MV Agusta has announced a new strategic partnership in China with QJ- Motor for the distribution of the brand ' s motorcycles in China . QJ Group ( Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Group Co .) is one of the largest and most prominent two-wheeler manufacturers in China ( think Benelli and Harley-Davidson among others ), and itself part of the giant Geely Group ( Lynk , Lotus , Volvo , Proton etc ). The agreement will initially concern the distribution of MV Agusta models through a network of flagship stores across the country - " providing the highest standards of service to Chinese customers ".
After the successful launch phase in collaboration with Fekon Co ., who was instrumental in the introduction of MV Agusta motorcycles in China , " QJ will now take over the seven existing mono-brand stores and expand the sales network with an additional 21 stores within twelve months and service centres with the objective of rapidly and significantly incrementing MV Agusta ' s presence and visibility on the Chinese market . QJ has an impressive track record and
Timur Sardarov , CEO of MV Agusta , said : " This agreement with QJ for the second phase of our expansion into the Chinese market will help make MV Agusta the number one Italian premium motorcycle brand in China in the next five years ."
considerable experience in managing international prime brands ". Timur Sardarov , CEO MV Agusta Motor S . p . A ., said : " I am thrilled about this agreement with QJ for the second phase of our expansion into the Chinese market . It is a very ambitious , long-term partnership that will make MV Agusta the number one Italian premium motorcycle brand in China in the next five years . QJ is one of the leading global players in terms of scale , market presence and quality standards , and I am confident that with such a solid partner we will reach , and possibly beat , all our commercial objectives very rapidly . We are also developing a further important collaboration on the industrial front , which we will announce shortly ." In other news , MV Agusta has appointed IMG ( International Management Group ) as its exclusive worldwide licensing representative . Through the new multi-year partnership , IMG will work with MV Agusta to build a licensing programme focused on brand extensions and lifestyle products that reflect the company ' s " commitment to
Memo to Thibaut Nogues , MV Agusta Freestyle Division , " Sir - that is no way to behave with a perfectly good Brutale 800 RR !"
performance , quality , innovation and consumer engagement " within local communities . " IMG is the best possible partner for what we have in store for our fans around the world ," said Timur Sardarov . " This strategic partnership accelerates the execution of our fiveyear expansion plan . MV Agusta has tremendous brand equity ; it ' s a truly beloved brand and an icon of design and technology in the motorcycling world ." Best known from the early 1960s when founder Mark McCormack took the world of professional golf to a new level through his representation of Jack Nicklaus , Arnold Palmer and Gary Player , and , subsequently many other sports ( including professional tennis ), this is far from being IMG ' s first involvement with the motorcycle and wider powersports and motorsports industries . These days IMG is owned by New York based Private Equity investors Silver Lake Partners , Kohlberg Kravis Roberts ( KKR ) and others . Finally , with a series of " heartstopping live shows at motorcycle exhibitions and fairs around Europe ", Thibaut Nogues , the French stunt rider from the Côte d ' Azur , is the " eclectic frontman " of the recently created MV Agusta Freestyle Division . With an impressive social media reach in over 55 countries worldwide , and hundreds of thousands of views for each new video within days and 1.5 million web contacts on a monthly basis , Thibaut Nogues and MV Agusta ' s Freestyle Division team will elevate the brand to the status of web influencer , appealing to a new audience of Millennials and Gen Z riders . " In 2019 , the team participated in over twenty events , ranging from MotoGP and Superbike rounds to the opening of new showrooms , to Stunt & Drift competitions , to fairs and exhibitions . With Thibaut in the role of star performer , MV Agusta ' s Freestyle Division is led by Virginio Ferrari , a former rider with extensive experience in managing racing teams , seconded by Lorenzo Gandino , Emanuele Grassi and Marco Anfesi , all highly specialised engineers and mechanics with an impressive track record in the racing industry . " For his shows , Thibaut Nogues rides the specially developed Freestyle Division Edition Brutale 800 RR and F3 800 , sporting an elegant black , grey and red livery . The bikes ' special components include a steel protective crash cage , nylon crash inserts , a unique ' non-slip ' stand up wheelie seat , a RAW SC-Project titanium exhaust , machined wheels , a reinforced rear swingarm developed and constructed in CRC , a handcrafted oversize aluminium radiator , different final ratio and chain guards . Additional components include a dedicated ECU map , full Öhlins suspension as well as an STM clutch for drifting performance . The final touches include front fork triple-clamps with a different offset , a rear brake lever on the handlebar , additional rear brake calipers and a special rear brake pedal . Completing the modifications are the CNC-machined passenger pegs ."
Kawasaki Heavy Industries ( KHI ) says that its results for the first quarter of its 2020 / 2021 financial year ( to June 2020 ) were " significantly affected due to the impact of COVID-19 in the major markets of Europe , North America and South East Asia ". Motorcycle unit sales in developed markets were 29,000 in the three months to June 30 , worth some 24.7bn yen , with
25,000 units sold ( for 9.1bn yen ) in emerging markets . With 13,000 UTV , ATV and PWC sold , its global powersports industry business was 67,000 units sold compared to 110,000 for the year-ago quarter ( -39 %) for 58.9bn yen ( -9.3 %; includes 8.5bn yen worth of generalpurpose gasoline engines ). The segment posted a -5.9bn yen loss for the quarter compared to a -2.8bn yen loss in the year-ago quarter . At a corporate level , KHI recorded 300,602m yen total consolidated sales for a -20,661m yen loss .
The " class-defining Z900 is set to continue segment dominance in 2021 , continuing to push boundaries and delivering a visceral riding experience while offering an outstanding selection of focused electronic rider aids , the Z900 – in full power and 70kw versions – will be available in three colourways for the 2021 season ".
22 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 www . idnmag . com