Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/575161
www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • October 5, 2015 • 3 HOTNEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER event, which launches the dealer education that begins Thursday morning. "Manheim Specialty Auctions is excited to host the Kickoff Networking Reception and the opportunity to meet in a relaxed environment with the amazing folks that make the powersports industry enjoyable for every- one — our dealers. We're proud supporters of AIMExpo and look forward to a great reception — not to mention a great confer- ence. We look forward to seeing you there," said Kevin Cooper, director of sales, Manheim Spe- cialty Auctions. "Thanks to Manheim Spe- cialty Auctions, we will again be able to spend a little time outside before the PSBI@AIM- Expo begins. We hope dealers and others from the industry will take the time to join us at the Kickoff Networking Recep- tion, as well as at the PSBI@ AIMExpo dealer education sessions Thursday and Friday," said Dave McMahon, editor in chief of Powersports Business. "Make sure to stop by to have an early meet and greet with your industry peers! We hope to see you there!" NPA ADDS AVELLO AS CENTRAL REGION RSM National Powersport Auc- tions (NPA), the world's leading powersport auction, has named Tony Avello as regional sales manager for the Dakotas, Wis- consin, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. Avello brings 15 years of dealership experience com- bined with three years in the financial services industry. "Pre-owned is the place to be," Avello said. "New and pre- owned sales are showing signs of determination which is a result of lenders offering com- petitive financ- ing and dealers managing inventory more effi- ciently. I want to help make this a win-win for everyone." "Tony grew up in the pad- dock, and he still owns his first bike, a 1991 Yamaha FZR 600 that is currently parked next to his 2012 Aprilia RSV4," said Mike Murray, NPA director of sales. "He combines the pas- sion for powersports with the professionalism of the automo- tive industry, which made him the ideal candidate for the RSM position." Murray isn't kidding about Avello being a motorcycle guy from day one. "In the late '90s my older brother Greg started road rac- ing in the Championship Cup Series for Buell," Avello said. "Of course I had to see what my brother was up to, so I went to the track with him to help pit crew. It wasn't long before I got the urge to throw a leg over a bike and then bought one my Who will be No. 1? That's what the industry is wondering, as Powersports Business prepares for its third annual Power 50 din- ner, sponsored by National Powersport Auctions (NPA) and EFG Companies. The industry's top 50 dealers will be honored Thursday, Oct. 15 in Orlando during an invite-only dinner, which will include an awards presentation, a networking cocktail reception and more. PSB editors Dave McMahon, Liz Keener and Kate Swanson will celebrate all 50 dealers, while also honoring a few dealerships with special Best In Class awards before counting down the Top 5 and ending the evening by announcing the No. 1 dealer of 2015. If you won't be at the dinner, stay tuned to PowersportsBusi- ness.com and PSB's social media channels to learn about the 2015 Power 50 dealers. If you want to apply to join the Power 50 in 2016, email McMahon at dmcmahon@powersportsbusiness.com, so he can alert you when the 2016 application is available. POWER 50 DINNER HONORS THE BEST DEALERS IN THE INDUSTRY NEWS 6 ... PSBI@AIMExpo speaker bios FINANCIAL NEWS 14 ... Steve Dodds 17 ... Aegis integrates with CDK Lightspeed 17 ... Honda joins stock market index OPINION 18 ... From The Editor 18 ... Online at PowersportsBusiness.com PSB: FOCUS Metric bikes 22 ... Honda releases Africa Twin pricing 24 ... Metric cruisers draw KBB.com traffic 25 ... JAMA reports production decrease ATV/UTV 40 ... Linhai announces Georgia expansion 41 ... Polaris donates off-road vehicles SOLUTIONS 30 ... Sam Dantzler 31 ... Neil Pascale MOTORCYCLE 44 ... Adly scooters return to the U.S. 46 ... Six Bends H-D project breaks ground 47 ... Power 50 dealer opens 2nd location 49 ... Commemorative Suzuki bike release SNOWMOBILE 60 ... Ski-Doo introduces 2016 models PWC 53 ... Yamaha unveils new VX models 55 ... WaveRunner gets TR-1 HO engine AFTERMARKET 56 ... Hot Products INSIDE Polaris builds housing for staff The Polaris Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Polaris Industries Inc., has provided a grant of $300,000 to help construct Tamarack Place, a 41-unit apartment building in Roseau, Minn., the birthplace of Polaris and home to a major Polaris engineering and manufacturing center. Scheduled to open in the summer of 2016, the new apartment complex will expand the housing available for the growing workforce in Roseau County. The Polaris Foundation awarded the grant to the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, which is working with the Roseau County Workforce Housing Program on Tamarack Place. The mis- sion of the RCWHP is to increase housing avail- able in the county, so employers such as Polaris can continue to attract and retain top talent. "A primary mission of the Polaris Founda- tion is community development in areas where Polaris has facilities and where our employees work, live and play," said Stacy Bogart, president of the Polaris Foundation. "With Tamarack Place, the Polaris Foundation hopes to enhance the quality of life in Roseau and ensure the city has a vibrant selection of premium residential opportunities for a growing workforce." PSB Küryakyn names national development manager Küryakyn Holdings LLC, announced the addition of industry veteran Mike Shell as national development manager. In this new position Shell will power the growth and organization of Küryakyn's national brand representative force, further strengthening the company's ability to provide unmatched dealer and distributor support services. Shell brings more than 25 years of industry experience through various dealer development and sales roles, most recently serving as VP of acquisitions and opera- tions for Big Iron Sports, LLC. Shell spent more than a decade with Polaris Industries where he successfully propelled the com- pany by surpassing dealer acquisition goals for Indian and Victory, as well as the company's line of ORV and electric vehicles. Prior to his time with Polaris, Shell held vari- ous dealer operations and sales managerial positions with Indian Motorcycle Group, Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Company and Bombardier Recreational Products. "With nearly three decades of experience in the powersports business honoring multiple OEM brands, I am thrilled to embark in a new direction," said Shell. "As a passionate, lifelong rider of both on- and off-road vehicles, I could not be more excited to enter the aftermarket side of the industry as a part of the dynamic Küryakyn team." "Küryakyn has experienced significant growth since launching the NXT 25 Program in 2014," explained VP of brand manage- ment Steve Veltri. "We've been fortunate to add vital new team members who are true enthusiasts that believe in Küryakyn's mis- sion and vision going forward. Mike Shell is no exception. He has a passion for two wheels, and his proven track record of building strong partnerships while developing brand awareness will be a tremendous asset for our team. Mike will lead the charge to ensure we receive new business growth for all of our brands through day- to-day dealer and distributor communications." The 2014 Power 50 dinner included several moments that had dealers reach- ing to take a photo. MIKE SHELL junior year of high school. Being at the track and around people who love motorcycles from the start has helped shape my passion for the industry." KAWASAKI PROMOTES REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. announced that John Rathyen has been promoted to regional sales director-East Region. Rathyen joined KMC in 2002 and most recently served as senior dis- trict man- ager in the New York/ New Jersey/ Philadel- phia area. He has more than 25 years of experi- ence in the motorsports indus- try, including managing a large metro-area dealership in New Jersey. Rathyen will report to Anthony Kestler, national sales director. EXHAUST MAKER EXPANDS TO 140,000-SQUARE-FOOT CALIFORNIA FACILITY Factory Pipe LLC has moved into a newly renovated 140,000-square-foot facility in Ukiah, Calif. The move from the original 40,000-square-foot facility was driven by increased demand for motorsports exhaust systems, Factory Pipe's sole focus for over 35 years. Factory Pipe LLC manufac- tures exhaust systems for the motorsports industry and is a Tier I supplier to several OEMs. "It appears our customers appreciate what we're doing and have indicated as much by tasking us with more projects," said Ross Liberty, Factory Pipe president. "Our simple formula of providing competitively priced exhaust systems, delivered right and on time with the shortest possible lead time seems to be a winning one." SAVIGNAC NAMED BRAND MANAGER FOR ARCTIVA, Z1R HELMETS Parts Unlimited is happy to announce Jay Savig- nac as the new brand manager for Arctiva and Z1R. Savignac comes to Arctiva and Z1R with more than 20 years of experi- ence. PSB TONY AVELLO JOHN RATHYEN JAY SAVIGNAC