Press Release –

Taiwan’s first and only motorcycle fair to date, the 2006 Taiwan International Motorcycle Industry Show (Motorcycle Taiwan 2006), will be held from Oct. 27 to 29 at Exhibition Hall 3 of the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), with about 140 exhibitors (including companies from the U.S., Pakistan, and India) using around 300 booths to showcase their latest products.

An international industry forum will also focus on several of the hottest themes in the line, according to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the show’s organizer.

According to TAITRA, Motorcycle Taiwan 2006 will the first such event in Taiwan and the world’s only exhibition to bring exhibitors from throughout the motorcycle industry together. Major exhibition themes at Motorcycle Taiwan 2006 will include complete vehicles (motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, electric scooters, and electric bicycles), engines and engine parts, vehicle frames, accessories, riding accessories, vehicle testing and inspection equipment, and noise and emissions testing equipment.

The council stresses that it is organizing the show with four major themes, including “Showcasing the Capability of ‘Made by Taiwan,'” “Motorcycle Design and Innovation,” “ATV Trends,” and “Tuning and Performance Enhancing Parts.”

Mario Tsai, manager of Exhibition Section 1 under TAITRA’s Exhibition Department, points out that in addition to the abundant products on view at the show, a series of seminars on ATV and PTW design will provide another focus of the first-annual event.

TAITRA will invite key men in the North American PTW industry to give keynote speeches on development trends in the ATV industry. European industry experts will talk about PTW-related topics such as European PTW design trends and Taiwan manufacturers’ niches, PTW styling and mechanical designs, futuristic PTW designs, and PTW color trends.

The series of seminars and panel discussions are expected to enhance the interactions between industry experts in major motorcycle-manufacturing nations and markets and local companies, and will also provide the latest market information to interested players in the line, Tsai explains.

At Motorcycle Taiwan 2006, Tsai went on to say, there will be a special zone dubbed the “Cross-strait Motorcycle Industry Show,” (informally known as the China Pavilion) to enable companies in mainland China to introduce their products to the world at about 50 booths.

To promote the first international fair on the island, TAITRA has commissioned its 40 overseas branches around the world to invite major global buyers to participate in the show, Tsai says. In addition, all big international motorcycle brands will demonstrate their latest products at the event.

Thanks to the strong support and sponsorship of the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Tsai says, TAITRA initiated and planned the first motorcycle show in Taiwan with an eye toward the future development of Taiwan’s increasingly strong motorcycle industry.

According to the section chief, there are many positive signs in the local motorcycle industry indicating that Taiwan is becoming an increasingly vital development and manufacturing base for exported, high-level PTWs and ATVs. Taiwan’s declining domestic PTW sales volume (currently about 700,000 units per year, dropping from the previous peak of about one million) has driven local complete-vehicle and parts makers to more aggressively develop international sales. The export volume of Taiwan-made PTWs and ATVs outstripped domestic sales for the first time in 2004. In addition, the high price of oil is making motorcycles more attractive than cars for many buyers.

More importantly, Tsai analyzes, many major complete-vehicle and engine makers in Taiwan have been actively developing large-displacement engines (up to 700cc) and have achieved fruitful results. These engines are used in utility vehicles (UTVs), powerful ATVs, and golf carts, in addition to traditional scooters and motorcycles. At the same time, the motorcycle industry has been developing into a sector that make products not only for transportation purposes, but also for utility, agricultural, and recreational uses.

According to Tsai, another positive trend for Taiwan makers of PTWs, ATVs, and related products is that the expanding global motorcycle market is expected to generate an annual demand for about 40.9 million units by 2009, up sharply from about 32.9 million in 2003.

More and more Taiwanese motorcycle brands, such as KYMCO (Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.), SYM (Sanyang Industry Co., Ltd.), and Adly (Her Chee Industrial Co., Ltd.) are gaining solid footholds on the global stage. A positive benefit of the rise of these domestic companies is an expanding aftermarket (AM) for replacement parts, performance-tuning parts, and accessories for their products.

Press Release –

Hinson Clutch Components would like to congratulate Jeff Ward on his X Games Supermoto win. Hinson has long been a team sponsor with our Clutch Baskets and Clutch Covers, but we are especially proud to be able to provide the Troy Lee team with our BTL Series slipper clutches this year that Jeff Ward rode to victory in X Games 12!

BTL (Back Torque Limiter) Series Slipper Clutch Inner Hub/Pressure Plate Kit

– MotoGP developed slipper clutch technology
– Fully adjustable slip range
– Better braking control
– Less kick back under braking (MX)
– Easier to slide in to corners
– Simple installation
– No special tools needed
– Improves clutch performance and life
– Precision machined from billet T-6 aircraft quality aluminum to aerospace tolerances, and Akadized for five times the wear resistance to stock* (*with proper maintenance)
– Allows clutch assembly to spin more true creating less heat when clutch is disengaged
– When used with Hinson Clutch Components clutch basket helps eliminate clutch chatter

Hinson Clutch Components is the premier manufacturer of high performance clutches & components, and has provided to all major factory race teams, including Team Honda, Team Kawasaki, Team Suzuki. Through this commitment they are proud to have won over 100, National & World, ATV, Supercross, Motocross, and Off-Road Championships.

For more info contact HinsonRacing.com.

Press Release –

Doug Gust won a ferocious battle with Dustin Wimmer during Sunday’s SuperQuad Pro 450 race at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, part of the 2006 WPSA PowerSports ATV Tour season finale. As the dust cleared, it was Gust on the top step of the podium, and, in the process, he clinched the inaugural Riders’ Championship.

In the QuadTerrain Pro Stock ranks, it was Scott Kilby who netted his second win this season, while utility quad legend Daryl Rath put the cap on his championship run.

The race will be telecast on ESPN2 on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. EDT.

Gust (No. 55 Team Suzuki, Yoshimura/Suzuki) came into the SuperQuad Pro 450 final just one point behind Wimmer (No. 191 East Coast ATV, Axis, Sparks, Maxxis/Honda), and it certainly showed. Wimmer jumped to the early lead after Travis Spader (No. 30 Progressive Suspension/Yamaha) won the $1,000 Quad MagazineHoleshot Award. However, Gust stalked the young Pennsylvanian throughout the early stages of the race.

Gust’s constant pressure paid off on lap eight, when the veteran rider pulled off a slick inside move in a right-hander. Wimmer struck back the next lap, and two swapped the lead, before Gust came out in front.

Gust cruised the final lap to grab the victory, his third this season. Wimmer held on for second, and finished second in the title chase. Harold Goodman (No. 708 American Honda, Houser Racing, Curtis Sparks/Honda) was third in the race.

“That was the toughest race I’ve ever been in,” exclaimed Gust. “Once he got around me, he didn’t stop. I knew where he was going to go, but he changed it up quite a bit. Once I passed him, he found some different lines again. Then I snuck by him on yet another line. From there, I said ‘I have to go.’”

Gust, along with injured teammate Jeremiah Jones, helped Suzuki earn the Manufacturers’ Championship.

“I think this will help get Jeremiah back on his feet,” said Gust. “He’s been known to be a rubber man, and I think he’s going to get on his feet again. Wimmer and I went back and forth all year in this points race. First, I was 12 points behind. Then I was 12 points ahead. Then I was one behind, and pulled ahead by one. It was quite the battle.”

Rocco Arno, Jr. (No. 101 Nac’s Racing, Curtis Sparks/Suzuki) won the Rookie of the Year title.

Rory Beckman (No. 292 Jack Link’s, Spy Optics, Fly Racing/Arctic Cat) won the $500 ATVRiders.com Rock’n’Roll Award for leaving the rock crawl first, and looked to be en route to his second consecutive QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock victory. However, Kilby (No. 227 Can-Am, Maxxis, OMF/Can-Am) was quick on the draw in the log jam the following lap, taking the lead for good. Beckman was second, followed by Jesse West (No. 888 Oil Boyz, Stud Boy/Arctic Cat).

“I picked out some good lines early on and they worked flawlessly,” said Kilby. “He got into the logs, and I tried following him for a second, then I saw an opening. So, I just nailed it, and jumped three logs into the lead. I’ve had good runs and bad luck this season, but it feels good to end on a win.”

Rath, who finished fifth, took the Riders’ Championship, holding off Kilby, who with the win, moved to second in points, and William Yokley (No. 23 ARC Fulmer, Monster, Scott USA, Tire Balls, ITP/Suzuki), who dogged Rath throughout the season. Can-Am won the Manufacturers’ Championship.

“It’s fantastic to be here,” said Rath. “This partnership with Arctic Cat has really been successful. Here we are, at the end of the season and we have the championship. The people at Arctic Cat are extremely excited. It builds morale in the factory. We’re planning to build on this next year and get even better.

“We had to come from the back quite a bit this year,” added Rath. “You just never want to give up. We dug in deep, and sometimes it’s difficult to say that to yourself. Luckily, the QuadTerrain class features a lot of passing; I proved that all year long. WPSA should be proud of the series, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”