TRAVERSE Issue 04 - February 2018 | Page 8

D LAKE GAIRDNER READY FOR TWO WHEELED RECORDS ry Lake Racers Australia (DLRA) have an- nounce the inaugural World Speed Trials to be held at Lake Gairdner in outback South Australia. The event will be conducted from the 17th to the 19th March 2018, the day after Speed Week concludes. The concept was originally planned to allow Ruedi Steck from Switzerland to attempt a few record breaking runs however, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) along with its Australian associate, Motorcycle Aus- tralia, has opened it up to all motorcycle landspeed record attempts under FIM specifications. The event promises to be one of the biggest of its type in the world and will see some of the biggest names from around the world compete. Further details can be found at www.dlra.org.au/2018world-record.htm NEW ADVENTURE RALLYE Outback Motorcycle Adventures based out of Alice Springs, Australia have released details of a new multi-day adventure rallye for the 2018 calendar. Former Finke Desert Race winner, Michael Vroom, says the event will see each day start and finish in Alice Springs allowing competitors to see this unique part of Australia's centre. The event held in August will cover around 1,300 kilo- metres of everything Australia's outback can offer. More details can be found at: www.outbackmotorcycleadventures.com.au BIKES DECLINE IN BRITAIN Motorcycle sales in Britain have continued their down- ward trend, as in previous years. Last years figures indicate that sales are down 18% on 2016 with December being the worst month of the year. 18% accounts for over 23,000 bikes. Experts suggest two key factors are impacting the sales; the new Euro 4 regulations and the uncertainty of Brexit. Registration were up in December 2016 as the new rules came into affect at the start of 2017 and perhaps riders who would've purchased bikes in 2017 have pre-ordered and are prepared to wait until 2018 for the newer genera- tion of Euro 4 bikes. Brexit is of course affecting markets however, as this stabilises it's believed that sales will return to previous amounts. ADVENTURE SALES UP While overall motorcycle sales are down across Britain one area that continues to grow is the adventure market. No doubt people still want to travel or feel they are pre- pared for the day they do. KENDA SUPPORTS ADVENTURE RIDERS Kenda Tyres (USA) continues to support adventure rid- ing and thrown it's support behind the KTM AMA National Adventure Riding Series and the BETA AMA National Dual Sport Series. Kenda is adventure ready with tyres that are well suit- ed to making the transition from tarmac to dirt and back. They will use both AMA events to showcase and further develop their products. A gruelling commitment consid- ering the combined series' have a schedule of 40 individ- ual events. TRAVERSE 8