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NEWS
BRIEFS
Founded in 2020 in Barcelona by Swede Anton Wass , Stark Future ( of Stark Varg electric MX bike fame ) has been on a trail of a different kind this year … on the trail of fresh investment capital . Earlier this year , it secured an additional € 25m line of credit from existing share holder ' Big Bets ', a " leading start-up investor and an active backer of successful repeat entrepreneurs ". Anton Wass has followed that up by securing € 40m from the EIB ( European Investment Bank ).
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has confirmed a collaboration with Marelli Motorsport for the FIM Motocross World Championship . Marelli has been a long-term KTM partner in the development of electronic systems and data administration in various racing disciplines , especially road racing , and with the birth of the MotoGP project midway through the last decade . " The company began an official affiliation with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ( in Rally ) in 2023 , and this bond will now intensify as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pursues its goals in the MXGP and MX2 classes ".
In some European markets , KTM and Husqvarna are discounting the dealer cost of a large number of 2023 / 2024 models by 19 %, by effectively not charging them the VAT - in order to reduce unsold inventory levels at dealerships and at the factory . The promo runs to the end of 2024 .
Finnish electric motorcycle manufacturer Verge has opened its first German retail store , in the centre of Oberhausen . Stores have also opened in UK and USA . The store designs have been masterminded by George Blankenship , who supervised retail store design at Apple and dealership design at Tesla .
Spanish electric motorcycle brand Torrot is on the expansion trail - looking for distribution partners for its range of ( mostly ) children ' s , youth and city machines in select markets .
Chinese lightweight e-dirt bike manufacturer Gowgow ( Shanghai ) has opened new headquarters in Munich for the EMEA markets .
MotoGP racers are to finally start using radio comms systems with their pit box . Radios have been tested before , but were abandoned for privacy and focus reasons . Finally , however , the realities of the needs of good pit crewrider teamwork at speeds of over 300 kph have triumphed over indiscretions and egos .
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September 2024 shows a decline [ in total market sales data ] of -6.3 %. September was also the weakest month since January 2024 with a decline of -14.6 %", and that this means that " a rapid recovery cannot be expected ". " In Europe , the registration data for the overall motorcycle market from January to September 2024 is at the previous year ' s level due to increases in the low-price segment .
However , it shows a slowdown in momentum " Despite the slight reduction in inventories , further destocking remains an important objective . However , PIERER Mobility remains clearly committed to supporting dealers and suppliers as a strategic partner in these difficult times . As a result of measures taken in this respect , working capital and consequently the company ' s net debt
Regina adds Bergamaschi
One of the world ' s oldest motorcycle parts manufacturers - legendary chain specialist Regina - has signed a distribution deal for the Italian market with one of the market ' s oldest distributors - Milan based E . Bergamaschi & Figlio Spa . The deal will become effective from this year ' s EICMA . Presently distributed by Mandelli ( based north of Milan , near Monza ), Regina and Bergamaschi are stalwarts of the European motorcycle parts and accessory industry with , remarkably , both businesses being founded in 1919 . Bergamaschi will carry the entire product range of Regina , from road to off-road applications , as the Regina Extra range of race-specific products made for racing . Bergamaschi will also offer a wide range of chain kits for most applications , with Regina chain combined with JT sprockets . and interest expenses increased ". The company points to previously announced bicycle segment restructuring being " in full swing " with " destocking " continuing . " The balance sheet restructuring will be completed in 2024 . This will involve an additional extraordinary impairment requirement that is higher than originally assumed ". To a large extent " the reduction of the cost structure in the core business with a reduction in the headcount and the consolidation of all R & D activities for the Group ' s brands has already been implemented ". The " redimensioning " of the entire bicycle division will be " systematically continued in 2025 . The aim is to operate the bicycle division profitably with a business model focused on niches and premium ". " As a result of these circumstances , PIERER Mobility will fall short of expectations in terms of revenue and earnings , as well as with regard to the reduction in working capital and net debt in the current financial year " and has confirmed that it is revoking its guidance for the 2024 financial year . " A new review of
www . reginachain . net www . bergamaschi . com
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The men : Regina CEO Paolo Garbagnati and Bergamaschi CEO Bruno Bergamaschi
non-cash value adjustments will also be carried out by the end of the year ". In what can only be interpreted as an emergency measure , PIERER Mobility AG has reduced the Executive Board of the listed holding company to two members from six : Stefan Pierer ( CEO ) and Gottfried Neumeister ( Co-CEO ). Neumeister is a management executive with a diverse background ( but motorcycle industry outsider ), whom Pierer hired as a Co- CEO at the start of September this year . When the news of Neumeister ' s appointment was published , the arrival at the top of the business of someone who is less likely to have an ' emotionally ' invested mindset where the accumulation of a stack of motorcycle brands is concerned , had been broadly welcomed by financial and motorcycle industry company observers . On the Swiss Stock Exchange , Pierer stock was trading as low as CHF 13.90 on 23 October , two days after this latest announcement . That is down from as high as CHF 84.70 in March 2023 , with an all-time high of CHF 94.00 seen in February 2022 .
Available in 525 and 520 Series , Regina ' s High Performance Endurance ( HPE ) Z-ring chain was the first motorcycle chain that eliminated the need for 1,000 km periodic and workshop service interval relubrication . The ' secret sauce ' is the hydrogen-free tetrahedral amorphous carbon ( ta-C ) coating , currently considered as the most advanced among DLC ( Diamond Like Carbon ) coatings .
12 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024