Rounds 3 & 4 - South Haven , Michigan , Jun 28-30
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NEWS
BRIEFS
The International Motorcycle Safety Conference will be co-staged with INTERMOT at Cologne , Germany , when that show is held on an annual basis for the first time in December this year ( Dec 5-6 ). INTERMOT itself will be December 5-8 , 2024 ); www . ifz . de ; intermot-cologne . com
Japanese-made 250 cc + motorcycle exports to USA for the first five months of 2024 were massively up by + 64.25 % at 42,406 units YTD . They were up by just + 2.89 % in 2023 at 87,518 units for the full year . After two years of positive trends , the growth in motorcycle exports to Europe from the ' Big Four ' Japanese factories has stalled . For the five months to May 2024 , exports to Europe were down by -4.67 % at 98,632 units , having been + 17.26 % at 247,187 units for the 2023 full year . Total global Japanese made motorcycle exports for the first five months of 2024 were + 6.79 % at 175,962 units YTD , having been + 6.46 % at 518,259 units for the 2023 full year .
H-D was in 7th place in market share terms in Germany for the first five months of 2024 with 3,366 units sold for a 4.93 % market share . Its only model in the top 50 best sellers was the Street Bob 114 with 413 units sold ( in 46th spot ). In other news , Zero Motorcycles were in second spot in electric ( light ) motorcycle sales terms , with 121 units sold in the first five months of the year , with LiveWire in fifth ( 31 units sold ). ' Choppers ' were the sixth largest industry sector recorded by the German motorcycle industry trade association , with 6,348 units newly registered through May 2024 for a 6.11 % segment share in a market dominated by ' Nakeds ' and ADV sales .
Moto Canada has announced that the Motorcycle and Powersport Show will return to B . C ., Alberta , Ontario and Quebec , in January and February 2025 . Going from West to East , the show will be in Vancouver January 17-19 , Calgary January 31-February 2 , Toronto February 14-16 and in Montreal February 28-March 2 .
Yamaha is under investigation for improper vehicle testing in Japan . It is claimed that Yamaha had falsified reports regarding sound pressure level tests for the YZF-R1 , YZF-R3 and TMAX . A Yamaha USA statement said that " the issue recently announced in Japan affects domestic distribution only . It does not affect overseas production units ."
BRL Drag Specialties 2024 Battle of the Baggers
Rounds 3 & 4 - South Haven , Michigan , Jun 28-30
The third and fourth rounds of the Drag Specialties Bagger Racing League ( BRL ) ' Battle of the Baggers ' drew the crowds and created much excitement on a first visit to the Gingerman Raceway at South Haven , Michigan , at the end of June 2024 . With attendances growing in 2024 , BRL Race Director Rob Buydos said : " Saturday and Sunday featured superb racing , with Superbikes and American V-twins battling it out on the track . " The highlight of the weekend was the Andrew ' s Products Bagger GP class , with the Feuling Parts team and Ruben Xaus dominating . Samuel Guerin secured second place , and Jesse Janisch rounded out the top three . In the Barnett Clutches and Cables Super-Street Bagger class , Australia ' s Jake Masters took the win ." The air-cooled twins and Zipper ' s Performance American Twins Unlimited were dominated by Anthony Bangma on his Buell motorcycle , with Arch York claiming top spot in the Open Next Generation Superbike . " In the DP Brakes Unlimited Superbike and Lightweight Superbike , Brett
Folkerts emerged victorious in both categories , showcasing exceptional skill and speed , with Jamie Hanson triumphant in the Middleweight Superbike and Cody Gilmore standing atop the podium in the Pirelli Pro- Stock . Next Up : The series will be making its first international appearance when it visits the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park , Ontario , on August 9-11 , showcasing Bagger Racing in front of huge crowds at the Canadian Superbikes Double Header . From there it will be on to the 2024 Series Finals on November 16 and 17 at the iconic Willow Springs International Raceway , Rosamond , California . www . baggerracingleague . com
In Other News
In partnership with Bagger Racing League , and on the occasion of its 100th anniversary , the AMA had added an Amateur National Bagger championship class to its packed vintage road racing schedule at the Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington , Ohio , July 26-28 . " Mid-Ohio ' s 2.4-mile road course , with its legendary Keyhole and Carousel sections , has a fresh coat of asphalt and is ready to welcome a full slate of vintage road racing during VMD ," said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier . " This year , for the first time , the program will shake the ground in a new way with the addition of big V-twin engines and the visual spectacle of full-faired bagger motorcycles at speed . AMAchartered promoter Bagger Racing League ( BRL ) is partnering with the AMA and WERA to promote and operate the amateur championship class ." " Baggers were built to tour , but in the right hands and with the right modifications , they become some of the wildest racing machines on the planet ," said BRL founder Rob Buydos . " The roar they make , how they move around and attack the corners is amazing to watch , and race fans are in for a serious thrill ."
18 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - AUGUST 2024 www . AMDmag . com