The BMW sponsored Concorso d`Eleganza Villa d´Este (on the shore of Lake Como - Cernobbio, Northern Italy) will be staged from 22 to 24 May 2020. Registration is now open, and this signals the start of the selection procedure when decisions are taken on which vehicles will be on show.
The European Motorcycle Training Quality Label (EMTQL) has received a European Commission Road Safety Charter Award in the category "voluntary commitments", acknowledging "inspirational and innovative initiatives that contribute towards improving road safety and saving lives". The award was presented by the EC Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc to Antonio Perlot, the Secretary General of ACEM, on behalf of the three members running the EMTQL - ACEM, FIM and the German Road Safety Council (DVR). Open to all training bodies, the EMTQL is a voluntary certification scheme for post-licence motorcycle training programmes and open to all training bodies.
Dainese has announced the grand opening of its latest flagship retail location in Las Vegas. Featuring an "innovative retail concept that creates a journey through moto history with memorabilia, including one of Valentino Rossi's suits, all surrounded by the world's most advanced protective apparel. Designed by Renato Montagner, the retail environment immerses visitors in the rich heritage of the Dainese and AGV brands while profiling all riding styles including racing, touring, street and urban".
From November Ducati is offering a four-year unlimited mileage warranty on the whole Multistrada family - the programme is called 4Ever Multistrada. Valid for all the 950 and 1260 Multistrada models of the range, including the new 1260 S Multistrada Grand Tour, 4Ever Multistrada is offered directly by Ducati and is effective in all European territories.
Maxxis is ending its 14-year partnership with the ACU in the UK as title sponsor of the British Motocross Championship from the 2020 season. Maxxis says that "due to changing needs, following substantial growth over the years, Maxxis' brand marketing activity will now take a more globally focussed approach, shifting the focus of its domestic sponsorship strategies to working with UK teams to achieve successes on its products".
VW has 'bet the farm' on its electric future, committing over € 66 Bn ($72 Bn) to an electric car future. The group plans to have introduced up to 75 all-models by 2029, plus some 60 hybrid vehicles. € 33 Bn of that will be dedicated to developing electric cars across its global brands - Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and its Skoda and Seat Europe specific brands.
Honda UK is to return to road racing at the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT races with a new rider line-up of Glenn Irwin and Davey Todd (Superbike and Superstock classes on the new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP), with Glenn and his brother Andrew in the BSK and Davey with Tom Neave in the National Superstock 1000 Championship.
