Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles. news, RideApart. com, Motor1. com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter. com

Entering its eighth consecutive year of partnership, Progressive American Flat Track has again confirmed ' Back on Track ' as the Official Charity of the 2026 Progressive AFT season. As a nonprofit focused on the recovery of injured riders, Back on Track provides vital financial aid and rehabilitation support. Their mission is a cornerstone of Progressive AFT ' s commitment to rider welfare.

The AMA says it has secured insurance availability for AMA- Sanctioned Racing and Riding Events, with a program underwritten by Ren Specialty Insurance and administered by Jones Birdsong Insurance Services that offers comprehensive liability coverage for chartered organizers.

Willingen in Germany( between Dortmund and Kassel- Sauerland) is an area much loved by nature lovers, party fans and bikers( it ' s in excellent riding country) that has hosted the popular annual ' Bike Days Willingen ' event. As of July 8-12 2026, the event becomes Harley Days Willingen- a debut for the latest addition to Harley ' s European network of regional ' Harley Days '- an official H-D Biker Party for the first time; www. bike-days-willingen. de, www. h- d. com

CEO & Founder Anton Wass says that his Barcelona, Spain based EV manufacturer Stark Future " opened 2026 with + 200 % January growth and strong operating momentum." Stark is one of the few e-PTW manufacturers who is actually making money( the Stark ' Varg ' is a much admired off-roader). Wass says that the demand remains strong across key markets as delivery capacity and partner confidence improve further; www. starkfuture. com

Paradise H-D of Tigard, OR. Has changed hands with industry veterans Erik Paulson and Dave Thomas acquiring the dealership from longtime owner Mike Durbin. Thomas, a Portland native, was the operating partner of High Desert H-D in Boise, Idaho. The store has been renamed Steelhead H-D.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation( MRF) congratulates longtime advocate and leader Dave Dwyer on his induction into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. " This welldeserved honor recognizes a lifetime of service, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the cause of motorcyclists ' rights. Dave Dwyer( Freedom Fighter) is a dedicated advocate who has spent over thirty years leading legislative efforts and rallies for motorcyclists ' rights through ABATE and the MRF."

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Spirit Lake, Iowa Production Director Jim Jensen( left) giving his new boss the more-than-just-standard ' Nickel Tour '!

facility, and an administration office in Minneapolis will be our facilities in the United States. Monticello was part of the deal, we now own that, and Polaris are themselves looking to streamline their own operations as much as they can. As has been already announced, the powertrain operations facility at Osceola in Wisconsin will close by the end of 2026. " We will bring engine production to the Spirit Lake factory- Integration will create considerable workflow

" dealer profitability is essential "

efficiencies and cost benefits. " At this point, let me just state for the record that we are full of admiration and appreciations for Polaris. Both as an owner of the Indian brand and as a collaborator in the deal to sell it to us. " We ' ve got nothing but good things to say about the job that Polaris has done with the Indian brand in their 15- years of ownership. They have been sensitive and stalwart stewards of the brand ' s legacy and engineering. They have also been a very good partner with whom to work what, by any measure, has been the unwind of a " highly entangled " situation. " Indian Motorcycle was entirely integrated with Polaris and that has made Carolwood the ideal investor with who to do this deal. They established their Private Equity division some two years ago specifically to specialize in " highly entangled corporate unwinds ". Something for which there is no playbook, with every deal different. The experience bank they have built-up in such undertakings has been invaluable." However, given what has been going on with Harley-Davidson in the past five years, many will see Kennedy ' s fourth initial priority as the most important in the long-term- dealer relationships. " We must base the relationship with our dealer network on ' Trust and

Transparency '- that must be the basis of the bond between Indian Motorcycle and its dealers," he says. It ' s not that he is inheriting anything like the kind of issues seen in the Harley dealer network, he is categorically not doing so. But he is clear that he wants to " build the best relationship that any OEM motorcycle manufacturer of any kind, anywhere has with its dealers. " That is fundamental. Our dealers must be our partners, and we want to be good partners with them. If we help them to do well, then they will work hard for us. Dealer profitability is essential and we are already working on ways we can enhance that. " One of those is through better Parts and Accessory and Gear and Apparel offerings and inventory. Having now seen the world through an aftermarket lens as well as OEM- and the two industry views could not be more different- I intend that we should be able to work with the best-in-class that the aftermarket has to offer, as well as having our own authorized Indian Motorcycle programs, and have the product regularly and reliably available, quickly " Asked if he saw a future in which Indian will throw its entire focus on

" there are other ways to keep dealerships busy "

stand-alone dealerships and what will now happen with the integration of the Indian brand in so many Polaris Powersports dealerships, Kennedy was clear. " All good dealers are just exactly that, good dealers. We have already had a very positive response from the powersports side of Indian ' s existing dealer network; there is a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm for the future that we will be able to shape together. " But we will also, of course, work diligently with those stores that are 100 percent dedicated to our brand

alone- they are just as important and moving forward I would be happy to see a mixed portfolio of both to continue to evolve. " We do not have a problem with the multi-brand model at all. In fact, it has advantages. We do not intend to follow Harley and other manufacturers down the budget price entry level Rabbit Hole. I don’ t believe that one dealer format is necessarily better than

" workflow efficiencies and cost benefits "

another. It really comes down to supporting the dealers and what’ s best for them, regardless of whether or not they sell Indian Motorcycles exclusively. If a store owner wants to work with additional brands and offer a variety, that’ s great. Or if the dealer for an alternate brand wants to also work with Indian, that’ s also great. We want to be successful, by working to help our dealers be successful. That’ s the bottom line. " If it ' s good for the dealer and is good for consumers in that local riding market, then how can it not also be good for us? Its all bout doorswings and brand pathways. The more riders are exposed to what the Indian brand can mean for them, even if it is in their riding future, then the better it is for the long-term health of the Indian brand." Asked if he is targeting ' conquest ' customer strategies as the primary growth channel, Kennedy said " No. Certainly not primarily. In the segments that Harley and Indian compete, it is up to both of us to be the best we can be. Do I intend for Indian to be the better option for riders? You bet I do. Our ambition is to win and ultimately be the # 1 brand in those segments. In fact, we just signed on with a Harley dealer in Pennsylvania. I have no problem with doing that and having our products stand toe-to-toe on the showroom floor with theirs. " Our job is to be part of the industry wide effort to excite and attract consumers to the motorcycle market and its lifestyle. To help dealers build great local businesses that their community wants to engage with, and to build the Indian brand ' s future by making sure it has other great anniversaries to celebrate long after we have all served our time. " If we can have some fun and success on the racetrack as part of doing that, if we can successfully honor he Indian Motorcycle brand ' s racing legacy, maybe add some of our own chapters to that heritage, then great. Everyone wins if ' The Wrecking Crew ' wins."