BMW has announced New Zealand (February 9-16) as the venue for its 2020 Oceania International GS Trophy, with a change of model to the F850 GS for a combination, one-way North and South Island route. There will be first-time teams entering from the Netherlands, Argentina, the Middle East and North Africa, with a Nordic team making a comeback to the event.
Husqvarna has announced a "new generation" of MY20 TE and FE Enduro models. The frames have increased longitudinal and torsional rigidity, there's a lighter composite carbon fibre subframe, new aluminium cylinder head mountings and updated 48 mm WP XPLOR front forks and WP XACT shocks for more consistent damping and better resistance to bottoming. An all-new TE 150i is added to the TE 250i and TE 300i; all the 4-strokes received extensive engine upgrades.
Ducati has opened a second flagship store in Rome - a 460 sqm homage to all things "Red" with a showroom, workshop and 'Land of Joy' Ducati Scrambler themed enclave. The flagship stores are mostly directly managed by Ducati. Ducati Roma Gregory VII is adjacent to the Vatican City. Ducati has 780 dealers in 90 countries worldwide, with new openings in recent weeks as far afield as China, India, Brazil, Austria and USA.
KTM "radically race-refined" its EXC range with a "new generation" of MY20 2 and 4-stroke Enduro machines, including its premium KTM Six Days line-up and a special edition KTM 300 EXC TPI Erzbergrodeo. Developed on the "toughest climbs, gnarliest terrain and in deepest mud", the MY20 line-up includes a new model - the Euro 4 homologated KTM 150 EXC TPI. Features through the range include "new and more efficient engines, a redeveloped chassis with improved WP XPLOR suspension, improved handling and new bodywork, air filter box, cooling system and exhausts. Accessories include Neken handlebars and clamps (France), Brembo brakes, No-Dirt footpegs and CNC-milled hubs with Giant rims as standard.
Ducati won first place in the 'Concept Bikes: New Design and Prototypes by Manufacturers and Independents' category at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy in May. They did so with the original and still much admired Hypermotard 950 Concept designed by Ducati's own Central Styling unit. This follows the Red Dot Award recently won by the Diavel 1260. First staged on the shores of Lake Como in 1929, the event is organised by BMW Group jointly with the Villa d'Este hotel.
Custom Rumble, the two-yearly competition for the customised Ducati Scramblers, is back. The second edition, which culminated in the final prize-giving at World Ducati Week 2018, involved 132 international participants. For this third edition there are four categories - two each for the Scrambler 800 and Sixty2 and one for the 1100 - with five design concepts: Rocker, Cut-Down, All-Terrain, Outsider and, for the 1100, Bully. The winning bike will be announced in May 2020.
