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Harley-Davidson Bronx streetfighter 2021 launch possibly cancelled

By General Posts

by Abhilasha Singh from https://www.financialexpress.com

The launch of the new Harley-Davidson Bronx was delayed to next year owing to the ongoing COVID crisis, but now it seems the streetfighter may have headed to a full stop before beginning to write its story.

Harley-Davidson has had some very radical products lined up for 2021, including its very first adventure touring motorcycle and a streetfighter. The mould-breaking models were due next year but now Harley may have had a rethink on the streetfighter. Harley-Davidson Bronx had been the company website’s future models ‘Coming in 2021’ but has now been taken down. The ADV Pan-America, a ‘High Power Custom’, and other e-bicycles and electric concepts that were listed alongside still remain, but not the Bronx.

All details about the Bronx, including that on the press site have been removed. If the launch had been delayed, Harley could change the text from ‘Coming in 2021’ to ‘Coming Soon’, however, the manufacturer seems to have other plans.

According to a Motorcycle.com report, during the previous quarterly results presentation, Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz did not have a direct answer when asked about the Bronx. “I think that at this time, adventure-touring will be the focus going into next year,” Motorcycle quoted Zeitz. “Other product line related decisions, we will be revealing in real-time, so it’s not something we can or want to talk about at this time.”

The launch of the new Harley-Davidson streetfighter was expected to be delayed but now it isn’t clear whether it will be launched at all. The Bronx could have been put back on the drawing board or axed.

But we still do have the Pan America to look forward to, along with the 1250cc Custom model. Those who had been waiting for a Harley with sporty configuration may have to be disappointed. Although, the Revolution Max platform is modular and Harley is working on cafe racer and flat tracker variants. When introduced, they’d go up against Indian FTR 1200 and Triumph Thruxton.

Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions

By General Posts

by Ian Royall from https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/

The 2020 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, scheduled for October 25 at Phillip Island, has been cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions.

The four-day MotoGP weekend at the island is regional Victoria’s biggest sporting event, attracting more than 85,000 spectators and generating about $50 million for the state economy.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation and the sport’s commercial rights holder Dorna made the call to cancel the GP, the latest event to get the axe.

The British GP, due to be held on August 30 at Silverstone, has also been cancelled.

No races have been held yet this year with tentative plans to start in Spain in late July.

Aussie Ducati rider Jack Miller said he was disappointed he would not be able to race in front of home fans at the island.

“It’s my favourite weekend of the whole year and it’s the best circuit in the world so it’ll be a shame not to be there,’’ Miller told the Herald Sun.

Miller finished third in the 2019 race at the island last October.

Mick Doohan, five-time 500cc world champion and AGPC board member said it would be the first year since 1997 that Phillip Island had not hosted the Australian GP.

“The race will return in 2021 and provide an opportunity to make it one of the biggest and best-attended MotoGP events we’ve seen, plus watch Miller take the win,” Doohan said.

Full refunds would be given to all ticket holders.

AGPC chairman Paul Little said the race would be back better than ever in 2021.

Dorna chief executive Carmelo Ezpeleta said: “We’re saddened to have to announce the cancellation of this iconic event after finding no way through the logistical and operational issues resulting from the pandemic and rearranged calendar.’’

The race cancellation will also be a major blow to the island’s tourism and hospitality industries which rely heavily on income from the GP weekend.

Jack Miller was just a skinny Townsville kid of 16 with a questionable haircut when he started racing in the 125cc world championship in 2011.

He finished just four races, including a 23rd place at his home circuit of Phillip Island.

But Miller worked hard, learnt his racecraft, graduated to premier class four years later and was this week elevated into the Ducati factory team for 2021.

His race performances last year were improved and consistent, earning him the coveted red leathers.

“It’s something (a factory ride) I’ve always dreamt of,’’ Miller said.

Now 25, Miller has spent the past two months on his parents’ property near Townsville, giving him time to reflect on his career so far.

“I’ve been pulling all my old leathers out of storage and hanging them up on the walls around the shed, so it’s been pretty cool to go through that and think back where it began and what’s to come in the future,” he said.

He’s spent his enforced break keeping fit and ripping around the farm on 450cc and 250cc two-stroke dirt bikes, about 45 hours in total.

“I’ve been keeping myself busy — I have a lot of little projects on the go while we’ve been in lockdown,” he said.

Miller has signed a one-year deal with Ducati with an option for a second.

It’s still not clear who he will replace, but it’s more likely he will partner Andrea Dovizioso with talk linking Danilo Petrucci to the manufacturer’s World Superbike team.

Petrucci won his home GP at Mugello last year but his form fell away in the second half of the year.

It is clear that all manufacturers are trying to find someone to break Marc Marquez’s hold on the championship.

But for now, Miller just wants the 2020 championship to start after COVID-19.

“I can’t wait, especially the bike we had in testing in Qatar and Sepang, we believe we can do some special things,” he said.

“We’ve (Pramac) still got a lot of unfinished business — the way things ended last year and how pre-season testing went, we’re in good shape to repay Pramac.

Miller finished a career-best eighth in last year’s championship, with five podium finishes.

He hopes to head back to Europe by mid-June to start preparations.

Dorna, the sport’s commercial rights holder, has said it hopes to start racing at Jerez in Spain by late July, followed by more races in Europe.

Organizers cancel Memorial Day motorcycle ride in Washington

By General Posts

By NIKKI WENTLING from https://www.stripes.com

WASHINGTON – A motorcycle rally in the nation’s capital, designed to replace the popular Rolling Thunder event, won’t happen on Memorial Day weekend because of the coronavirus pandemic, organizers announced Tuesday night.

AMVETS took over plans for a motorcycle ride through Washington after Rolling Thunder organizers announced that 2019 would be their last event. Rolling Thunder, a 32-year-old tradition, attracted hundreds of thousands of participants every Memorial Day weekend.

AMVETS planned a similar event, Rolling to Remember, for the weekend of May 23.

“As always, the health and safety of our riders and the veteran community is our top priority,” AMVETS said in a statement. “Due to the federal and state restrictions on public gathers and the guidance of the public health officials amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rolling to Remember motorcycle demonstration will not take place in Washington, D.C.”

The goal of the three-day event was to focus on raising awareness for prisoners of war and troops still missing in action, as well as the issue of veterans suicide.

Instead of the in-person ride and rally, AMVETS asked motorcyclists to ride 22 miles on May 24 in their local communities, while following social distancing guidelines. The 22 miles recognizes an often-cited statistic that 22 veterans die by suicide every day. Participants can download a phone app titled “REVER” to track and share their ride.

The weekend Rolling to Remember activities were expected to kick off May 22 with “Blessing of the Bikes” at the Washington National Cathedral. AMVETS was working with the National Park Service to have a stage on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with speakers and other programming. Then, on May 24, motorcyclists were scheduled to ride past the White House, the Capitol Building, around the National Mall and stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The estimated cost of the weekend event, which was free for participants, was $400,000.

AMVETS said they would continue planning an event in Washington for 2021.

“We appreciate your support and flexibility during an unprecedented time in our nation’s history,” AMVETS said. “We look forward to coming together, even stronger than before, to continue this important tradition in person in 2021.”