one of the international motorcycle industry ' s more predictable corporate outcomes , KTM parent company PIERER Mobility ( PM ) says it will acquire a majority stake in former Harley subsidiary MV Agusta in 2026 . KTM acquired a 25.1 % stake in MV Agusta in 2022 . MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov has insisted on multiple occasions that KTM wouldn ' t be taking over his company . However , PM has now announced that the call option granted to KTM AG on the basis of the annual financial statements as of December 31 , 2025 , to acquire a majority stake in MV Agusta , will be exercised in spring 2026 .
Mike Kennedy Appointed CEO at RumbleOn
RumbleOn , Inc . ( NASDAQ : RMBL ) has announced Michael " Mike " Kennedy as its new Chief Executive Officer effective November 1 - additionally joining the RumbleOn Board of Directors . Kennedy succeeds Mark Tkach , who has served as Interim Chief Executive Officer since June 2023 . An accomplished powersports industry veteran who brings over three decades of experience in strategy , commercial operations , financial management and manufacturing at leading powersports companies , Kennedy spent 26 years at Harley- Davidson , culminating in his role as Vice President & Managing Director , Americas from 2010 to 2017 . More recently , he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Vance & Hines ( 2019 to 2023 ), where he oversaw strong organic growth , margin expansion and value creation . " We are very excited to welcome Mike Kennedy as our CEO ," said Steve Pully , Executive Chairman of the RumbleOn Board of Directors . " After carefully considering a wide range of candidates , the Board is confident that Mike is the ideal choice to lead RumbleOn through its next chapter of growth and shareholder value
BSA Bantam , Lightning and Thunderbird Planned By Ben Purvis
The reintroduction of the BSA brand under the ownership of Indian automotive giant Mahindra has been quite subdued so far - with initial sales focusing on the UK market before expanding elsewhere - but the first model has already proved a success , and more are planned . Initially , BSA ' s offering is the singlecylinder Gold Star , using a 652 cc engine that ' s loosely related to the old Rotax motor used in the BMW F650 , and sales in the UK appear to have been strong , with the bike topping the charts in the ' modern classics ' category in March . Now there are hints at how BSA will follow up on the Gold Star , with new trademark applications being filed for rights to the ' Bantam ,' ' Thunderbolt ' and ' Lightning ' names . The Bantam name is perhaps the most familiar , having been part of the BSA range for more than two decades from 1948 to 1971 . Always a small-capacity single-cylinder offering , originally creation . Not only does Mike share the company ' s passion for powersports , but he is also a seasoned leader with a proven track record of driving significant positive transformation ." Outgoing Interim CEO Mark Tkach is quoted as stating : " I am thrilled to entrust the leadership of RumbleOn to Mike Kennedy , an executive who has a sustained history of delivering success in the powersport industry . We now have a remarkable depth of talent throughout our team , and I am confident that Mike ' s extensive knowledge and history of success in
derived from a DKW two-stroke design , the original provided an entrylevel step into the BSA range , and the new version is sure to do the same . While it certainly won ' t be a twostroke , Mahindra already has in-house options when it comes to making a smaller-capacity retro bike . The company owns the Jawa brand , offering 295 cc and 334 cc , retro-style singles that could easily become the basis for a cheaper , smaller BSA to rival bikes like Royal Enfield ' s 350 cc singles . Both the Thunderbolt and Lightning titles are also steeped in BSA heritage . The originals were both twin-cylinder , 650 cc bikes in the 1960s , sitting above the Gold Star in the range , and it makes sense for the new models to adopt a similar layout and position . Originally , the Lightning was a highperformance derivative of the Thunderbolt , and the fact that trademark applications for both names have been made
this industry makes him the right leader to unlock the value in RumbleOn for our shareholders . I am confident that Mike is the right choice to lead RumbleOn ." Mike Kennedy commented : " I am impressed with the recent transformation that began at RumbleOn in June of this year . I ' m extremely optimistic and excited about the opportunity to lead RumbleOn as its Chief Executive Officer and will continue the positive change that the current board and management have started . I ' ve known Mark Tkach and Bill Coulter since my time at Harley- Davidson . I ' m honored to have their confidence to lead RumbleOn ." RumbleOn claims the title of largest powersports retailer in North America , " offering a wide selection of new and used motorcycles , all-terrain vehicles , utility terrain vehicles , personal watercraft and other powersports products , including aftermarket products ." The company operates 55 retail locations , each equipped with fullservice departments , and five regional fulfillment centers - mostly through the Sun Belt of the United States . www . rumbleon . com
simultaneously hints that the same could apply to the next-generation machines . Since the current Gold Star already competes against Royal Enfield ' s 650 cc twin-cylinder bikes , despite being a single , any future Thunderbolt or Lightning is likely to be larger , potentially bringing the bikes into competition with Triumph ' s 900 cc Bonneville derivatives .
The current model Gold Star
16 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - DECEMBER 2023 www . AMDmag . com