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w w w . p o w e r s p o r t s b u s i n e s s . c o m RBC Capital Markets analyst Joe Spak provided the following research note to Powersports Business following the combined RBC/PSB Q1 Dealer Survey. "Winter weather clearly weighed on traffic, and 1Q15 retail sales are likely to be short of prior expectations. In many instances, this has contributed to a higher than desired inventory position. The ORV and motorcycle environment was also more promotional, though it is unclear what is related to clearing out old models vs. a more competitive stance. … Most dealers are still fairly encouraged about industry trends for the remainder of 2015, though motorcycle expectations accelerated while ORVs decelerated." Here's a look by vehicle segment, according to Spak. INSPIRING SUCCESS THROUGH MARKET INTELLIGENCE HOTNEWS Yamaha Motor Finance targets younger buyers Yamaha Motor Corp. USA (YMUS) in late March announced that it had established Yamaha Motor Finance Corp., USA to provide "an all-new cap- tive finance solution through Yamaha's national network of dealer partners." "Yamaha Motor Finance is an exciting new tool that will help our dealer partners expand their business and grow future retail sales by supporting an otherwise underserved consumer group," said Terry Okawa, president and CEO of YMUS. "Yamaha Motor Finance will primarily focus on younger, first-time buyers and those re-estab- lishing their credit," Kim Ruiz, president and CEO of Yamaha Motor Finance Corp., added. "By focusing on this underserved market, Yamaha Motor Finance can help customers establish a good credit track record while attracting them into the Yamaha brand." Yamaha Motor Finance hired Jeff Young to serve as executive vice president and chief operat- ing officer, managing the daily operations. Prior to joining Yamaha, Young served as president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors' financing arm, and prior to that he served in various roles at Ford Motor Company. Following the grand opening festivities at the company's Cypress, Calif., headquarters, Pow- ersports Business editor in chief Dave McMahon caught up with Ruiz, newly appointed president and CEO of Yamaha Motor Finance Corp., USA, to learn more about the new business. Ruiz is also vice president of finance and accounting for YMUS, where she has been employed for the past nine years. Prior to her tenure with Yamaha, Ruiz spent 12 years at Isuzu Motors America, where she had similar dual roles as a VP, as well as CFO of Isuzu Motors Acceptance Corp. Yamaha launches retail financing business See Yamaha, Page 4 See Hot News, Page 3 May 4, 2015 • Volume 18, Number 6 • $3.99 RBC analyst reports on Q1 dealer survey Terry Okawa, president of Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., addresses the attendees at the grand opening celebration of Yamaha Motor Finance Corp., USA, in Cypress, Calif. Harley-Davidson brick tour to Sturgis becomes unexpected adventure thanks to snowstorm BY LIZ KEENER MANAGING EDITOR When three representatives of Harley-Davidson Motor Company planned to ride from Wiscon- sin to South Dakota with bricks for the new Rally Point in Sturgis, it's likely they expected the normal types of stories that stem from long- distance motorcycle trips. However, what H-D officials didn't expect was a sudden snowstorm to hit the day the group began the ride. As Harley-Davidson events strategy and execution manager Kris Schoonover, regional Harley Owners Group (HOG) man- ager Thor Robinson and integrated commu- nications manager Matt King set out for their three-state trip Monday, March 23, snow was falling lightly in the Milwaukee area, but some cities along the planned route received up to a foot of snow. While the weather deterred some riders from joining the trip and led the H-D crew to turn to its support vehicle when ice became a hazard, the trip was successful, as all riders arrived safely in Sturgis, with their 74 bricks in tow. Of course it's hard for anyone to plan a motor- cycle trip in the Midwest in late March, but Harley-Davidson was on a tight deadline. It had to deliver the 73 bricks from its Juneau Avenue headquarters and one brick from the See Brick, Page 6 Harley-Davidson brick NEWS: Dealers preparing for a promising 2015 . . . PAGE 8 FINANCE: GE Capital offers Dealer Insights . . . . . . . . PAGE 14 FOCUS: 4XPro enters ATV/UTV market . . . . . . . . . PAGE 23 CYCLE: Yamaha, BMW join AIMExpo lineup . . . . . PAGE 34 One worthy ride Brewer Cycles celebrates life, health and family with annual Duke Children's Hospital charity ride. SEE PAGE 46 Suzuki's support One year post-moving its engine assembly to Rome, Ga., Suzuki shows its ATV commitment. SEE PAGE 26 Snowy thoughts Snowcheck programs offer deals and new product to their customers, weather permitting. SEE PAGE 40 PSB: FOCUS ATV SEE PAGE 16 MILE by MILE, BRICK by BRICK Main: A late-March snowstorm hit the Midwest just as riders were taking off to deliver 74 bricks from Harley- Davidson's headquarters in Milwaukee to the new Rally Point plaza in Sturgis. Inset: Jim Wilcox, owner of Okoboji Harley-Davidson and Ernie's Harley-Davidson, both in Iowa, poses next to his bike with the Harley- Davidson brick under his charge during the brick ride. PHOTO BY JOSH KURPIUS