American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 246 January 2020 | Page 22

SHOW Harley Launches Major Support
ZONE for 2020 AFT Production Twins
JANUARY
Motor Bike Expo
Verona, Italy • Jan 16-19
MC Massan
Gothenburg, Sweden • Jan 24-26
IMS - J&P Ultimate Builder
Cleveland, OH, USA • Jan 24-26
IMS - J&P Ultimate Builder
Minneapolis, MN, USA • Jan 31-Feb 2
FEBRUARY
IMS - J&P Ultimate Builder
Chicago, IL, USA • Feb 7-9
The One Show
Portland, OR, USA • Feb 7-9
Garage Brewed
Cincinnati, OH, USA • Feb 8
Salon Du 2 Roues
Lyon, France • Feb 13-14
MOTORbeurs
Utrecht, Netherlands • Feb 20-23
Swiss Custom
Zurich, Switzerland • Feb 20-23
Hamburger Motorrad Tage
Hamburg, Germany • February 21-23
MARCH
Roma Moto Days
Rome, Italy • March 5-8
Motorraeder Dortmund
Dortmund, Germany • March 5-8
Czech Custom Grand Prix MotoSalon
Prague, Czech Republic • March 5-8
Motorama Madrid
Madrid, Spain • March 6-8
Motorraeder & Roller
Magdeburg, Germany • March 7-8
Mama Tried
Milwaukee, WI, USA • March 13-15
Tokyo Motorcycle Show
Tokyo, Japan • March 27-29
Donnie Smith Bike & Car Show
Saint Paul, MN, USA • March 28-29
Salon de la Moto Pecquencourt
Pecquencourt, France • March 28-29
Harley has announced a major
increase in their support of AFT's
Production Twins class. For the first
time authorized Harley dealerships will
now have the race-proven XG750R
available for purchase, "ensuring that
more competitors will field these race-
winning machines during the 2020
AFT season".
Harley has also announced a
$250,000 contingency package. “As
we celebrate the 50th anniversary of
the Harley-Davidson XG750 next
season, this expanded pledge of
support shows our lasting
commitment to the sport of flat track,”
said Jon Bekefy, GM of Brand
Marketing for Harley-Davidson.
“Harley-Davidson dealerships fielding
the XG750R will provide an
opportunity for our community to rally
behind this great American sport.”
In 2019 there were "moments of
brilliance" for riders on the XGR750R
during the Production Twins season,
with Dalton Gauthier and James
Rispoli making regular podium
appearances and scoring two wins
aboard a privateer XG750R backed by
Black Hills Harley-Davidson.
With $7,500 awarded to XG750R
riders for each AFT Production Twins
race win, plus a $25,000
championship bonus on the line, the
contingency package offered by Harley
is structured so that a total of $15,000
will be up for grabs to XG750R riders
at each AFT Production Twins round in
2020.
The XG750R is available for purchase
for $35,999 and deliveries will begin
immediately. Supply is limited and
priority will be given to dealerships.
www.americanflattrack.com
Harley-Davidson SuperTwins Roster
Harley-Davidson has announced
its rider roster for the 2020 AFT
Super Twins series with reigning
AFT Singles champion Dalton
Gauthier joining veteran Jarod
Vanderkooi as the newly-
strengthened factory effort.
Additionally, Ricky Howerton
and former AFT Twins champion
Bryan Smith will also be backed
by Harley-Davidson and Vance &
Hines in 2020.
"The championship-winning duo
of Howerton/Smith aim to use
their developmental prowess to
bring the orange and black to
the front in 2020. Howerton -
backed by the unparalleled
expertise of Vance & Hines
Motorsports - will be charged
with the tuning, set-up and
technical refinement of the
XG750R.
"Despite his hiatus from the
sport in 2018, Gauthier quickly
became the man to beat in the
2019 AFT Singles championship
hunt. The diversely talented
athlete further displayed his
versatility (and a natural finesse
on a Harley-Davidson) as he
joined the Black Hills Harley-
Davidson AFT Production Twins
effort and later led it to victory
at the legendary Springfield
Mile in August."
Michael Lock, CEO of American
Flat Track, commented that
"2020 is shaping up to be a
banner year for our sport.
Harley-Davidson's and Vance &
Hines' boosted commitment to
the series and their support for
both the inaugural AFT
SuperTwins season promises to
ratchet up excitement over the
coming months."
American Flat Track will kick off
its highly-anticipated 2020
season with the first-ever
DAYTONA 200 and DAYTONA TT
Doubleheader at Daytona
International Speedway at the
peak of Daytona Bike Week on
Saturday, March 14, 2020.
www.americanflattrack.com
APRIL
Custom Show Emirates
Abu Dhabi, UAE • April 2-5
Moscow Custom & Tuning Show
Moscow, Russia • April 3-5
Handbuilt
Austin, TX, USA • April 3-5
Toronto International Spring MC
Show
Toronto, Canada • April 4-5
Billsport Performance & Custom
Show
Jonkoping, Sweden • April 10-13
Motorcycle Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan • April 15-18
Vive La Moto
Madrid, Spain • April 16-19
*Laughlin River Run
Laughlin, NV, USA • April 23-26
22
Michelin Commander III
Building on the success of its
Commander II, Michelin's new
Commander III line-up for V-twin
Cruisers and Touring bikes will be
available for purchase starting in
January 2020 and is "designed
to deliver exceptional wet grip
and extraordinary durability.
"The Commander III Touring tire
is designed to go the distance for
Baggers with excellent wet grip
and longevity that is designed to
exceed its predecessor with new
tread compounds engineered to
deliver outstanding wet grip without
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - JANUARY 2020
compromising longevity." Features
include distinctive tread patterns and
patented velvet sidewall designs.
"Michelin developed this tire line to
optimize riding enjoyment with a
focus on improving the tread life
and wet grip versus the already
widely accepted Commander II
tire line," said Shane Messner,
Director of Two-Wheel at Michelin
North America. "The commitment
to 'Michelin Total Performance'
makes the Commander III tire line the
trusted choice for the V-twin
community."
www.AMDchampionship.com