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BRIEFS
The 2023 French GP at Le Mans will mark the 1,000th event in the history of the championship . MotoGP was the world ' s first motorsport world championship , having begun in June 1949 on the notorious Snaefell Mountain course on the Isle of Man . That first 500 cc race was won by Briton Harold Daniell on a Norton , ahead of another Briton , Johnny Locket , also on a Norton , and Irishman Ernie Lyons third on a Vellocette . At the end of a six-race frost season ( IOM , Switzerland ,) Assen in the Netherlands , Spa- Francorchamps in Belgium , the Clady Circuit in Ulster / Northern Ireland and Monza , another Briton , Leslie Graham , took the first ever Motorcycle GP Championship title on an AJS , with the Gileras of Nello Pagani and Arciso Artesiani in second and third place in the standings . At the end of that first season , the top 20 consisted of five Nortons , four AJS , three Gileras and Moto Guzzis , and two each of Vellocette and Triumph . There were 12 British riders in the top 20 final standings , six Italians , and one rider from each of Ireland and New Zealand .
BDN reports that Moore Large , the UK ' s largest family-owned supplier and distributor of bicycles and formerly motorcycles and scooters , has gone into administration . Moore Large was a key player in the motorcycle world not so long ago . In 1998 , the company returned to the motorised sector for the first time in decades , being appointed UK distributors for Sanyang ' s SYM branded machines - building a 150-dealer network and registering 4,500 units sold in 2001 . SYM moved its distribution to MotoGB in 2010 , and although it had a short spell with the Chinese brand CPI and was then the distributor of the KSR Moto , Brixton and Nipponia brands from 2013 , it finally closed the doors of its motorised division in 2019 .
Well known motorcycle expert Horst Edler , of Team Metisse ( Leiferde , Germany ) fame , has finally achieved his long-held dream of being able to open a Classic Superbikes motorcycle museum in March 2023 at Gifhorn , near Wolfsburg . Hurrah ! Kudos Horst ! www . classic-superbikes . com
MORACO - 50th anniversary
Founded in 1973 , French distributor MORACO is one of Europe ' s longest established and largest parts and accessory distributors . These days , MORACO is a 100 percent subsidiary of the SGR Group - Società Generale Ricambi - in Italy , along with Langenscheidt in Germany and Euro85 in Spain . " One of the European leaders in the distribution of parts for motorcycles and scooters , MORACO continues its expansion by strengthening its product offer , its teams and its logistics and IT tools in order to bring dealers the best service to professionals in the sector ". MORACO boasts over one million items in stock at any one time and sells many of the market ' s leading brands - from Putoline to MIW Filters , Kellermann , SBS and Supersprox to D . I . D , AFAM , K & N , SP Connect , All Balls Racing ( ABR ), Athena , Polini , TecMate and both KYB and YSS suspension . SGR Group Chairman Andréa Saporetti was quoted recently as saying that " the SGR Group is one of the ever-declining number of independent family-owned distribution businesses in the European motorcycle aftermarket . " It is now ranked 3rd in the European market for the distribution of parts and accessories for motorcycles and
German wholesaler Hermann Hartje KG ( based at Hoya , near Hanover ) has continued its expansion programme , striking a deal with German oil specialist Meneks AG to distribute the American Bel Ray lubricants and chemicals range . This latest addition follows the news at the start of the year that Hartje had expanded its partnership with British vendor Oxford Products to distribute the full range of Oxford branded parts , accessories and apparel from its fast-growing portfolio . " We are delighted to be working with Meneks and Bel Ray ," says Jens Engelking , Head of Moto at Hartje . " This partnership enables us to offer our customers in
scooters and doubled its turnover over the last ten years . " The focus of each of the group businesses is on a selection of brands with high added value and the development of ever-more efficient logistics and IT systems in order to provide a quality service to dealers . " The DNA of the group is to create close , long-term relationships with its 6,500 customers . We go beyond our core business as a distributor by actively supporting riders , teams and motorcycle competitions in Europe .
Germany even more diverse lubricant solutions . From Bel Ray ' s multi-championshipwinning race oils to advanced sports and street bike , ADV , MX and scooter formulations , the Bel Ray range is one of the deepest and best-selling lubricant and chemical product lines in the world . " The addition of Bel Ray to our brand line-up means that our customers can
Indeed , the group has been able to create a unique position as a ' partner of choice ' for itself in the powered two-wheeler world by associating itself with major events in the motorcycle industry , such as the Dakar ." www . moraco . fr
Hartje adds Bel Ray in Germany
offer their partners the highest quality and performance . The partnership between Bel Ray and Hartje is further proof of both companies ' ongoing commitment to quality and customer satisfaction ." www . hartje . de
16 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - APRIL / MAY 2023 www . idnmag . com