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Indian conglomerate Bajaj is now said to be the most valuable motorcycle manufacturer in the world - despite not being directly present on the North American or European markets . As the 47.97 % owner of the KTM Group and manufacturer of several of its machines for Asian and South American consumption , in addition to its own brand offerings ( in India in particular ), the company says that it has now recorded the highest ever market capitalization for a motorcycle manufacturer at around USD $ 13.6bn . A fourth factory is expected to be commissioned in India later this year where production will include the small displacement Triumph models that will be sold worldwide .

Zero Motorcycles is to team up with Reneos for battery collection and recycling in Europe . Reneos is a European partnership comprised of several major battery recycling and reconditioning companies . With effect from October 2020 , Zero dealers in Benelux , Norway , Finland , Sweden , Germany , France , Italy , Spain , Portugal , the U . K ., Ireland , Austria and the Czech Republic can now take spent Zero batteries and recycle them in safe and efficient ways .

As Asian and especially Indian manufacturers continue to add to their burgeoning portfolio of European and North American motorcycle brands , it looks like Excelsior-Henderson may be the next to be resurrected . RideApart reports , having secured the trademark for the Excelsior-Henderson name in the motorcycle design class ( which includes vehicles , service and parts ) in 2018 , December 2020 saw KTM shareholder and Triumph collaborator Bajaj register a second Excelsior- Henderson trademark ( with the EUIPO ) for motorcycle apparel and gear .

It is reported that in December 2020 FBI Agents raided Ducati ' s Mountain View , California North American headquarters - they are said to have entered the building , guns drawn , with a search warrant . At press time in early February Ducati had remained silent on the reasons for the raid or any likely outcomes from the action . However , suggestions that the raid involve around 30 agents may be exaggerated , but additional reports are emerging that suggest that the homes of some senior DNA executives were also raided .

WSBK 2021 Provisional Calendar *

* Subject to final confirmation

The FIM , IRTA and Dorna Sports have released an updated calendar for the 2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship - two races in Qatar and one in Portimão will now open the season , with the Argentina and Americas GPs postponed . The season opening Grand Prix in Qatar remains confirmed for the 26th to the 28th of March and it will now be followed by a second event , the

Madrid , Spain , Motul FIM rights holder Dorna has released a provisional 11- race schedule for the 2021 World Superbike Championship , Supersport and Supersport 300 World Championships series . The series will start at Assen in the Netherlands in April before a sequence of four more races in Europe ( Portugal , Spain , Italy and UK ) before a twomonth summer break until France on September 3-5 . Two more races are slated for September in Spain , followed by a return to Portugal at the beginning of October before the series goes to Argentina and Indonesia , and in theory , to Phillip Island , Australia . All dates , events and the attendance of spectators are subject to the evolution

Grand Prix of Doha , at the same Losail International Circuit the following weekend , from the 2nd to the 4th of April . The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal will then host the third round of the Championship from the 16th to the 18th of April before the paddock heads to the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto as previously planned . of the global pandemic and the approval of the corresponding governments and authorities , and most are still either subject to contract or homologation , or both , with some additional dates , venues and events still to be arranged .

Dorna stated : " The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns and complications sadly oblige the postponement of both the Argentina GP and the Americas GP until the last quarter of 2021 . Any further updates or changes will be provided as soon as available ".

FIM Grand Prix World Championship 2021 Provisional Calendar , 22 January

16 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021 www . idnmag . com