International Dealer News IDN 154 April/May 2020 | Page 36

PRO GuIDe eXTRA Yoko Europe Yoko is a leading MX and off-road gear and apparel brand that has roots going back more than 40 years, now distributed in Europe by newly formed Yoko Europe based at Lommel, Belgium. What became the Yoko brand, founded in 1977 in Finland by Juha Tirinen and Kaija Gustafsson, was initially a sportswear manufacturing company named Joko. Both had considerable experience in the industry, having previously worked together at Finnish sportswear companies Koho and Sinisalo. Joko started off making mitts for a sport called Pesäpallo, a Finnish version of baseball. Juha Tirinen was an international level motocross racer, so Joko naturally began to branch out into motocross gear, starting its endeavour in co- operation with a brand called Moto-X Fox. The first items born of this collaboration were Moto-X Fox gloves manufactured by Joko. It was Fox founder Geoff Fox who told Tirinen that, in his opinion, Joko should be written with a Y instead of a J, so Joko became Yoko. Later on, it was Tirinen who suggested that Geoff incorporate the Fox head symbol in the "FOX" brand. Fast forward 40 years and Yoko teamed up with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Ice One, one of the premier teams in the MXGP World Championship series, owned by F1 Champion Kimi Raïkkönen and managed by former MXGP rider stretching, yet highly breathable and strong Y-Viilee main material and feature an aggressive pre-cut to riding position, waist adjustment with front buckle and elastic side straps and pre-shaped, heat and abrasion resistant leather on inner knees. SKLODDI urban jacket for Eläintarhanajot, is named after a legendary street track used from 1932 until 1963 in the city of Helsinki. It is an all-round touring jacket with strong, laminated but elastic materials and multiple adjusting features for various weather conditions. The jacket is made from Cordura main material with Hydronyl 700 protective material, has a removable waterproof lining and thermo lining and adjustable straps in hem, body, wrist and arm. It also has waterproof ventilation zippers at the front and a fixed exhaust vent in the back, waterproof wrist opening zipper with integrated ventilation channels, removable CE approved back, elbow and shoulder protectors and a zipper to attach to riding pants. ELTSU pants Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team manager Antti Pyrhönen and Yoko Europe CEO Jan Berthels shake hands to seal the deal that sees Yoko providing the team with riding gear and team wear for the next three years. Antti Pyrhönen. Signing a 3-year deal with the team shows that Yoko is "fully committed to coming back to the highest ranks in MX racing, developing quality gear along the way". A multi-year contract with future motocross superstar Liam Everts was signed the same year while father and MX legend Stefan Everts joined the company shortly after Yoko Europe was founded by Jan Berthels of Technical Touch in Lommel, Belgium. Now in 2020, Yoko added the Monster Energy Yamaha EMX250 Hutten Metaal team to the line-up, as well as 65 cc World Junior Champion and EMX65 Champion Vitezslav Marek and EMX85 Champion Edvards Bidzans. ELTSU jacket - Road Gear Best Seller This premium ELTSU jacket, which is Helsinki slang 36 Touring pants with excellent fit and multiple adjusting features for various weather conditions. Made from the same materials as the ELTSU jacket, it is fitted with removable and adjustable CE approved knee protectors. Further features include adjustable straps at the waist and leg openings, large cargo pockets, two front pockets, two waterproof ventilation zippers in the front, and a zipper to attach to any riding jacket. Detachable suspenders are included. Viilee MX jersey and pants The Viilee (Finnish slang for cool) jersey is a vented motocross jersey with excellent fit, offering two colourway options to go with one colourway of pants. Features include venting and highly stretching Y-Prodry main material, raglan sleeves for added mobility, side panels with highly venting mesh and a long back hem with silicone print to keep the jersey tucked in pants. The Viilee pants are the "latest innovation in motocross pants". They are made from a new INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - APRIL/MAY 2020 Skloddi, Helsinki slang for rebel youngsters, is an "urban motorcycle gear set for a young and rebellious audience". The Skloddi jacket "with its great looking camo design, is the most wanted in the urban collection". This comfortable hooded jacket has Hydropol 600 as main material, together with a waterproof and breathable liner and removable CE protectors at the back, elbow and shoulders. SKLODDI pants This "cool and comfortable set" is completed with these matching urban pants. It includes removable CE protectors, and with extra strategically placed flex panels in the rear waist and above knees, "the comfort level is great". Velcro adjustment straps enable the best individual fit. It is equipped with cargo thigh pockets and two big front pockets, providing sufficient capacity for storing a cellphone or wallet. STRITTI gloves These protective motorcycle gloves have an excellent fit thanks to a neoprene wrist with Velcro closure. They are made from strong and soft nylon main material with a synthetic leather palm and 3D rubber TPR protection and extra carbon knuckle protectors. YOKO EUROPE Lommel, BELGIUM Tel: [phone] [email protected] www.yoko-europe.com www.idnmag.com