Motoz

Motoz - Tractionator Outback race tyre

Said to be "built for the toughest rally conditions", Australian Motoz off-road tyre brand owner Bruce Collins Enterprises (BCE) has announced the addition of its newest high-performance rally tyre - the Tractionator Outback Race.

Said to have been four years in development, it has been tested in events like the Finke Desert Race and the 2025 Dakar, where it helped Jordan Strachan finish 69th on his Kove 450.

Bruce Collins said that it is "designed to meet the extreme demands of rally raid racing," and that it is a "significant evolution in off-road tyre technology." Features include a new tread compound and a reinforced carcass "that together deliver enhanced stability, long-lasting endurance, and exceptional performance across a wide range of challenging terrains."

Based on the Euro Enduro 6 tread pattern, the tyre's new tread compound and carcass construction offer "enhanced stability in extreme terrain, improved heat dissipation, and high mileage to endure the toughest races.

"The ability to shed heat makes for consistent performance in extreme temperatures, while the stronger carcass and new compound deliver added durability and stability offering high endurance and performance across extended distances."

Street legal (DOT ECER75 approval), the tyre is available in 140/80-18 size, and is suitable for a range of rally bikes.

MOTOZ PTY LTD

www.motoz.com.au

Planet Knox

Knox - Urban Pro Move

British protective apparel specialist Knox (aka Planet Knox) has launched a new series of upgrades to one of its top-selling undergarment product lines. 

Described as "built for riders who demand more", the company's Urban Pro-Move is a high-performance, CE Class AA-certified armoured shirt designed for maximum breathability, stretch, and flexibility in warm weather.

Building on the popular Mk2/Mk3 platforms, it features lightweight Micro-Lock Level 2 armour, In-Motion mesh, and six internal pockets. It is suitable for a wide range of motorcycle disciplines.

The upgrades target endurance and movement. The brand's signature high tenacity, abrasion resistant fabric remains, and this has been paired with Knox InMotion Mesh. It maintains its CE AA rating and the Knox Micro Lock CE Level 2 armour remains in the shoulders, elbows, and back.

However, the company says that "the feel is transformed. The fit has been re-engineered to better accommodate an optional chest protector, so riders can take their protection to the max. Solid linings are gone, replaced by strong yet lightweight power mesh for next level airflow.

The Urbane Pro Move has been designed to work seamlessly with all styles in the 'Knox Seasonless' Collection. "When it's cool or wet, add a separate Knox warm or waterproof layer that we have designed to work seamlessly with any armoured shirt. One system for every season." Certified to EN17092.

PLANET KNOX

www.planet-knox.com

ACEM

Rightsizing urban mobility: "L-Category vehicles for the cities of tomorrow" 

With 2027 marking a crucial milestone for European cities, the year when many Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) are expected to be implemented, the discussion between Europe's motorcycle industry trade associations has been focussed on how these frameworks are reshaping urban transport. 

At EICMA in November ANCMA and ACEM staged "Rightsizing Urban Mobility: L-category vehicles for the cities of tomorrow" - an urban mobility conference that brought together policymakers, local administrations, and industry leaders to discuss how these vehicles can help cities cut congestion, reduce emissions, and reclaim space for people.

Headquartered in Milan (with a branch in Brussels) TRT Trasporti e Territorio has 35-years as an independent mobility, transport economics, planning, and modeling consultancy that supports public and private decision-makers in sustainable urban mobility, freight logistics, and environmental impact studies.

Sofia Pechin, an urban mobility consultant at TRT described "a clear paradigm shift from traditional, car-centric planning toward approaches centred on people, accessibility, and functionality to face growing challenges and new regulations within the cities." 

Responding to these challenges, through ACEM, the motorcycle industry highlighted how L-category vehicles can offer "immediate and measurable benefits" with Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM, sharing the preliminary findings from an Oxford Economics study on the Economic importance of motorcycles to Europe - the full report is expected to be published soon.

The report finds that across the EU and UK, powered two-wheelers (PTWs) already save commuters an estimated 25.6 million days annually, compared to car use. A modest 5% modal shift from cars to PTWs could add 28 million days saved, deliver € 3.8 billion in cost savings, and reduce GHG emissions worth € 308 million per year, while freeing urban space equivalent to the area of Paris.

Some European cities are already recognising this potential and working to harness it. Practical examples from Barcelona and Milan illustrate how L-category vehicles are becoming part of local mobility strategies. 

Barcelona's newly established Motorcycle Observatory, developed with ANESDOR, serves as a permanent public-private platform to "design and monitor measures that improve safety, coexistence, and decarbonisation". Demonstrating how collaboration can drive tangible progress. 

In Milan, "where powered two-wheelers already represent a significant share of daily mobility" the city is promoting fleet renewal and incentivising electric PTWs, "reinforcing its commitment to cleaner and more efficient urban transport".

Building on these local success stories, the closing panel at the EICMA conference featured Frank Hansen, Lead Strategist for Sustainable Mobility at BMW Group; Clément Villet, Director of Land Mobility at Yamaha Motor Europe; Vito Parisi, National Vice President for Public Transport, Urban Traffic, and Mobility at ANCI and Pedro Gomes, Clean Vehicles & Air Quality Cluster Lead at POLIS Network as well as Sofia Pechin and Antonio Perlot.

Perlot stated: "There is a clear positive attitude towards the integration of L-category vehicles in urban mobility. What we want to achieve is for policymakers and cities to fully recognise the potential of these vehicles, including them in future SUMPS.  This warrants closer cooperation between public authorities and vehicle manufacturers, providing further opportunities for improved urban mobility."

Mariano Roman, President of ANCMA added that "confindustria ANCMA will continue its dialogue in the coming months with ANCI and its members to ensure that Italian cities fully acknowledge the role and potential of L-category vehicles within their urban mobility strategies."

The panel emphasised that the path to sustainable urban mobility depends on "closer cooperation between cities, industry, and citizens". The key motorcycle industry findings from the Oxford Economics study will appear in an upcoming IDN edition.

News Briefs

German scooter parts, accessories and lifestyle specialist SIP Scootershop has won a German Design Award 2026 for its annual customer magazine CURVE. Honoured as winner in the 'Communication Design Excellence' category, CURVE is a 100-page celebration of all things Vespa and Lambretta - "with a clear focus on the scene, culture, technology and people."

Former BMW VP Stephan Reiff has been added to the Supervisory Board of KTM AG as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) - responsible for Sales, Marketing, Brand Strategy, Dealer Network and Aftersales. 

The Austrian KSR Group is further expanding its international brand portfolio, taking over the official distribution of KOVE Motorcycles in Germany.

LeMans Chairman Paul Langley and legendary Bonneville streamliner racer Denis Manning have been named among the 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame Inductees. Legendary customizer Dave Perewitz receives a Lifetime Achievement award and John Andrews receives the posthumous 'Kickstands Down Award' for his lifetime as a pioneering engineer and founder of cams and gear innovator Andrews Products; www.sturgismuseum.com

BRP says its "design excellence shines globally" as it celebrates 20 International Design Awards in 2025 - including for the Pulse and Origin electric motorcycles, with the entire BRP Design Team having been awarded a Red Dot Design Team of the Year earlier in 2025. A 'bright and shiny' thing indeed!; www.brp.com

Boise, Idaho based Western Power Sports (WPS - part of the same Arrowhead Group as Bihr distribution, All Balls Racing, Vertex and RST apparel) has added distribution for another European group member - the British RFX high-performance offroad motorcycle component specialist.

OMotion, a 2013 founded lightweight, electric 3-wheeled vehicle manufacturer has announced that its new 630 m2 factory has been completed at Lund, Sweden, giving it the capacity to build 200 vehicles a year; www.omotion.se

The Panigale V4 has won a Good Design Award, completing a trio of 2025 international design awards that also includes 2025 iF Design Award and the 2025 Red Dot Award.

Harley-Davidson has confirmed agreements with Niti Racing (Indonesia), who join previously announced teams Saddlemen Race Development (USA), Cecchini Racing Garage (Italy), and Joe Rascal Racing (Australia) on the provisional entry list for their MotoGP hosted Bagger World Cup. Additionally, Joe Rascal Racing has received approval to expand its entry from two to three riders. In terms of format, it has now been announced that at the United States, Netherlands, Great Britain, Aragón (Spain), and Austria Grand Prix the weekend will follow a three-day format with two Free Practice sessions on the Friday, qualifying sessions and Race 1 on Saturday (scheduled immediately after the MotoGP Tissot Sprint) with Race 2 held either on the Sunday morning or afternoon, depending on the event. At the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, there will be a modified format with FP1, FP 2 and qualifying all on the Friday with the Bagger World Cup Race 1 and Race 2 both on the Saturday.

First it was lay-offs, then re-hires and now it is to be lay-offs again in Austria - as Bajaj Mobility AG (formerly PIERER Mobility AG) starts to flex its muscles and weigh its next steps following effective acquisition of the KTM group of brands. "The aim is to sustainably strengthen competitiveness by reducing fixed costs, streamlining structures, focusing the product and project portfolio, and optimizing our international site and leadership network. As part of this necessary realignment, a reduction of around 500 employees - predominantly in salaried positions and middle management - is unavoidable." The headcount as of December 31, 2025, amounted to 3,794 employees. 

BP Oil has agreed to sell a 65% majority stake in its Castrol lubricants business to alterative investment firm Stonepeak - an Equity Investor by any other name. The deal that values the entire division at $8bn.

CEO & Founder Anton Wass says that his Barcelona, Spain based EV manufacturer Stark Future "opened 2026 with +200% January growth and strong operating momentum." Stark is one of the few e-PTW manufacturers who is actually making money (the Stark 'Varg' is a much admired off-roader). Wass says that the demand remains strong across key markets as delivery capacity and partner confidence improve further; www.starkfuture.com

World Ducati Week

World Ducati Week 2026

This year sees the return of the hugely popular World Ducati Week, but with a difference.

To be staged from 3-5 July, at the Misano World Circuit and the Adriatic Riviera, this edition of WDW will be part of Ducati's 2026 Centenary Celebrations.

The most eagerly awaited moment will again be the Race of Champions, which this year will follow a format featuring free practice and qualifying on Saturday, and the official race on Sunday. 

The 2026 edition World Ducati Week will be the culmination of Ducati's Centenary celebrations, already underway and slated to reach their peak at the Misano World Circuit - Saturday, 4 July will be the exact anniversary of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer: " the event will go beyond the boundaries of a gathering to become a global celebration of two wheels, capable of uniting generations of enthusiasts in one big community."

There will be new products, contests and in-depth sessions with Ducati engineers, designers and experts, alongside opportunities to meet riders from the present and past. There will be many chances to take to the track with one's own motorcycle, Ducati model Test Rides and Riding Experience sessions, culminating in the parade – "one of the unmissable rituals of WDW - a spectacular 'snake' of motorcycles that comes to life with a lap of the circuit."

All WDW ticket holders will be able to visit the Ducati factory and the Ducati Museum in Borgo Panigale at a reduced rate. For accompanied minors up to the age of 18, admission to the event will cost a symbolic € 1. Admission will be free of charge for participants coming from outside Europe (Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania), for people with disabilities and their accompanying people. A special discounted rate is available only to Ducati Official Club members active for the 2026 season. 

www.ducati.com

GET

GET CDI control unit - 2026 Yamaha YZ 125

GET has expanded the compatibility of its CDI control unit for the Yamaha YZ 125 cc to make it available for MY 2026.

"A solution that has already been well appreciated for the improved performance, control and reliability we developed for Yamaha's iconic motocross model is designed to enhance the responsive character of Yamaha's two-stroke engine," says GET Brand Manager Emanuele Gobbi.

Offering two pre-installed maps for racing or wet conditions set-ups, features include seamless plug & play installation, increased power and maximised reliability.

"Additionally, thanks to the [separately available] GET Maya programming software, it is possible to further modify the ignition advance curve to customize the mapping according to the rider's specific needs," says Emanuele.

"CDI is the ECU for 2-stroke carburettor engines, it is the perfect device to optimise the management of the ignition curve and to maximize the engine performances. CDI is plug & play on standard engines".

ATHENA

www.athena.eu

BS Battery

Power Box - BS Battery expands booster range

Paris based battery and charger specialist BS Battery has expanded its range of boosters with its new Power Box AIR  and Power Box MAX.

The new additions are "to meet growing market demand" and "build on the strong success of our Power Box. These two new high-value solutions allow distributors and their dealers to address a wider variety of customer needs with a clear, segmented offering."

Their original Power Box quickly became a "best seller" as a result of the two most important features any Power Boost device can have - reliability and versatility. However, as usage patterns continued to evolve, BS Battery says it has identified two new key demands from riders and professionals alike - even greater functionality for everyday mobility, and even greater starting power for larger vehicles and ever-increasing power requirements. 

"The result is a smarter, more targeted booster range. The Power Box AIR (1,200A for 12V lead-acid batteries with up to 20 jump starts per charge) integrates a built-in air compressor  delivering up to 10.3 bar / 150 PSI for tyres, sports gear, and more) combining battery boosting and tyre inflation in one compact device.

For distributors and their dealers, it represents a strong upselling opportunity in the accessories and travel equipment segment. 

The Power Box MAX, a powerful 2,000A jump starter, designed for higher engine capacities and more demanding applications, is able to deliver up to 40 jump starts on a single charge for 12V lead-acid batteries, including gas engines up to 8.0 litres and diesel engines up to 6.0 litres.

"This accessory is the ideal solution to jump start your battery when your battery is hard to reach, hidden, or when using clamps is not possible. It answers the needs of professional users and customers seeking maximum performance and reliability. We have brought ergonomics to jump stating!"

BS BATTERY

www.bs-battery.com