American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 221 December 2017 | Page 26
Indian Motorcycle honors Flat Track
“Wrecking Crew” at EICMA with
Scout FTR1200 Custom unveil
Indian Motorcycle has recognized its
championship-winning American Flat
Track race team, the Wrecking Crew,
with a custom-built Scout FTR1200
street bike.
The Scout FTR1200 Custom “takes
inspiration from the Scout FTR750’s
purpose-built flat track race bike that
Indian’s “Wrecking Crew” piloted
throughout a dominating
championship season in the 2017
American Flat Track series. Built in
partnership with Indian’s race team,
the one-off custom houses the
Scout’s street legal 1133cc V-twin
engine.
“As well as honoring Indian’s race
team of Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and
Brad Baker, the Scout FTR1200
Custom serves as an exploration of
how Indian could expand brand
perception around the world, with
exciting new offerings that are
relevant to a wider ranging consumer
set.”
Out of the 18 flat track races that took
place in 2017, the “Wrecking Crew”
took 37 of the 54 podium positions
available, including six podium
sweeps and 14 race wins, bringing
Indian the manufacturer’s title and
Mees his fifth AMA Grand National
Championship.
Not only that, Mees, Smith and Baker
swept the 2017 AFT Championship,
placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Mees tallied 10 wins out of 18 races
and set a new single-season record of
17 finishes on the podium, while
Smith was on the podium nine times,
with four wins, three runner-ups and
two third place finishes. Baker tallied
10 podiums, despite being out with
an injury and unable to compete in
the final two races. He earned five
runner-ups and five third place
finishes.
At EICMA, President of Motorcycles
Steve Menneto, said: “We built this
bike to celebrate the FTR750’s
dominant performance in American
Flat Track and Indian’s return to
racing. To come up with this one-off
custom, we worked closely with the
Indian Motorcycle Racing team to
execute a vision of what a bike could
look like if we brought the FTR
platform to the street.
“We’ve built a strong foundation in
the Cruiser, Bagger, Tourer (CBT)
segment over the past five years, and
we are excited by the positive
feedback on the FTR750 and the
opportunities to grow the brand
globally in the years to come,”
Menneto continued.
Following EICMA, the Scout
FTR1200 Custom will go on a world
tour and be exhibited at events
throughout 2018 to help the brand
continue to expand its reach.
With Indian Motorcycle targeting 50
percent of its sales to be outside the
United States, its VP/GM in Europe,
Grant Bester, said that he was excited
to see the reaction to this custom
bike in the European market: “While
the US has the American Flat Track
series, we too have seen a growth in
flat track racing right here in Europe.
Numerous Indian Scouts have been
modified for flat track racing and the
sport is becoming increasingly
popular across Europe. This custom
build will gain some attention as it
goes on world tour, and we will be
really interested in the consumer
feedback.”
Davida: As a follow-up to the well-received V3 Speedster half helmet
upgrade released this time last year, the Liverpool based British helmet
manufacturer has entered the full-face helmet market with the race-
bred, retro inspired ‘KOURA’ – said to be the smallest dual standard full-
face in the world. Described as “exceptionally compact and strikingly
bold”, the ‘KOURA’ brings authentic signature Davida styling and quality
to the fast-growing “new gen” consumer market. “An uncompromising
fusion of innovative design, exceptional ergonomics and superior
comfort,” says Davida Managing Director David Fiddaman. “The ‘KOURA’
is a modern safety product that has been transcended through Davida’s
unique aesthetics”. Available in a choice of ergonomic yet stylish orbital
laminated GRP or “finest racing grade” carbon fiber shells with 3 mm F1
performance level visor, removable liner, double-D ring closure and
personalized fit. “The Davida ‘KOURA’ delivers everything you'd demand
from a high-performance motorcycle helmet, together with the level of
quality and integrity Davida helmets are known for”;
www.davida-helmets.net
MAG Group: In addition to supporting the company’s European
distributors, the MAG brands presented highlights from their 2018 new
product line-ups ... some 7 days before the recapitalization filing and
new ownership news broke; www.maggroup.com
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AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - DECEMBER 2017