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NEWS
BRIEFS
Steve Harris , the founder of Harris Performance in the UK , died in June aged 73 . His early work as a welder included F1 Lotus chassis building . He started his own business in 1972 and with brother Lester and fellow director Steve Bayford set up Harris Performance selling approximately 2,000 Harris Magnum frame kits in five versions , plus making numerous frames to order . Paying customers included world champion Barry Sheene . Harris was involved at world championship Grand Prix level , WSB and with a MotoGP project for Sauber Petronas . Recent work included chassis design for Royal Enfield singles and twins . In 2015 Harris Performance was bought by Royal Enfield .
The fifth edition of the European KTM Rally will be staged in the south of France with the city of Quillan in the French Pyrenees as the base from 14-17 of September . For 2022 , the flagship KTM community event is limited to 150 riders . Entry is open to any KTM Adventure or Enduro R model owner .
Yamaha announced that it is accelerating its carbon neutrality goal for its factories - including those overseas - to 2035 . This represents a 15-year jump as the original target year to achieve carbon neutrality in the revised Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050 announced in July 2021 was 2050 . To achieve the new goal , it will push initiatives centred on minimising energy use as well as relying on cleaner energy . The projected result of these moves by 2035 is a 92 % reduction in CO2 emissions ( compared to 2010 ). Remaining CO2 emissions will be offset by internationally recognised methods to achieve the plan by 2035 .
ACEM management team
The European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers ( ACEM ) has announced new senior leadership appointments , with Michele Colaninno , Chief Executive of Global Strategy , Product , Marketing and Innovation of the Piaggio Group ( PIA . MI ) as the new President . The association also appointed three Vice-Presidents to support the President in his mission to lead the organisation during his two-year mandate - Stefan Pierer , CEO of KTM AG , and outgoing ACEM President ; Dr Markus Schramm , Head of BMW Motorrad , and Eric de Seynes , President of Yamaha Motor Europe N . V . Colaninno is quoted as saying : " I would like to congratulate Stefan Pierer , who has brilliantly been acting in this role for five years . I am very thankful to my colleagues for trusting Piaggio in this
Blaine , Minnesota based Arrowhead Engineered Products ( AEP ) has agreed to acquire 100 % equity ownership of Bartenheim , France based distributor Bihr from present owner Alcopa of Kontich , Belgium . AEP is the owner of Vertex Pistons , in Italy , and Boise , Idaho based domestic U . S . distribution major Western Power Sports , plus an impressive portfolio of mostly American powersports industry parts and accessory brands such as All Balls Racing , Hot Cams , Pivot Works and Cylinder Works . Alcopa , which traces its roots in automotive and motorcycle distribution in Belgium and beyond back to 1937 , acquired Bihr in 2010 . In recent years it has been funding an aggressive strategic acquisition
ACEM new leadership , left to right : Eric de Seynes - President of Yamaha Motor Europe , Stefan Pierer - CEO of KTM , Michele Colaninno - Piaggio , Markus Schramm - Head of BMW Motorrad .
prestigious and challenging role . " I look forward to promote our priorities as outlined in the Vision 2030 +. The European motorcycle
Vertex & WPS Arrowhead owner buys Bihr
programme to grow the Bihr business footprint . This has included the MotoDirect Distribution , RST Apparel and Race FX operations in the UK and , most recently , noted Hamburg , Germany based distributor and brand owner Paaschburg & Wunderlich . AEP itself saw a majority stake in its business bought by the massive Genstar Capital private equity firm in the USA last year , having previously been in the ownership of the Riverside industry will keep working to bring innovative and low-carbon vehicles to the market , for commuting , leisure and urban mobility ."
John Mosunic , CEO of Arrowhead Engineered Products
Group , whose backers included Investcorp / Bahrain Sovereign Wealth Fund . Bihr was founded in 1975 by industry veteran Cyrille Bihr and these days has a portfolio of some 350 brands ( including being a major player for Arai Helmets in Europe ) and distributes some 200,000 + SKUs to a growing network of 15,150 dealers across 20 countries from a total distribution centre footprint of over 54,000 sq m .