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NEWS
BRIEFS
San Clemente , California based SP United USA Inc ., ( SP Connect - the fast-growing provider of smartphone cases and mounting systems ) has appointed Ryan Lewis as National Sales Manager for the Powersports division of SP Connect . His career includes spending 20 years witnessing the rise and ultimate fall of the Motorcycle Aftermarket Group ( MAG ) at close quarters - spearheaded both Sales and Supply Chain operations at various stages for acquired subsidiaries such as Vance & Hines , PM and Progressive Suspension . He reports to Gerry Samer , Global Sales Manager of SP Connect ; www . spconnect . com
Motorcycle sales were up for ten out of 12 months in Germany in 2023 . At 125,748 units and + 16.41 % YoY , it was the second-best year for the German market since before the 2007 / 2008 financial crisis . In total PTW ( Powered Two-Wheeler ) terms , 2023 was the best year for the German market since The Great Depression of 15 years ago , at a total of 215,501 units sold (+ 6.98 %). The pre-owned market saw 442,868 units change hands in Germany in 2023 . Among new units , the BMW R 1250 GS was the top-seller , with BMW retaining its market dominance with 23,978 units sold .
Polaris has released its 2023 ' Geared For Good Report ' detailing its " continued focus on operating in a responsible manner to support its employees , riders , communities where it operates and in the outdoors ." CEO Mike Speetzen says the four foundational pillars of its ' warm and fuzzy ' commitment to ' play nice ' are to Think Product , Think Production , Think Places and Think People . All that " thinking outside the box " will have been good practice !
Stefan Pierer continues his inexorable march towards global Powered Two-Wheeler ( PTW ) industry domination with news that PIERER Mobility (' PM ' - aka ' KTM ') is partnering with the well thought of Chinese made Zeeho electric scooter brand . Owned by Chinese giant and PM / KTM partner CF Moto , CFMOTO Motorcycles Distribution GmbH - an entity of PIERER Mobility AG - is to assume responsibility for importing and distributing Zeeho products across five key markets : UK , Germany , Austria , Switzerland and Spain ; www . zeehoeu . com
LeMans Hires Former H-D Executive as New Supply Chain VP
LeMans Corporation , the Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited parent company , has hired Kipp Podlewski as its new Vice President of Supply Chain . " With a rich background of seniorlevel roles in multinational corporations , Mr . Podlewski is set to bring a high level of expertise to LeMans Corporation . In his role as Vice President of Supply Chain , Kipp Podlewski will be responsible for overseeing purchasing and all other facets of supply chain . " This includes developing and implementing innovative strategies for procurement , logistics and distribution - further enhancing LeMans
Indian Motorcycle ' s 2024 Factory Race Teams will include three-time Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss and reigning Super Hooligan and two-time KOTB Champion Tyler O ’ Hara to pilot the pair of S & S Indian Challengers and S & S FTRs in the MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers and Super Hooligans Championships ( SHNC ) in 2024 . Additionally , reigning American Flat Tracks SuperTwins Champion Jared Mees will race the FTR750 for an eighth consecutive year as he eyes a recordsetting 10th career championship in 2024 . Indian Motorcycle Racing has said it is to commit more than $ 450,000 in combined privateer contingency for King Of The Baggers , Super Hooligan and the AFT National Championships . Running two No . 1 plates in total in 2024 , the duo of Tyler O ' Hara and Troy Herfoss will compete in both the KOTB and SHNC classes . O ’ Hara enters his fifth year aboard the S & S Indian Challenger , having won the inaugural KOTB race in 2020 and the class championship in 2022 . In addition , 2024 will mark O ’ Hara ’ s second year piloting the S & S Indian FTR within the SHNC class , where he ’ s earned back-to-back class championships . Racing alongside O ’ Hara under S & S is three-time Australian Superbike
Corporation ' s position as a key player in the powersports aftermarket sector ." Kipp comes to LeMans Corporation with an impressive background in the industry , having over 24 years in diverse roles within Harley-Davidson and 30 years with Supply Chain and Operations in total . He looks forward to rekindling longstanding supplier relationships and building new ones throughout the industry . " His extensive knowledge and expertise are expected to be invaluable in guiding LeMans Corporation through its next phase of growth and development . LeMans
champion Troy Herfoss , a household name in Australian racing . Herfoss transcends boundaries between on and off-road competitions , as he ’ s recorded championship titles in several forms of motorcycle racing , including Australian Dirt Track , Supermoto , and Supersport . Herfoss was the 2008 AMA Supermoto Champion and a Moto X-Games silver medalist . In addition to its factory efforts , Indian Motorcycle is offering up to $ 131,999 in KOTB privateer contingency and up to $ 67,249 in SHNC contingency .
Corporation is confident that Kipp Podlewski ’ s addition to the leadership team will be a difference-maker in the company ' s success ." www . dragspecialties . com
Indian 2024 Factory Race Teams & $ 450,000 in Contingency
In AFT , as Mees looks to make history once again , he ’ ll rely on his trusted team led by Crew Chief Kenny Tolbert , Assistant Mechanic Bubba Bently and Suspension Technician Jimmy Wood . Mees will also receive support from Rogers Racing , SDI Racing , S & S Cycle , Flex Armor , Drag Specialties , Twigg Cycles , Mission Foods , Monster Energy , Service Pro , Öhlins Suspension , Klotz Oil , Klock Werks , RK Chain , Seats , Engine Ice , RMR Construction , Motion Pro , Vertex Pistons , Pro Plates and DBI Motorsports . Indian Motorcycle Racing welcomes S & S as title sponsor and is presented by Progressive Insurance and Mission Foods , with additional support from Indian Motorcycle Motor Oil , Parts Unlimited , Drag Specialties and Performance Finance . The KOTB , SHNC and AFT seasons begin March 7 at the Daytona International Speedway . www . AmericanFlatTrack . com www . MotoAmerica . com www . IndianMotorcycle . com
22 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - JUNE 2024 www . AMDmag . com