AFAM racing bikes stolen after EICMA 2024
In what AFAM describe as a "calculated theft", two of the show bikes the company had on its booth at EICMA were stolen from a hotel, near to the Rho Fiera Milano, on the night of Monday November 11 after the staff had completed booth tear down.
The Belgian manufacturer and distributor displayed the bikes on their booth to showcase the strength and performance of AFAM products and were a popular feature. AFAM says that it had a successful show, with everyone at the company happy about the way it had gone for them and the business contacts that they had made - up until that point!
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| Lotte van Drunen's Yamaha YZ250F |
These were no ordinary bikes, and it does raise questions about the exact nature of the theft.
One belonged to Lotte van Drunen (Team De Baets Yamaha MXGP), the 2024 WMX World Champion (chassis number: JYACG51C000000642) and the other was the Honda CRF 450R owned by Team HONDA SR Motoblouz (Kevin Horgmo and Valentin Guillod; chassis number: JH2PE07AXRK701815).
"The bikes were taken, not from the show floor, but a day after the show had closed, from the parking area of our hotel on the night of Monday November 11 - after we had completed the dismantling of our booth," said AFAM's Rolf Verhagen.
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| Team HONDA SR Motoblouz's CRF 450R |
"This suggests that the thieves followed us, waiting for the right moment to strike. It is suspected that the thieves either followed my colleagues or placed a tracker on the bikes or van, as they seemed to know that the bikes were in the van. It would appear to have been targeted as all the other items in the van, such as a large TV screen and electronics, were left untouched.
"The brazen theft is a significant blow. Not only to AFAM but to the athletes and teams dedicated to excellence in motorsports.
"We urge anyone with information on these stolen bikes to reach out to AFAM. Thank you for your support in helping us bring these bikes back to where they belong - at the side of the champions who ride them."
AFAM offers € 2,000 reward in AFAM products for the golden tip that leads to the retrieval of the bike(s).
