BRP is celebrating 50 years since the launch of the Sea-Doo personal watercraft brand. The first model was a two-seater and proved ahead of its time, creating what has gone on to be a two-million- unit industry. Powered by an air-cooled, 320cc Rotax engine, to prove its capabilities, Bombardier CEO and President at the time, Laurent Beaudoin and his management team rode new Sea-Doo watercraft from Montreal to New York City, a trip with over 430 miles through Lake Champlain and down the Hudson River.

A rare, original condition, Britishmade, Australian speed record-setting 1951 Vincent Black Lightning was sold at auction in Las Vegas by Bonhams for $ 929,000, making it the most valuable motorcycle ever sold at auction. Built by special order and imported new into Australia by Tony McAlpine, the Vincent Black Lightning – number 7305 – is one of only about 30 Black Lightning models ever built by the Stevenage factory.

Norton Motorcycles has appointed Queensland based Brisbane Motorcycles as its new Australian importer.

Construction industry equipment manufacturer Caterpillar has announced plans to enter the utility vehicle market via a deal with Textron Specialised Vehicles, the owner of Arctic Cat since their acquisition in early 2017. It will sell Cat UTV models through Caterpillar dealerships starting in 2018.

BRP has announced it is to build a new North American HQ at Plano, Texas. The move is designed to situate them“ closer and better connected to our largest market”, according to BRP GM Sandy Scullion.

Based near Brunswick in northern Germany, it isn’ t often that anyone manages to build a business with such a clearly defined specialty into the size of operation that Italian parts specialist Stein Dinse is today. But Hans-Dieter Stein has managed it. He started the business in 1983 and as the company celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, it is selling over 40,000 different products from more than 200 different vendors from a 7,000 sq m( 70,000 sq ft) facility that is 100 percent dedicated to the“ Passion for Italian”. Specifically, a passion for all things Moto Guzzi, Ducati and Aprillia – with a hint of MV Agusta thrown in for good measure! Indeed, so successful has the formula been that those 35 years of hard work have meant that Stein Dinse is by far

the world’ s largest spare part and accessory seller for these brands, with a native speaker service staff that are one of the world’ s major knowledge resources for parts for Italian made motorcycles. Not just‘ late-model’ parts either – the company sells hundreds, in fact thousands of parts for older models, especially Moto Guzzi models, that are just not available from anyone else, anywhere.“ For older models, we offer several spare parts and accessories, which are completely sold out in the market or no longer available. It may happen that there is a missing part in our range, but since we are deeply engaged with preservation of the old machines, we can always ask our alternative suppliers,” says Hans-Dieter.“ Through decades we continuously developed the trading of components and spare parts for the great Italian brands Ducati and Moto Guzzi. Meanwhile, we are the official importer for Dellorto, Brembo, Mistral and Unibat, offering almost every spare part for the current Italian models.“ We sell to dealers and to enthusiasts, and in addition to our catalogue, we offer our entire range, including many specialty service and repair

Hans-Dieter Stein: " For older models, we offer several spare parts and accessories, which are completely sold out in the market or no longer available "

replacement spare parts and components online too – with excellent shipping to all European destinations and beyond and orders placed up to 4 pm usually being shipped the same day.“ In fact, despite regular maintenance and revision, we are getting ready for another major upgrade and relaunch of our e-commerce platform this year with even better functionality and help for our customers”. The available product line stretches from replacement engine and service components such as filters, pads, tyres, oil and gaskets, to exhausts, brake lines, luggage and luggage carriers, calipers, discs and lifestyle parts such as helmets and apparel. www. stein-dinse. com

The dates for the FIM’ S International Six Days Enduro( ISDE) have changed. Originally scheduled for October, it has been rescheduled for November 12-17 at the same Viña del Mar, Chile location. The World’ s largest annual off-road competition, since 1913 countries have sent their best off-road racers to exotic locations around the world. The event’ s top prize is the ISDE World Trophy.