International Dealer News 179 July/August 2024 IDN 179 July/August 2024 | Page 14

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NEWS

BRIEFS

BMW Motorrad delivered 46,434 motorcycles and scooters to customers in the first quarter of 2024 . While the more than 24,000 units sold in March represented the highest new monthly sales in the brand ' s history , the quarterly total puts BMW Motorrad 3.1 % below its all-time high for the first quarter of 2023 . Meanwhile , BMW ' s automotive division has now made its one millionth Battery Electric Vehicle ( BEV ) sale .
BMW Motorrad Motorsport has signed globally renowned battery manufacturer and power solutions provider OUTDO CORP as a new Technical Partner in its WorldSBK project . The collaboration encompasses both WorldSBK teams , the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team and the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team .
In advance of its 2025 plans to start launching street models , Barcelona based electric motocross manufacturer Stark Future has announced a strategic partnership with IPONE Lubricants . The collaboration establishes IPONE as the official motor oil and bike care supplier for the Stark Future Racing Team and the official motor oil for the Stark Future factory production line .
The seemingly troubled FIM World Supercross Championship has announced a four-race schedule for 2024 , visiting two new cities . Round 1 will be at BC Place , Vancouver , Canada , on October 26 , the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps , a Canadian professional Soccer team . Rounds 2 and 3 will be a Double Header at HBF Park ( formerly Perth Oval ), the home of Australian A-League Soccer Team Perth Glory , in Perth , Australia , on 23 and 24 November . The 2024 WSX Championship will wrap up at Etihad Arena , Yas Island , Abu Dhabi , UAE , on December 4 , during the final race of the 2024 Formula 1 Grand Prix season ; www . wsxchampionship . com
Yamaha Motor Europe has appointed Michael van Zomeren as Director of Marketing & Motorsport , and a member of the YME Management Committee , succeeding Paolo Pavesio .
The 2024 / 2025 FIM Europe SuperEnduro Cup will begin on December 14 , 2024 , in Gliwice , Poland . The second round will take the competitors to Riesa , Germany , on January 4 , 2025 , then on to Cluj-Napoca , Romania , for round three on January 18 , 2025 . The final round will be on February 8 , 2025 , in Budapest , Hungary .

Supersprox chains - additional teams testing mid-range displacement products

Supersprox is introducing new chains into its product range . DJ Maughfling , Supersprox C . E . O ., says : " We have been producing , racing and selling sprockets for 65 years and we think that our knowledge on sprockets is sound . Now we have decided to introduce a second product . From this year , we are also racing Supersprox chains ." Supersprox is already advertising its ' Performance ' line chain to complement its sprockets for 50-400 cc street models , but DJ believes there is a need for something in the middisplacement space . " There will be a need to develop more products for the emerging mid-range classes of motorcycle displacements . We already have many top-quality products for the high-performance bikes . And at the other end , there are many low price and unknown brand products on the market for small cc , low-power and low-cost bikes . Many of them of unknown or of uncertain provenance , low-grade materials and manufacturing quality . " We believe the expanding middisplacement segment is not as well supported as it needs to be . These are the 400 cc-900 cc bikes , with less than 80 bhp , many coming from China and India .
" Supersprox is already able to offer a range of sprockets for these motorcycles , but what about the chains ? Riders on € 2,500 - € 8,000 motorcycles are not very likely to fit high-quality Japanese racing chains . And as they are not likely to fit Supersprox Stealth dual material sprockets , this sector is looking for something in between , and that presents a problem . " Apart from the brands that the industry knows and trusts , there are several younger chain producers . Most of these are not able to accurately position their chains in the market . It ' s very easy for the consumer to buy a chain that is not suitable for their motorcycle and to have a negative experience as a result . " Supersprox will approach this , as we
do with the sprockets , by going racing with our chains - as we do with our sprockets . In 2024 , and continuing into 2025 , we have partnered with professionals in IDM , SBK-SS300 and Rally . These three teams are using Supersprox chains and providing valuable feedback - feedback that will allow us to understand and improve the product quality and reliability we are achieving and that these teams need . In the World Supersport class , we are working with the WRP Triumph team on the Street Triple RS 765 cc . In the World Supersport 300 class , we are supporting the Fusport-RT Motorsport Kawasaki team on the Ninja 400 . And in the Rally category , we are supporting the French Yamaha Ténéré 700 cc team in the Moroccan desert challenge series . " It is our firm belief that these and other racing activities will help us to develop , improve and understand the chain market , allowing us to offer the segment a valuable alternative with accurate application information , a known brand pedigree and race-proven reliability ." www . supersprox . com
14 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - JULY / AUGUST 2024 www . idnmag . com