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NEWS
BRIEFS
Hoonigan , the niche-defining Park City , Utah cult lifestyle brand , founded by late rally driver Ken Block , has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy . After a 2021 merger with aftermarket wheel company Wheel Pros , the combined company struggled under $ 1.75bn in debt . Vance Johnston , installed as CEO by private equity owners Clearlake Capital , is on record as stating that " this is an important step forward for Hoonigan ," one that will " enable us to advance our industry-leading position in the growing automotive aftermarket sector ." Yeah , right . WTGPE !
Most electric-car batteries could soon be made by recycling old ones , with mining for raw materials set to peak by the mid-2030s . Despite a slowdown in electric vehicle ( EV ) sales in many countries , demand for batteries was up by around 40 % globally in 2023 , an upward trend that will likely continue . The world ' s appetite for lithium , the vital ingredient in the lithium-ion ( Li-ion ) batteries that dominate the EV market ( at present ), is expected to exceed 2.4 million tonnes in 2030 , more than twice its present level . The good news ? The Economist reports that recent breakthroughs in recycling , together with a spate of technological improvements , mean that within a decade or so most of the global demand for raw materials to build new batteries could be met by recycling old ones , with mineral extraction for batteries being avoided altogether by 2050 .
It has been announced that the FIM Superenduro World Championship will start to allow electric motorcycles , finally . During the 2023 / 24 season , Barcelona based Stark Future had built a bike that met the regulations and was confirmed as an entrant by the organising body . But less than a day before the opening event in Lievin , France , the FIM changed the regulations specifically to stop the Varg from racing . The FIM has again changed the regulations ahead of the first round of the new season , which is scheduled to run on December 14th in Poland - this time to allow electric motorcycles to compete , though in the prestige class only at this stage .
H-D 2025 Race Season Contingency Programs
Harley-Davidson is renewing its support of motorcycle racing competitors during the 2025 season with cash contingency programs totaling more than $ 582,000 . These funds will be available for qualified H-D racers competing in select classes in the MotoAmerica AMA / FIM North American Road Racing Championship and the Progressive American Flat Track and AdventureTrackers series . The Harley-Davidson Factory Racing Team riders and privateer teams racing Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the MotoAmerica Mission Foods King Of The Baggers ( KOTB ) Road Racing series in 2025 can benefit from racing contingency and available racing parts for purchase . Harley is offering $ 234,500 cash contingency program for qualified Harley-Davidson racers competing in the KOTB series , with a contingency payout from first to 10th place and a $ 35,000 championship bonus . In the 10 round Mission Foods Super Hooligan National Championship brought to you by Roland Sands Design , Harley will offer a $ 123,000 cash contingency program for qualified Harley-Davidson racers competing in the Super Hooligan series , with a contingency payout from first to 10th place and a $ 20,000 championship bonus . Racers competing on Harley-Davidson XG750R motorcycles in the premiere Mission Foods SuperTwins class on the 16-event 2025 Progressive AFT , Harley has committed $ 185,600 in contingency funds for qualified SuperTwins class riders . Contingency will pay first to 10th place and a $ 20,000 championship bonus . In addition , Harley is offering contingency opportunities for racers competing eligible Harley-Davidson Pan America models in the new AFT AdventureTrackers series . Basic rules center on production-based race bikes that remain as close to street stock as is feasible . The class will feature multiple brands that have a similar power-to-weight ratio competing in one of the fastest-growing segments of the motorcycle market . Harley has committed $ 38,750 in contingency funds for qualified AdventureTrackers class riders . Payouts will be awarded for 1st
through 5th place in each race , with a championship bonus of $ 10,000 for the season champion . After a successful single-race debut in 2024 , the AdventureTracker series will expand in 2025 to include four events held in conjunction with Progressive American Flat Track series , three at Sturgis , S . D . Aug . 4-10 and at Peoria , Ill ., on Aug . 10 .
ADVENTURE
TRACKERS
14 AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - FEBRUARY 2025 www . AMDmag . com