PowerSports Business

March 17, 2014

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www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • March 17, 2014 • 3 HOTNEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER University. He held several titles within KHI and subsidiary com- panies in Japan and Europe in addition to his earlier posting in the U.S. Most positions empha- sized marketing and sales, and he had a three-year stint as the managing director of Kawasaki Motors Europe N.V. as well as his recent position as general manager of the Marketing and Sales Division of KHI's Motorcy- cle & Engine Company in Japan, where he was also promoted to executive officer in 2010. "Masa's experience in all aspects of Kawasaki's business operations will allow the com- pany to continue its growth path and strengthen efforts to broaden our brand's impact in the power- sports arena," said Teranishi, the outgoing KMC president. During Teranishi's tenure at KMC, the company introduced several new products that have helped to increase its market share. Included among these are the Ninja 300, KLX 250S, Vulcan 1700 Voyager, Teryx4, Brute Force 300 and Jet Ski Ultra 310 series. BRP, FINLAND UNIVERSITY TEAM UP BRP and the University of Lap- land in Finland have launched a competition for industrial design students at the school whereby students will design a new on-snow motorized recre- ational product. "This is the second time BRP has organized this competi- tion. The suc- cess of the first edition in 2012 pushes us to deepen our cooperation with the Univer- sity of Lapland. This is integral to BRP in all areas where we operate," said Jukka Jokinen, vice-president and general man- ager of BRP's Finland facility. Students are motivated to participate by the fact that BRP is a global company and they have the possibility to answer real-life research and develop- ment challenges. The winner will be awarded a four-month internship at BRP's Design and Innovation Centre in Canada, where international designers develop the powersports prod- ucts of tomorrow. "The collaboration with BRP is strategic for us. The coopera- tion allows students to obtain important working experience and industrial design expertise. It is the best practical applica- tion for design in the Arctic Circle," concluded Pertti Aula, industrial design teacher at the University of Lapland. The competition officially begins in September, and win- ners will be announced during the 2015 Arctic Design Week. MOTORCYCLE MALL ADDS DUCATI FRANCHISE Rich Gonnello, assistant gen- eral manager and marketing director of the Motorcycle Mall in Belleville, N.J., informed Powersports Business that the dealership has added Ducati to its lineup, becoming Northern New Jersey's source for Ducati- authorized sales, service and parts. Motorcycle Mall will create an exclusive Ducati floor plan to promote the brand in its two-story, 108,000 square- foot facility, which will ensure a unique Ducati experience. In addition to the Ducati products, Motorcycle Mall will also add Ducati certified employees to its current roster of certified trained employees. "We are extremely proud to be welcomed into the Ducati Lonski and Associates, LLC announced the addition of former Spectro Oils executive Rollin Karoll to the recruitment agency. A 10-year powersports executive with 30 years in management, Karoll has held key roles in mar- keting, sales, service, parts and inventory positions with Spectro Oils of America, Mustang Seats, Comcast and IKON Office Solutions. He is a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast with more than 100,000 miles logged and an accom- plished builder and restorer of custom and vintage motorcycles. "I met Henry [Lonski] when I was national sales manager at Mustang Seats. We've had a great professional relationship for many years, and I've been watching his business grow. When the opportunity surfaced for me to join his team, the decision was easy," Karoll said. "Talented industry professionals can be frus- trated when looking for a new challenge or upward career move. They know that good jobs exist, but are often difficult to find. With our ever increasing roster of client companies, coupled with a 16,000-plus and growing database of the best industry profes- sionals, we make the connections our client companies and job seekers both need. I am looking forward to helping OEMs, after- market manufacturers and dealers find the talent they need." LONSKI AND ASSOCIATES EXPANDS WITH ADDITION OF KAROLL NEWS 4 ... ARI launches KYMCO dealer sites 5 ... Suzuki's January sales grow OPINION 10 ... From the Editor 10 ... Online at PowersportsBusiness.com FINANCIAL NEWS 12 ... Octane Lending enters market 15 ... Brian Gallmeier PSB: FOCUS Power 50 16 ... Indoor bike show draws sales 18 ... Dealership changes culture 20 ... Suzuki ties give dealer an advantage 25 ... Leo's South hosts movie night SOLUTIONS 26 ... Neil Pascale 27 ... Sam Dantzler 28 ... Jason Breckenridge PWC 30 ... Dealer sells the Spark at boat shows ATV 34 ... Massimo returns to AIMExpo 35 ... Product Showcase 35 ... DragonFire's newest XP 1000 product MOTORCYCLE 37 ... NPA looks forward to spring auctions 39 ... Menneto earns V-Twin Expo award AFTERMARKET 42 ... Hot Products INSIDE Yamaha shifts ad duties to GearShift Inc. GearShift Advertising has been awarded the Yamaha Motorsports U.S.A. national advertis- ing account after a three-month review. Yamaha general manager of communications Bob Starr and Mark Rosenberg of Rosenberg Consulting Group managed the review process. Yamaha was seeking an agency that met four major objectives, explained Starr: "Improved efficiencies, a much greater emphasis on one- to-one digital, a strong focus on ROI and a deep understanding and passion for the Yamaha and Star brands. GearShift just nailed it." "We are thrilled and humbled to have been chosen as Yamaha's agency of record," said GearShift president Thomas Blinn. "It was a very competitive review process involving a number of highly qualified and talented agen- cies, so the win is particularly satisfying. We're looking forward to building engagement and sales for Yamaha Motorcycles, ATVs and side- by-sides, Star Motorcycles, as well as other related products and services." GearShift partnered with digital agency ymarketing for its media expertise. Norm Tribe, GearShift digital creative director com- mented, "ymarketing played an important role in helping us shore up our digital media needs and win the Yamaha account." PSB family," said VP and director of operations, John Resciniti III. "For years, our customers have inquired when we'd be able to sell them a Ducati. We're happy that today is the day!" Ducati joins the Motorcycle Mall lineup that includes Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, Aprilia, Vespa, Piaggio, Moto Guzzi, Polaris, Victory, Can-Am, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo and Kymco. ZIEGLER TAKES NEW POSITION Jesse Ziegler, most recently brand manager at KTM North America and formerly commu- nications coordinator at Klim, has been named sales director at Digital Throttle. ARI'S SMITH GETS PROMOTION ARI Network Services, Inc. has announced the promotion of Bradley J. Smith to vice president of product man- agement. Smith will be responsible for all ARI prod- ucts, including eCatalogs, web- sites and lead management. All product management teams now report to Smith. "Brad is an exceptional exam- ple of an ARI employee living our PRIDE values on a daily basis — receiving the President's Award and eight other ARI honors. I'm confident that Brad's expertise with eCatalogs and websites will help accelerate our plans to ensure that we remain the number one provider in the markets we serve," said Roy W. Olivier, president and CEO. "His strong leadership skills come as no surprise. As an Army veteran, he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and received the Federal Humanitarian Award and two Army Achievement medals." Smith joined ARI in 2007 and most recently served as director of product management and general manager of aftermarket. "I look forward to leading our product strategy to ensure the growth of our current products and develop innovative new prod- ucts, both organically and through future acquisitions," Smith said. "ARI's product management team is the best I have worked with; they are committed to delivering award-winning products that lead the market and exceed customer expectations." Smith holds a double B.A. in web/technology development and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Smith earned an MBA from the Univer- sity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2012. In conjunction with his MBA program, Smith was selected for an East Asian supply-chain consultancy for a Fortune 500 marine manufacturer. JONAS TO LEAD HUSQVARNA RACING Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH announced that Robert Jonas has been appointed as head of Motors- port. Responsible for all Husqvarna Motorcycles rac- ing activities, the 39-year-old Jonas, who has worked within KTM Motorsport management since 2006, will oversee all motocross, enduro, extreme enduro and Moto3 road racing programs. As a former motocross racer, Jonas has been involved in motor- cycle racing for much of his life. An Austrian National Motocross Champion in 1998 and 1999, he became a KTM 125cc factory rider in 2000 while also working as a KTM two-stroke test rider. With injury curtailing his racing career, Jonas reentered KTM in 2005 to work in the road racing department. Since 2006, Jonas has worked alongside KTM's Head of Motorsport, Pit Beirer. "Appointing Robert as Husqvarna's Head of Motorsport sends out a very clear message that Husqvarna is extremely seri- ous about all of its motorsport activities, which are a strategic tool for the continued growth of the brand," said KTM AG CEO Stefan Pierer. "He is someone Regional managers from Triumph North America gathered in Atlanta last month, and it didn't take them long to recognize CEO Greg Heichelbech on the cover of the Feb. 17 edition of PSB. See Hot News, Page 5 ROLLIN KAROLL BRADLEY SMITH ROBERT JONAS JUKKA JOKINEN P01x09-PSB4-NEWS.indd 3 3/5/14 11:29 AM

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