Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/780450
www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • February 13, 2017 • 3 HOTNEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER Product training sessions from the following companies will be offered on Saturday: AFX, AMS, Bridgestone, Cardo, Continental, Custom Dynamics, J.W. Speaker, Klock Werks, Legend Suspen- sion, Metzeler, Moose Racing, Moose Utility, Rick's Motor- sport Electrics, S&S Cycle, Saddlemen, Thor and Z1R. On Sunday, more prod- uct training will be offered by Alpinestars, Biltwell, Dunlop, Icon, Michelin and TechoResearch. Earlier in the month, the Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice Dealer and Brand Expo and 50th Anniversary Party will be held Thursday and Friday, Feb. 9-10, in Frisco, Texas. More than 140 vendors will be on hand at the Frisco Conven- tion Center. Dealer training seminars will be held from 8-10 a.m. both days, with the show floor open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days. The 50th anniversary party is from 6-10 p.m. Friday. ZERO MOTORCYCLES HIRES VP OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Zero Motorcycles announced that award-winning product development veteran Brian Wismann has joined the com- pany as the new vice president of Product Development. He will report to Zero's chief tech- nology officer Abe Askenazi. "Brian's addition to the team further establishes Zero Motor- cycles position as the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry," Askenazi said. "Few would argue with Brian's creden- tials and accolades, having led develop- ment of award and race-winning e-powered machines." Wismann spent the last 13 years at Brammo, Inc., where he was responsible for development of the company's electric motorcycle and racing programs. His experience in the indus- try aligns with Zero's strategy to provide consumers with a full range of performance motorcycles. "Electric motorcycles have been my passion for over a decade, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to continue Parts Unlimited has added to the follow- ing four sales reps to its staff: Jason Hills- grove, North East region. He has worked at a variety of dealerships in New Hampshire as service advisor, parts manager and sales coordinator. He's an avid road racer who also enjoys boating, golfing, hockey and hunting. Isaac Ackels, Central region. A for- mer Parts Unlimited employee, Ackels rejoins the Parts team after successfully managing Indian Motor- cycle of Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati. He grew up riding and racing in large events such as GNCC and other off-road and enduro races, and still races and rides. He also enjoys spending time with his family and kids, taking hikes, mountain biking and cruising in the family Jeep. Greg "Gunny" Stilwell, North Central region sales manager. Stilwell was sales manager at a few dealerships in Wisconsin, and is a former Gunnery Sergeant for the U.S. Marine Corps. When he isn't seeking an adrenaline rush from drag racing or dune rid- ing, Stilwell adventures underwater to search the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes and the caves of Mexico. The new Drag Specialties sales rep for Southern Wisconsin/ Northern Illinois is William "Billy" O'Dwyer. O'Dwyer comes to Drag as a former business owner, and was a sales representative with Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson in Thiensville, Wis- consin. He spends time riding his 2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Outside of work, he likes to spend time with his family and miniature dachshund Penelope Cruz. PARTS UNLIMITED, DRAG SPECIALTIES ADDS TO SALES STAFF NEWS 4 ... Textron to acquire Arctic Cat 5 ... EBR Motorcycles shuts down 7 ... NPA's first Philly auction a success FINANCIAL NEWS 8 ... Roadrunner offers retail financing 8 ... Dealer Financial Snapshot OPINION 11 ... Letter from the Editor 11 ... Online at PowersportsBusiness.com 11 ... Powersports Business Blog Spotlight PSB: FOCUS Nifty 50 12 ... 2017 Nifty 50 product showcase SNOWMOBILE 19 ... Annual meet and greet at Woody's 19 ... Online snowmobile safety overview ATV/UTV 20 ... Polaris reports Q4 results 22 ... Hot Spots: Off-road vehicle sales 23 ... Bad Boy recalls UTVs SOLUTIONS 24 ... Paula Crosbie 25 ... Steve Jones MOTORCYCLE 27 ... BMW North America sales decline 28 ... Ducati breaks sales record in 2016 AFTERMARKET 33 ... Drag Specialties Fatbook released 33 ... Yoshimura partners with WPS INSIDE Ted Cabral, the individual member representa- tive on the AMA Board of Directors from the Northwest region, has resigned his board seat. "I appreciate the opportunity I had to be on the AMA Board of Directors, and I have confi- dence in the direction the AMA is going as an organization," Cabral said. "I am going to miss my working relationship that I have developed with the AMA board. I have found it increas- ingly difficult to perform my duties as an AMA board member while also being the chairman of California's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation commission. California State Parks is going through a transformation process that requires an incredible amount of dedication and focus going forward. With that, I think it would better serve the AMA if I step down from my position on the AMA board." AMA Board Chair Maggie McNally- Bradshaw thanked Cabral for his service on the AMA Board and wished him well on his future endeavors. "Ted clearly has a strong passion for motor- cycling and motorcyclists' rights," McNally- Bradshaw said. "The AMA Board respects Ted's decision, and we're looking forward to working with him as an AMA member and as a friend among the California riding community." Cabral was appointed by California Gov. Jerry Brown to the OHMVR commission in 2013, and Cabral's term on the commission runs through March 2018. PSB NMMA Canada honors BRP exec with Hall of Fame Award The NMMA in Canada announced it has inducted Denys Lapointe, executive vice-president of BRP's Design & Innova- tion Centre, into the NMMA Hall of Fame. Lapointe's career achievements and contribution to the recre- ational boating industry were recognized during the NMMA Canadian Recreational Boating Industry Session at the Toronto International Boat Show at the Allstream Centre in January. The NMMA Hall of Fame is the associa- tion's highest honor. It was established in 1988 and recognizes individuals who have, or continue to generate, substantial and lasting contributions toward the advancement of the marine industry. It honors individuals whose names and deeds are synonymous with the pursuit of quality, inno- vation and perfection within their respective spheres of expertise. "Denys has contributed greatly to the advancement of the marine industry over the years and has propelled our indus- try forward through his perseverance in creating intelligently designed products that meet consumer interests," said Sara Anghel, NMMA executive director and vice president of Govern- ment Relations. "We honor him with the Hall of Fame award in recognition of his constant focus on innovation, leadership and dedication to the industry." Lapointe is known for his innovation within the industry. Some of these early accomplishments began in 1985 when he joined BRP. He initially worked as a junior product designer for the 1988 launch of the Sea-Doo watercraft. Over the years, he has actively contributed to the advancement of the marine industry, mostly focused on watercraft. To this day, he remains committed to the industry and contributes substantially to the marine industry in his role with BRP. Over the years, Lapointe and his team have won numerous awards, including more than 60 international design awards such as the Red Dot Design Award, International Design Excellence Award (IDEA), Good Design Australia Award, Good Design Japan, Good Design/USA Award, iF Product Design Award and more. Due to Lapointe's contribution, the 1988 Sea-Doo watercraft gave birth to an industry with huge potential. Lapointe and the Sea-Doo team designed and launched the first two-passenger watercraft with a V-hull, rotary-valve engine, producing a class- leading 55 hp, capable of cutting through chip and pulling a water skier. Due to its modern design, attractive colors, technology and relatively low prices, it met the needs of young and old water enthusiasts. Despite the economic downturn and issues related to free trade in the mid-'90s, as a result of the forward-thinking prod- ucts from Sea-Doo, the watercraft industry within the organization survived and bloomed. In 2014, thanks to the talent and imagination of Lapointe, his design team and BRP's engineering team, the Sea-Doo Spark was created. It is an affordable, easier-to-use and more fuel-efficient watercraft. Its introduction was meant to "re-spark" the industry, and in 2015 the market showed 25 percent global growth vs. the previous year, a testament to the innovation, creativity, and cus- tomer-focused design of the Sea-Doo Spark watercraft. Lapointe also led the design team that developed the unique look of the Evinrude G2. It is the first outboard to come with extensive customization options with five options for standard side panel colours and 14 accent colors. the work with the world leader in electric motorcycle produc- tion. Zero's commitment to the market, EV performance and a talented team that is 100 percent committed to delivering the best product to our customer is ultimately what convinced me to join. I'm looking forward to the ride!" Wismann said. BRP ADDS RETAIL FINANCING PARTNERS BRP is expanding its U.S. retail financing options by signing long-term agreements with Citi Retail Services and Roadrun- ner Financial, in addition to its existing agreement with Shef- field Financial. "Together, Citi, Roadrunner and Sheffield deliver complimen- tary retail financing services, giv- ing consumers even more options when purchasing BRP products," said Bernard Guy, regional vice- president, Sales, North America. "We believe that these agreements improve the value proposition we offer our North American dealers and further support both dealer and BRP growth." PSB California's Cabral resigns from AMA DENYS LAPOINTE ISAAC ACKELS JASON HILLSGROVE BILLY O'DWYER GREG STILWELL BRIAN WISMANN