Press Releas –

Henceforth, whoever holds an open account with Atelier Adrien Bernard (AAB) can become a dealer of Trailbloc, Powerbloc and Invance products.

The obligation to carry a minimum inventory in order to supply these replacement CVTs for snowmobiles and ATVs is over. Furthermore, retail prices were revised downwards and dealer profit margins upwards.

Since acquiring Atelier Adrien Bernard, CVTech-IBC has access to a distribution network with ramifications throughout Canada. Moreover, by making AAB its official distributor, CVTech-IBC eliminates a “middleman” from the distribution chain of its products.

This new distribution network will allow CVTech-IBC to increase its market share and have Trailbloc, Powerbloc and Invance products to stand out as The Replacement CVTs providing the best quality-price ratio.

“Our CVTs are still covered by the best warranty on the market ― 2 years or 5,000 kilometers. Also, rest assured, we will continue to provide you with customer service which meets your expectations and your orders will be processed and shipped as quickly as possible”, emphasizes Jean-Paul Servant, Sales Manger for CVTech-IBC.

All information about Trailbloc, Powerbloc and Invance products can be found in the new CVTech AAB catalog. Ordering can also be done on the Web at ateleiradrienbernard.com or by phone at (800) 518-7220.

Press Release –

Partnership covers amateur and professional on and off road racing

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. is pleased to announce a significant motorcycle racing partnership with Monster Beverage Company.

Over the past two years, Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki has scored five AMA Lites class titles, earning industry-wide respect for the Monster Energy branded energy drink producers.

This new sponsorship agreement will give Kawasaki’s professional motocross, off-road, road race and Team Green™ amateur motocross programs additional resources in their ongoing quest for excellence. The agreement also provides Monster Energy the opportunity to expand their racing influence into several new championship series, in addition to continuing their successful partnership with the Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team.

“It is obvious that Monster Energy’s management is passionate about motorcycle racing. We look at them as an engaged partner who really understands our racing program.” commented Bruce Stjernstrom, Director of Marketing for Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., adding: “Their customer demographics are a match for our target audience and it’s been a great fit for our Pro Circuit motocross team in AMA Supercross/Motocross.”

Kawasaki Racing Team’s supercross/motocross manager, Mike Fisher, says “The partnership with Monster Energy will help expose Kawasaki’s motocross team to a wider audience. Monster’s proven ability to attract a younger crowd places the team in front of the next generation of motorsports enthusiasts and that’s a good thing.” Only half-joking, Fisher went on to add: “The team has a proven ability to consume massive quantities of energy drink, so we can’t wait to get that next pallet of Monster.”

This partnership marks the beginning of a new era for Kawasaki’s roadracing team. The new Monster Energy relationship, an all-new Ninja® ZX-6R racebike and the addition of reigning AMA Supersport and Superstock champion Jamie Hacking alongside ultra-quick teammate Roger Hayden, gives team manager Mike Preston even more reasons to be optimistic for their prospects in 2007.

Preston is excited about the new partnership, saying: “Energy drinks are the happening thing and Monster’s support will help raise the visibility of our entire program.”

In addition to sponsoring all of Kawasaki’s professional motocross and roadracing teams, Monster Energy will also be stepping-up as the title sponsor for Kawasaki’s grass roots Team Green motocross program. Over the past 25 years, Team Green has helped guide rising stars such as Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto into the national spotlight.

The President of Monster Beverage Company, Mark Hall, is enthusiastic about their expanded partnership with Kawasaki, saying: “This is a relationship that has been evolving over the past several years. From our association with the Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Team to our co-branded retail promotions, a full partnership was inevitable. Besides, both companies share an affinity for the color Green.”

Press release –

A landmark event in the history of the Canadian Powersports industry took place Monday December 11th, as dealers, industry speakers and a host of association sponsors from across Canada as well as the Executive Director from the New York State Powersports Dealers’ Association met to develop an ambitious plan in support of Canada’s independent powersports dealers.

One of the highlights of the morning session was a presentation given by Tim Stover of the manufacturer backed Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council. Stover discussed various land use and lobbying efforts that the MMIC focuses on that help maintain a positive public image for the powersports industry and powersports dealers nationwide. This was the first time that the MMIC and CPSDA had worked together in such an effort which promises to help build manufacturer and dealer relations down the road.

Other key industry lobbyist speakers included Sandy Currie from the Canadian Marine Manufacturer’s Association (CMMA) who provided perspective on Manitoba Senator Mira Spivak’s controversial Bill S-209 which has been threatening the personal watercraft and Canadian boating industry since 1999.

Currie explained that due to recent health concerns, the Senator has withdrawn the bill from the legislature agenda. Currie also expressed a strong desire to work with the CPSDA membership to acquire data for a comprehensive marine industry study the CMMA is working on.

During the afternoon dealer-only closed door session, considerable discussion was focused on how dealers could solidify investment in their dealerships by working together with OEM suppliers to forge a set of provincial franchise laws.

“We firmly believe that our industry has regressed in recent months in terms of being able to offer the quality of buying experience consumers are coming to expect. Both the OEMs and the dealers agree that dealerships need to undergo a merchandising modernization process much like in the auto industry but to forge ahead we need a solid foundation first before millions of dollars get invested in new storefronts” expressed CEEDA President and CEO Bev Leavitt.

CPSDA attorney Mark McMackin further explained that recent versions of OEM dealer agreements have shown a trend toward an increasing imbalance in favour of the OEM.

“Until we can hammer out a set of guidelines that both OEM suppliers and dealers are comfortable operating within, dealer morale will continue to erode. Frankly, dealers of all brands are quite deflated by the dealer termination notices that have been issued by Honda Canada nationwide last July because it really means that the two thirds of all powersports business owners that are predicted to retire (according to a recent report from the Business Development Bank of Canada) within the next 10 years have had their hard earned goodwill swept out from under their feet” explained McMackin.

In a passionate presentation made by New York State Powersports Dealers’ Association Executive Director Bob Ski, it became evident that although it is critical that a province or state have a set of franchise laws in place to govern an industry, it is another thing to have rules respected and enforced.

Interesting comparisons between the Ontario and New York State powersports markets were also discussed which revealed that amongst the 18.95 million people in New York State there are only 238 authorized powersports dealers whereas in Ontario, 12.49 million people are service by 304 dealers. That’s a ratio of 1 powersports dealer for every 79,621 people in New York State compared to one dealer for every 41,085 people in Ontario” commented CPSDA President and CEEDA board member Stephen Bieda.

CPSDA and NYPSDA representatives also discussed the merits of incorporating a “code of ethics” into the membership criteria for all North America powersports dealerships which would prohibit powersports dealers’ association members from selling beyond State/Provincial or National boundaries to further enhance the existing clauses in many powersports OEM dealer agreements.

The primary purpose of the event was to rally dealers from across Canada in support of the effort to strengthen relations between dealers and OEM suppliers and to enhance communications amongst a fragmented network of Canadian powersports dealers.

On the Canadian ATV landscape there is only one ATV trails juggernaut, the Province of Quebec. Its sanctioning body, the FCQC, manages more than 20,000 kilometers of ATV trails.

Then there’s the rapidly expanding ATV trails in the Province of Ontario, Quebec’s next door neighbor. The sanctioning of ATV trails and Clubs in Ontario has been under the umbrella of the Ontario Federation of All-Terrain Vehicles (OFATV) for almost a decade.

In a shocking move, the OFATV’s largest member Club, the Haliburton All-Terrain Vehicle Association (HATVA) left the OFATV in August.

This move has stunned ATV clubs across Ontario as the HATVA represented the largest portion of the OFATV’s trail system.

Almost immediately the HATVA announced it would be developing its own “brand”, essentially sanctioning and insuring its own trails as well as selling its own trail pass through a huge network of businesses already supporting the immense trail network.

HATVA has also joined the ATV Ontario Marketing Alliance, an arm of the Provincial government’s Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC).

This strategic alliance has virtually overnight created an interconnected, fully established, signed, mapped and insured ATV trail system stretching from the far eastern reaches of Ontario, deep into central Ontario and even to the far north.

For more information go to HaliburtonATV.com.

Good to see things like this happening. Warn Industries, makers of Warn Winches, is joining the ATV Association of Minnesota (ATVAM).

This kind of industry support for the recreational side of our sport signals the dawn of a new day where companies who are making a living off the sport plow back some of the proceeds to help preserve the environment, expand trail usage, promote safety and support clubs.

Way to go, Warn! For more info contact Andy Lilienthal.

Press Release –

Elka Suspension welcomes Mr. Lee Tinkler to its team of suspension specialists to handle our new Motocross & Off-Road Service Department.

A leading manufacturer of high-performance custom-built suspension systems for racing and recreational motorsports applications, Elka Suspension offers personalized service, quality products and fast delivery time.

Starting in November 2006, Elka Suspension will get back to its roots and will also offer custom suspension modification for motocross and off-road. Former owner of Pro-Tech Suspension, Mr. Lee Tinkler will bring over 25 years of expertise in both road racing and off-road suspension tuning to Elka Suspension’s new motocross and off-road Service Department.

Mr. Tinkler has spent the last 10 years working on the suspension of most Champions in multiple disciplines such as motocross (J.S. Roy, Marco Dubé and Michael Willard), Supercross (J.S. Roy, Marco Dubé), Off-Road (Guy Giroux), Supermoto (Doug and Steve Beattie) and Road Racing (Steve Crevier and Francis Martin).

The combination of Elka’s structure and capabilities with Mr. Tinkler experience will enable the company to offer the best possible suspension to its customers. Through its scientific approach, such data acquisition systems and field testing, Elka Suspension will go way beyond the simple revalve and oil change.

Expect revolutionary new products and technologies to be introduced. The motocross and off-road Service Department will be able to do extensive testing with some of the best pro racers such as Guy Giroux, multi-time Canadian Off Road Champion and one of Canada’s greatest all-time motorcycle racers, and Patrick Beaulé, Canadian National Enduro Champion.

For more information, call 1-800-557-0552 and ask for the Moto Service Department or visit our website at: ElkaSuspension.com/moto

Press Release –

The sands of Pismo Beach, CA hosted the ninth and final round of the 2006 World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS).

Kenda sponsored rider Justin Waters, Joseph, OR entered in to the ATV Pro Am class with a slim nine point lead over second place series point holder Dax Snow. His Yamaha YFZ450 was able to cut through the sand with little resistance using the K298 Dune Runner front and the special tread, of the K533 Klaw rear, provide perfect hook-up and performance.

Justin completed the race with a third place podium finish and secured the ATV Pro Am class championship. Championship ‘number two’ would come in the form of consistency, with seven podium finishes out of nine events.

The reliability of the Kenda Klaw was something Justin and his team could believe in at every event, all season long. With ease of mind in his tire choice, Justin would win the Open A championship.

At sixteen years old, Justin has already achieved some of his goals, but to say that he is satisfied would be an understatement. He is focused, driven and aiming high for 2007. Justin wants to be the first rider to win the Pro Am, Open A & Production A championships all in the same year and Kenda tires will be there to help support him all the way!

CONGRATULATIONS JUSTIN!

After struggling with mechanical issues at the final round of the 2006 World Off-Road Championship Series in Pismo Beach, CA, Kenda sponsored rider Paul Wilkerson, Ravensdale, WA closed the door on the podium box by taking third in the Pro-Am class for the series. Awesome sand roost…courtesy of the Kenda Knarly!