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From One Dealer To Another!
On Sunday, family, friends, fellow legends and heroes gathered at Malcolm Smith Motorsports to celebrate the life of the Motorcyclist Of The Century.
Another company we met with in Milan headed to AIMExpo is SMK.
Industry newcomer Tromox will show up in Las Vegas with the showstoppers they had at Milan.
Shifting Gears
An industry veteran joins iconic brand with the appointment of Chris Peterman as VP of Sales & Dealer Development for Moto Morini USA.
Promoting from within: Harley-Davidson has named Jonathan Root as President, Commercial; Root will also continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer at The Motor Company.
Moto Morini USA will be unveiling multiple new models and making plenty of personnel announcements at AIMExpo, including the news that former Dealernews cover dealer Don Baker has been appointed Southern Region Sales Manager for the iconic Italian brand.
A pair of Parts Unlimited people are ready to ring in the new year at the NVP in Louisville and Las Vegas.
Industry veteran Dan Proffer is the last pro to discover the Denago difference.
Skyler Howes Stage 9, P5 Stage 9 was probably one of the fastest ones of the whole Dakar Rally, we were on the speed limiter at 160km/h for a lot of the day through the fast tracks. There was a lot of gravel, some big ditches and also some tricky navigation. Out in the zone they bulldozed these new roads, I think they’re out to look for oil or something and there’s a lot of the tracks out there, so it was very easy to get tripped up and think you were on a good track and that’s what happened to me after the refuelling. I had a really good stage going in the first half, clipping some minutes off and then I just kind of got stuck in this boulder field, so I lost a couple of minutes there, but overall I had a pretty good stage, it was really fast and kind of my style. We’ve done this stage probably three or four times now, obviously some differences in there, but more or less the same zone, same kind of route. I’m always a fan of this one and I always seem to get caught out by this stuff, so I look forward to next time I’m in this zone when I can have a good run at it. It was a positive day in fifth, puts us in a good position to push on on a very long day in the saddle tomorrow as we head to the Empty Quarter.
There are just three stages remaining in the 2025 Dakar Rally with tomorrow’s test being a mere 116kms included in road sections of 520kms, however the intensity level will remain high as it will be in the depths of the Empty Quarter where the biggest and most difficult dunes will be. The views from the peak of the dunes will be stunning but the soft sand in the dips in between will be the trickiest part that the organisers have set to potentially catch riders out. American duo Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes 10 both rode a solid Stage 9 finishing in fourth and fifth respectively... unchanged in the overall standings to remain fifth and sixth, Brabec remains optimistic about the Empty Quarter challenge that awaits from tomorrow onwards where surprises could be sprung as the days count down. "Today was good, it was kind of a fast special and there wasn’t much to do today, it was more of a transfer day," said Brabec. "I caught my teammate Tosha early on after his crash and we rode together the whole day. I’m happy with the ride and how things are going. There’s only a couple of days left to go, so I think for tomorrow we’re in a good position to gauge what’s going to happen and then go full attack on stage eleven. Nothing’s impossible and nothing’s out of sight. We just have to keep working at it."
Daniel Sanders showcased his signature speed on Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally, setting the fastest time at the first checkpoint and maintaining his lead until past the halfway mark. However, the complex navigation after the first refueling point led to a few small errors that proved costly for Sanders in the tightly contested special. Despite this, Daniel secured an impressive third-place finish, positioning him well for tomorrow’s stage in the demanding dunes of the Empty Quarter. With an overall lead of nearly 15 minutes, the Australian remains in a strong position heading into the final stages of the Rally. “I had a really good start, then after the first refueling point I struggled to see any tracks and the navigation was tough, so I got lost a few times," says Sanders. "I lost a bit of time there, which is disappointing but I’m ready to rest and do it all again tomorrow. You have to be really smart about how you ride the Dakar, so winning the first stages really helped mentally as it boosted my confidence. I feel good now and ready to keep it going in the last few days.”
Although it was KTM Factory Racing teammate Luciano Benavides who won Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally, Aussie Daniel Sanders continues to control the pace. Chucky led much of the stage but finished third after a navigation error in the closing kilometers. He maintains his overall rally lead by close to 15 minutes It was another tough day in the desert for all riders as they completed the ninth stage of this epic 47th running of the Dakar Rally. The route took competitors from Riyadh to Haradh, featuring a 357-kilometer timed special and an additional 232 kilometers of liaison.
#ShiftingGears Moto Morini USA will be unveiling multiple new models and making plenty of personnel announcements at AIMExpo, including the news that former Dealernews cover dealer Don Baker has been appointed Southern Region Sales Manager for the iconic Italian brand. “It's a thrill to join the Moto Morini team,” says Baker. “Moto Morini is a legendary motorcycle brand known around the world for their quality, performance and extraordinary Italian style. Moto Morini is on a mission and I'm here to help dealers exceed their sales goals.” https://dealernews.com/Home/post/shifting-gears-23/
Looking to charge up your electrical system business? With more than 50,000 ATV, UTV, Motorcycle, Snowmobile, PWC and Marine applications, RMSTATOR is truly one stop shopping for your shop. "We are thrilled to share that RMStator will be returning to the AIMExpo from February 5th - 7th, 2025," claims the crew. "My crew does not just sell electrical parts for powersports… they solve problems," said Founder & President Roger Masson of the RMStator way. "They take pride in designing & manufacturing more efficient parts, providing all the information necessary for an easy and reliable installation, and supporting the customer before, during and after the sale. https://dealernews.com/Home/post/charge/
In Case You Missed It
Originally the goal for AIMExpo was to create an all-inclusive event bringing together a trade show for dealers, a consumer component for OEMs and Aftermarket companies to reach, and even a custom bike show for the builders to share their visions.
In a hotly contested race, the Motorcycle Industry Council has voted in two new Board members and re-elected a third.
LCQ For The Oscars
One of the largest motorcycle retailers in the Midwest, iMotorsports has added Yamaha motorcycles to its family of brands.
