Last month we reported that tyre manufacturer Mitas had extended its 2019 introduced TERRA FORCE-MX motocross competition tyre range to include junior sizes for motorcycles from 50 cc to 85 cc engine displacement . This month we have news that Mitas is " doubling down " on its investment in young riders by additionally extending its Extreme Enduro range to also include fitments for 50 cc to 85 cc displacements . Gustavo Pinto Teixeira , Vice President Two Wheels and Specialty Tires , explained : " We have always been at the forefront of extreme enduro , and we ' re the first manufacturer to add junior sizes to this type of tyre range . " For the first time , young riders will have a chance to use tyres designed for extreme enduro from the beginning of their racing careers . I ' m convinced that this addition will help many young talents grow to become successful riders ." The company says that the development of these sizes was possible " thanks to the knowledge Mitas has acquired over decades , combined with constant field testing with numerous top riders in extreme enduro ".

Well-known Swedish spoke maker , brake disc manufacturer and wheel builder Cross-Center International AB says that while there have been downs as well as ups , it has had a good 2020 overall . A business like theirs is an interesting ' bellwether ' for what is going on in the market . Owner Torbjörn ' Tobbe ' Bergh told IDN : " It has been another difficult year for motocross and enduro racing , so we have seen a decline in our racing products , but growth in spoke sales has kept us busy . " While racing is in decline for now , the

Mitas test rider Tristan Hedgcock from South Africa says : " What really impressed me the most is the versatility of the tyre across all terrains . From mud to rock and forest , junior hard enduro riders from around the world now have the tyre to take them wherever they want ." Mitas Extreme Enduro junior tyres are said to ensure " incredible grip and stability " in all conditions the rider can face in extreme enduro and that " due to their excellent handling characteristics and grip , they can be used from novice to competitive riders ". In 2019 , 85 cc FIM Junior World Champion Valerio Lata won the title on Mitas tyres . " We are keen to help young

recreational off-road sector has grown strongly , so we have been expanding our ranges of spoke sets and brake discs for these bikes and will continue to increase our stock of rims . " We have increased the production of riders on their way to higher MX classes ," says Teixeira . In other news , Mitas is celebrating winning the 2020 FIM Speedway Grand Prix world title with Poland ' s Bartosz Zmarzlik retaining his 2019 title . In fact , Mitas achieved a ' Podium Sweep ' with Great Britain ' s three time World Champion Tai Woffinden , second and Swedish rider Fredrik Lingren , third , all racing on Mitas Tires . Indeed , speedway is where the Mitas motorsport story started , in 1947 . The 2020 Speedway Grand Prix season was the 26th season of the Speedway Grand Prix era , and decided the 75th FIM Speedway World Championship . www . mitas-moto . com

spoke sets and are now up to over 620 different sets for over 2,600 bikes . So overall , sales have actually increased in 2020 by between + 15-20 %, but we have seen the profile changing away from racing , with restoration work on the increase . The demand for restoration wheels and specials has grown as a lot of people get their old bikes back on the road . " Along the way there have been some interesting projects - we have made wheel sets with spike tyres for the Swedish Army MC 409 ( KTM LC4 ), and we made wheel sets for one of the Swedish electric bike manufacturers and have orders from another . " We have been sand-blasting and powder-coating for some years now and have recently bought an additional tyre mounting machine , balancing machines and new rust removal , zinc plating ( including yellow zinc for the old 70s look spoke nipples ) and nickel plating equipment , so we can offer a complete job ." www . cross-center . com

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Hero MotorCorp is said to be developing a premium pitched , high performance electric motorcycle range in Europe . An artwork of an avant-garde , hubless , adjustable configuration chassis design has been in circulation on the internet . It shows a machine called the e . US ( Electric Ultra Sport ) which is being developed at Hero ' s Munich based technical center , in collaboration with the R & D Center in Jaipur , Rajasthan . In order to keep costs down it will be manufactured in India , where Hero is already a player in the EV market , but largely from European components .

In addition to producing an updated Metropolis three wheel scooter at Peugeot ' s historic Mandeure factory in France , Mahindra ' s ' Classic Legends ' retro brand division says it sold over 50,000 Jawa branded motorcycles in India in the 12 months to October 2020 . In a separate announcement it has let it be known that it is plotting an Indian comeback for the Jawa ' Yezdi ' sub brand . Add to that , Brexit permitting , the company is believed to be developing BSA badged ICE and electric bike models at its Banbury , Oxfordshire , UK Technical Center , for 2021 assembly from mostly UK made components at a factory in Coventry - the spiritual home of the motorcycle industry in the UK , if not the world .

It is five years since Honda teased a possible electric Super Cub concept , but according to rideapart . com , a patent filed in the U . S . in 2016 ( for the battery case / cradle structure ) that just got published this July may suggest that ' Big Red ' is finally about to ' Go E '. As part of its mission to " democratise electrics ", Shanghai Customs ( sh-customs . com ) started offering Cub ICT / E non-battery and full conversion kits some two or three years ago .

The 48th Tokyo Motorcycle Show , originally planned for Spring 2021 , has been cancelled already , with the organisers hoping to be able to host the show in 2022 .

For the 2021 Supersport World Championship campaign , the ParkinGO team will return to Yamaha to form the ParkinGO Yamaha team , fielding promising young talent Manuel Gonzalez .

INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 11

Sources : AMD , IDN , FT , Reuters , PSB , MPN , B & B , BDN , MCN , AP , Bloomberg , MNW , electricmotorcycles . news , RideApart . com , Motor1 . com