MOTORREADS: 10 April 2009

[mika]

triumph.co.uk: Safety Recall ÔÇô Rocket III Touring Tires

businesswire.com: New sport redefines motorcycle endurance touring

econorun.co.za: 2009 RFS Bike Econorun News

motorcycle-usa.com: Can-Am Spyders in Paradise

motorcyclenews.com: BMW F800R first ride

cmgonline.com: [Canadian] Money for KTM [Canadian] purchase

roadracingworld .com: Ducati North America offering special financing on new 1198 Superbike

bikedealine.com: Honda confident market will rally for the remainder of 2009
Related:
The FCAI referred to in the article is the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries an Australian automotive and motorcycle industry group.

A Swedish name on a German BMW company segment with strong Italian roots, Husqvaran fascinates me. The Italian based website RacingCafe.blogspot.com gives a bit of history, comparison and a fun look at the 2008 Husky concept.
racingcafe.blogspot.com translated: Husqvarna SMQ 450 Concept ÔÇô 2008

Speaking of things Italian, AnimaGuzzist.com has another very interesting MG project to explore.

geeketto.com: Prova Aprilia test

I agree with Paul Crowe of the Kneeslider. I really like this bike.
thekneeslider.com: Royal Enfield V-Twin ÔÇô The Musket

motrsport.com: Vintage Motorcycle days

Dirt Rider Magazine named this its Bike of the Year
dirtrider.com: 2009 Husaberg FE450 Web Test

piaggiogroup.com: Piaggio increases market share in Italy

royalenfield.com: Royal Enfield breaks away from traditional selling

omnimoto.it translated: KYMCO Super 8 for BMW Motorsport Team


BENCHRACING:

fim-live.com: The WEC discovers splendid Sardinia

gnccracing.com: Husky riders spin the wheel at Big Buck GNCC

Remember KYMCO? They are that Chinese company that makes engines for that German motorcycle company arenÔÇÖt they? Well it seems the have a US division that is busy getting involved in U.S.racing.
dealernews.com: KYMCO USA goes racing with three sponsorships

motogp.com: Qatar press conference ÔÇô Dust settles on rivalry

speedtv.com: MotoGP 2009 Season Preview

fim-live: Rossi looks to maintain hunger

yamaha-racing.com: Yamaha and Petronas extend collaboration into MotoGP

dealernews.com: MotoGP ready for Quatar season opening

worldcarfans.comBMW X6 M to make safety car debut at Qatar MotoGP [This is the same race Dealer News was talking about in their Quatar MotoGP preview ]

reuters.com : Fact box ÔÇô Motorcycling ÔÇô MotoGP Season

reuters.com: Stoners wrist concern for opener




motorsport.com: Pirelli Bulgaria sumary

WEC
Can-Am GNCC Racing
AMA Pro Racing
MotoGP

But will it sell drywall?

The title is a blatant ripped off from a St Petersburg Times article, with the same title, published prior to this years running of the Daytona 500. The article look at the Team 20 ÔÇô Home Depot car and wondered about the impact of Tony Stewart leaving to start his own team would have on the team and the willingness of Home Depot to sponsor the car. For the sponsor the question always is does involvement in racing move product off your shelves. Hubris may cloud your decision yet your accountant will keep asking the question.

The S1000RR has not arrived in show rooms yet and already has caused great discussion on the street. It looks too much like all the other UJM sport bikes. ItÔÇÖs a Yamaha clone. Now in the SoloMoto article people are wondering will it have the asymmetric lights that are growing motorrad characteristic much as the kidney grill is to the cages BMW is rumored to build.

Are race victories and championships the measure of success BMW will apply to the S1000RR and BMWÔÇÖs superbike effort? Or will they, in the end, base their decisions on the number of bikes going out the dealerÔÇÖs doors?

There is no doubt that racing performance will be part of determining the fate of the S1000RR. It is clear that a plan spanning several years has been laid out for the team. Look at the G450X experience as a possible model.

- The first years were developmental for the G450X before it took to the track. The parallel period for the superbike project began back in the first days of racing the R1200S and then the HP2 Sport in endurance events and finished with the presentation of the S1000RR last fall.
- The first racing year expectations for the G450X were modest. Organize the team, deal with various infrastructure issues and sort the bike out. On track performance was something to be learned from not to set high bars for accomplishment. Podiums and wins were things to delight in not expect the first year. BMW seems to be applying the same standard to the S1000RR effort.
- The G450X goal for the second year was to score wins. In the process BMW picked up a championship in its own back yard. The superbike team will have similar expectation placed on it for the second year. Podiums and wins will be expected. Not in every outing but on a not unexpected basis.
- Year three the G450X was ahead of schedule. What was to be on the plate for that effort is the same that will be on the plate for the S1000RR victories.
- Year four more of the same with the goal of being in the hunt and winning the constructor championship.

BMW hubris will play a part in this also. Look to the cage ÔÇô F1 return in 2000 as an engine manufacturer. It soldered on in that roll looking for a team to bring home a constructors title with BMW powering the car. To achieve that goal they spent the money required to change Sauber-BMW F1 to BMW-Sauber F1 and run the entire show. The team manager Mario Theissen has alluded to marching plan that had the bench marks of Y-1 organizing, Y-2 competing, Y-3 winning a race and podium finishes and Y-4 competing for and winning a constructors championship. During this time all BMW parties involved have listened to the accountants report the costs. BMW Sauber F1ÔÇÖs efforts in 2009 and beyond may give us a small measure of how much racing hubris there is in the company.

For the motorrad racers hubris will not be enough to offset poor dealer sales however. The clear marching orders are developing racing motorcycles for street going classes that perform on the track and in the show room. The G450X seems to be doing that by winning races, championships and selling in the showroom. Riders will determine the fate of the S100RR as it comes to the dealers.

At the end of the scheduled multi-year plan management will turn to the marketers and accountants and ask ÔÇ£did we sell any drywallÔÇØ and make any money doing it? If the S1000RR is not winning sales for BMW in the showroom the accountants will be asking for a large infusion of hubris.

From an article on solomoto30.com

trendhunter.com: Expandable city cars

The boys from Top Gear are great fun to watch but they are idiots by putting the Ford GT on the un-cool side of their car board. If they donÔÇÖt want one I take it!
flagworld.com: FIA GT ÔÇô Ford GT1 revealed at Paul Ricard

22 hours of gearhead lucking ÔÇô
speedtv.com Speed set to offer 22 hours of Barrett Jackson Palm Beach coverage.

bild.de translated: Karmman ÔÇô The cult brand can still be saved

Mothership news is on page 2

BMW Group Mexico announces sales results for the first quarter of 2009.

BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT TEAM

wired.com: Around the world in a solar boat

This has potential to be a mandatory part of your rally kit and the Rally chairmanÔÇÖs plug in nightmare.
gizmag.com: CookingÔÇÖs silver lining ÔÇô tor roll up stove.

IÔÇÖm certain, summer 2008, I filled up at the last one.
weburbanist.com: Architecture to Go ÔÇô 10 offbeat gas station designs

gas2go.com: Connecticut and Massachusetts could get EV charging network

howstuffworks.com: What speed should I drive to get maximum fuel mileage

<script src="http://nmp.newsgator.com/NGBuzz/buzz.ashx?buzzId=81524&apiToken=E138700B37294DFBA31F8D381F0BDC47&trkP=&trkM=1EE7D72C-FFAF-F80B-7991-6E32E1044168" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://nmp.newsgator.com/NGBuzz/buzz.ashx?buzzId=81529&apiToken=7D66E8AC50C84B61B5E9692EC6BC1D7C&trkP=&trkM=E03C232A-552E-4C5A-97C3-91FBAC5A05F8" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://nmp.newsgator.com/NGBuzz/buzz.ashx?buzzId=81523&apiToken=C8FF1E2EA13E4522B43898508AE3EFF2&trkP=&trkM=E46C38A9-0CC6-87DB-770C-CE71DB858FF2" type="text/javascript"></script>

WOOT.com

Cyrilhuzeblog.com: makes its first appearance in the humor section of Motorreads with ÔÇ£Watch this video and stop bitching about everything.ÔÇØ

Turboflat.blogspot.com

xkcd.com:

Bike Candy

Triumph Scrambler advertising video

From: animaguzzista.com by way of RocketGarage.com Follow the link to more pictures of this wonderful Moto Guzzi project

Comments:

 

[mika]

BMW Group Mexico announces sales results for the first quarter of 2009.
08.04.2009

Translated by Google Translator

BMW Group Mexico announces sales results for the first quarter of 2009.
ÔÇó operational strength and solid foundation: a constant to keep the operation sustainable BMW Group Mexico
ÔÇó Sales by a total of 1751 units during the period
ÔÇó Release key for each of the brands: BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad, enhanced the product portfolio.


Mexico City, 08 April 2009 .- In the complex global and local financial situation, which has impaired their performance, BMW Group Mexico reports that during the first quarter of 2009, its sales are diversified with a total of 1524 vehicles sold in BMW and MINI brands and 227 motorcycles from BMW Motorrad, which gives a total of 1751 units.

"While sales of new vehicles has declined, we are confident that 2009 will be a transition year in which one of our major offensive will continue the deployment of new technologies and products that break patterns," said Gerd Dressler, director general of BMW Group Mexico.

In these first three months of the year, BMW sales reached 1134 vehicles, which means a -37.3% compared with the previous year (1810 units). During this period the Mexican market to the brand introduced the fifth generation of the flagship BMW 7 Series with a completely new interpretation of exquisite style, elegance and dynamism. To further strengthen its product portfolio of BMW Mexico is scheduled for the second quarter launch of the new two-seater convertible, the BMW Z4; vehicle since its introduction at the Detroit Autoshow 2009 had stolen glances and has earned recognition as "Eyes On Design" and "Red Dot Award.

From January to March, the MINI brand closed with 390 units, far below 27.4% with reference to the previous year (537 units). The most important activity in this quarter was the launch of the new MINI Convertible, with Cooper and Cooper S versions, choice of manual gearbox or automatic, 5 hp more power, lower consumption and optimization of emission of pollutants. It should be noted that this year celebrates 50 years of MINI marked trend with the car more fun and outgoing.

For its part, BMW Motorrad placed in the first period of the year 227 motorcycles, with 71 units less than the previous year (298). In these three months of 2009 exceeded the threshold of excitement and dynamism with the new BMW Motorrad K who came to Mexico with an increase in engine capacity, power and torque, in addition to providing the highest technology in the market for motorcycles.

"For BMW Group is very important to maintain a sustainable operation in these challenging times and therefore have taken specific measures to advance the field of costs, billing and production that will generate profits. In the field of technology, those that remain continue to develop a fuel economy and reduced emission of pollutants, without losing the power and dynamism that has distinguished us to satisfy our customers "said Gerd Dressler, CEO, BMW Group Mexico.

Mar. 2009 cumulative period before March 2009 Comparative Comparative previous period
BMW Group Mexico (Total Units) 1751 -33.7% 588 -30.1%
BMW 1.134 -37.3% 373 -33.0%
MINI 390 -27.4% 145 -21.6%
BMW Motorrad 227 -23.8% 70 -30.0%



BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT TEAM
04/09/2009

Gene Donnelly appointed Vice President Southern Region. Wayne E. Orchowski named Vice President Eastern Region. Rich Brekus appointed General Manager New Car Sales.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - April 9, 2009... BMW of North America, LLC, the U.S. division of the German manufacturer of premium vehicles and motorcycles, today announced new appointments within its sales operations.

Gene Donnelly will assume the position of Vice President of the Southern Region based in Atlanta, effective May 1. He will be responsible for sales of BMW and MINI vehicles in 11 states and Puerto Rico. Currently, Donnelly is the Vice President of the companyÔÇÖs Eastern Region located in New Jersey, a position he has held since April 2001. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Sales and Center Development at BMW of North America. Donnelly, 57, has been with the company since 1991.

Wayne E. Orchowski will become Vice President of the companyÔÇÖs Eastern Region based in New Jersey. In his new function, effective May 1, he will be responsible for sales of BMW and MINI vehicles across 12 Northeastern states. Currently, Orchowski is the Vice President of Sales at BMW of North America, a position he has held since January 2007. Prior to that, he served as the Vice President of the Central Region. Orchowski, 50, has been with the company since 1985.

Also starting May 1, Rich Brekus will take the new position of General Manager of New Car Sales at BMW of North America. His responsibilities will include the allocation and distribution of BMW vehicles, sales development initiatives, and specialty sales. Currently, he is the General Manager of Product Planning and Strategy, a position he has held since joining the company in 1994. Brekus is 54 years old.

All three positions report to Peter Miles, Executive Vice President of Operations at BMW of North America, LLC. He commented, ÔÇ£Gene, Wayne, and Rich are highly qualified in their areas. I am very confident they will use their knowledge to leverage sales possibilities and continue to cultivate the positive relationships we have with our dealers.ÔÇØ