Yamaha and Dorna Sports have signed a new agreement that will see the Japanese company continue as the official scooter supplier to the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Yamaha first became the exclusive scooter supplier for MotoGP in 2005. This new agreement supplies Dorna with a fleet of 25 NMAX 125 scooters.
Suzuki Motor has signed with Dorna Sports to extend its involvement in the FIM MotoGP World Championship from the 2022 season to 2026 - continuing to race as Team Suzuki Ecstar. Suzuki's racing story began in 1960 with the Isle of Man TT. Last year it celebrated its 100th anniversary and 60 years in racing by winning the riders' World Championship with Joan Mir.
Dell'Orto remains the Official Data Acquisition partner of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup. A one-year contract extension sees the Italian company remain on board with MotoE until at least 2022. Energica provides the 'spec' bikes for the series and Dell'Orto supplies a state-of-the-art system including data logger, inertial measurement unit, tyre monitoring system and suspension and brake sensors.
Acerbis is to continue as a WorldSBK official sponsor for four more years. Acerbis has been an official sponsor of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship since 2013.
On the retirement of Arai's long-serving distributor in southern Ireland, MotoDirect, a British distribution subsidiary of Bartenheim, France based BIHR, has added the Republic of Ireland to its exclusive sales territory for Arai Helmets. MotoDirect has been representing Arai in the United Kingdom since 2012.
Ducati has presented the new livery for the Hypermotard 950 SP and updated the entire family to Euro 5 standard. "The new livery recalls the world of racing in its colours and that of freestyle sports in its graphic lines, underlining the dynamic character of the bike". They are expected in dealerships in May.
Dorna Sports has announced the signing of an agreement with Aprilia Racing to continue participation in the FIM MotoGP World Championship through 2026. From the 2022 season, the RS-GP factory bikes will be on track with the official Aprilia Racing Team.
In a continuation of its partnership with ADAC, Dorna has signed a contract for MotoGP racing to remain at the Sachsenring in Germany for another five years. The classic German track will stay on the MotoGP calendar until at least 2026, remaining the home of the Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. One of the highlights of the sporting year in Germany since 1998, some 200,000 attend the race weekend.
After being closed without notice by prior owner Vogel, Stephan Maderner's respected industry blog 'Bike & Business" is back in business - thanks to the rather more enlightened and PTW-friendly management at Syburger Verlag - publisher of Motorrad News, Motorrad Abenteuer and Touren Fahrer. B&B is published in print six times a year and as an online blog and newsletter weekly - "Welcome back Stephan!"
Dealernews reported that, following a tornado hitting Yamaha USA's hometown of Newnan, Georgia, a 200% matching fund offer for all employee donations to put towards relief efforts had resulted in $50,760 being raised for the Coweta Community Foundation Tornado Relief programme as at May 14.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com
