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

Australia ' s motorcycle market has recorded a strong first half of 2026, with sales up 8.2 % compared with the same period last year. A total of 46,023 motorcycles were sold from January to June 2026, compared with 42,549 in 2025. Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries( FCAI) chief executive Tony Weber said the result showed renewed strength across key parts of the market. " The strongest growth has come from the offroad segment, which has continued to improve over recent months and is now driving the overall market result." Growth in the off-road category was driven particularly by the kids and trail segments, which were up 32 % and 131 % respectively. Off-highway vehicle sales were in line with the first half of 2025. A total of 6,764 OHVs were sold in the first half of 2026, compared with 6,760 in the same period last year. On-highway sales were " essentially flat " at 16,170 units(-0.5 % compared to 16,256 in 2025). " While offroad motorcycles were the standout performer, the broader market remains stable, with road motorcycles and OHVs tracking close to last year ' s levels." www. fcai. com. au

In the United States, the MIC reports that two closely watched measures of consumer attitudes showed growing caution in August, particularly about the months ahead. The University of Michigan ' s Surveys of Consumers reported a 6.3 % decline in sentiment from July, while The Conference Board found consumers becoming less optimistic about future business conditions, employment, and income. Preliminary September results from Michigan show sentiment weakening further.

At AIMExpo, PSB will be " front and center for two days at the Dealer Accelerate Stage, where it will hold its annual Accelerate Conference." Led by PSB editor-inchief and Power Hour podcast host Brendan Baker, sessions will feature industry experts, solution providers and panels covering topics like leadership development, succession planning and the challenges and opportunities shaping the powersports industry.

Triumph has scored its first FIM World Championship Title. Guillem Farres was crowned 2026 FIM MX2 Motocross World Champion with Triumph securing a 1-2 in the manufacturers championship just three years after entering motocross for the first time with their TF 250-X.

<<< Continued from cover To say goodbye to him, say goodbye to my family, and go overseas to keep training and keep following this dream... it ' s such a relief now that it ' s paid off." The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is the first global championship exclusively dedicated to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, organized by Harley-Davidson in partnership with MotoGP. A ' Single Marque ' series that is officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme( FIM), the 2026 series was contested at selected international circuits alongside the MotoGP calendar- 6 rounds in six countries( USA, Italy, Netherlands, Silverstone, Spain and Austria). The four teams represented four different countries from four different continents- with Team Saddlemen Racing representing the United States. In total 16 individual riders from seven different countries raced for the four teams on the identical race prepared 131ci / 2,152cc Screamin ' Eagle M8 131R engined V-twins. Stripped down to a 280kg / 617 lbs kerb weight from the 380 + kg stock weight, the power output exceeds 200 hp with over 220Nm Torque( approx. 162 + ft-lb) generating top speeds of up to 310 Km / h( 192 mph). Jeffrey Schuessler, Director of Global Racing Programs at Harley- Davidson is quoted as saying that " we are incredibly proud to celebrate Archie McDonald as the first FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup Champion. Congratulations to him and the entire Joe Rascal Racing team on an incredible achievement. And just as importantly, thank you to every rider, team, partner and person who believed in this program and helped us bring it to life. " One year ago, when we were in Austria announcing this championship, ee didn ' t have teams, riders or even the race motorcycles yet. We had an idea, a plan and a lot of ambition. Today, we have a global racing series competing alongside MotoGP, with teams and riders from around the world. It ' s pretty incredible to see how far we ' ve come." Jason Kehl, Technical Director and Team Principal for Harley- Davidson Factory Racing added that " this inaugural season gave the global racing community its first opportunity to experience the unique look, sound and feel of a truly high-performance Harley-Davidson motorcycle. I ' m incredibly excited by what these 200- plus-horsepower machines demonstrated on track in the hands of world-class riders and teams.

Final 2026 Championship Standings

Harley unveiled the Race Spec Bagger World Cup less than 12 months ago at EICMA, Milan in November 2025

" Mind-blowing lap times, 62 degrees of lean angle and wheelieinducing torque have left fans and riders asking for more. The performance and reliability of the 131ci( 2,152cc) Screamin ' Eagle 131R engine, combined with a Factory Racing-developed chassis, proved that these motorcycles belong at the highest levels of racing." Schuessler went on to add that " this first season was about building the foundation and proving what this series could be. The racing delivered beyond our expectations: five different race winners, every team on the podium and four riders arriving at the final round still fighting for the title.

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" At the same time, seeing Harley- Davidson shirts throughout the MotoGP paddock and grandstands, and watching two very different motorcycle communities come together around the racing, has been incredibly rewarding. " This is only the beginning. Our ambition is to continue growing the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup with more teams, more riders, more races and new markets around the world, while creating even more opportunities for our dealers, H. O. G. members and fans to be part of it. We built a strong foundation this year. Now it ' s time to build on it."