Nov. 17, 2003 – Tucker Rocky adds Yoshimura exhaust

Tucker Rocky Distributing, Fort Worth, Texas, has taken on the Yoshimura exhaust line. Bill Carter, Tucker Rocky vice president of marketing, said Tucker will be carrying the complete line of Yoshimura exhaust products and inventory is expected to be in stock very soon.
“Our lack of a truly major brand of sportbike exhaust has been an issue we’ve worked to address for several years,” said Steve Johnson, COO of Tucker Rocky. “Yoshimura will strengthen our sportbike segment significantly, and will add even greater horsepower to our dirt bike and ATV exhaust offerings.”
Brant Russell, vice president of sales and marketing for Yoshimura, says adding Tucker Rocky should give a major boost to its sales and marketing efforts. Yoshimura had previously been distributed by Motorcycle Stuff. “TR is growing rapidly in off-road and ATV exhaust markets, and we are excited to (be) a cornerstone for their sportbike segment,” said Russell.
At the same time, Tucker also has added the Mechanix Wear brand of work gloves and related accesories. “We are always looking for leading brands to bring into our portfolio,” said Carter, “and when we had an opportunity to add a brand leader like Mechanix Wear, we jumped at it.”
Mechanix Wear products and merchandising programs will be introduced by TR at the Dealer Expo in February, although product inventory will be available before then.
Carter said more product news from Tucker Rocky is coming soon.
Big Changes at Intersport Fashions
Fairchild Corporation, Dulles, Va., has purchased Eurobike, the parent company of Intersport Fashions West, Inc. (IFW), Tustin Calif. The move was effective Oct. 13, 2003. At the same time, IFW released news of a reorganization of employees following the departure of Matt Parks and long-time IFW team member Eric Anderson.
While never caught up directly in Eurobike’s difficulties, IFW acted cautiously over the last 12 months, Denis LaBonge, IFW president, said in a prepared statement. LaBonge said Eurobike’s new leadership “sets an entirely fresh approach to our North American market commitment,” but says the duration of Eurobike’s financial difficulties did have effects on the U.S. firm.
Anderson, who worked as vice-president and national sales manager and who’s been one of the most visible members of the IFW staff for more than16 years, told Powersports Business he left the company on good terms and with the goal of launching a motorcycle helmet operation. He declined to provide details of the start-up venture during a brief interview, saying the organizational fine points haven’t been completed. However, he did say that the corporate structure won’t be “anything you’re used to.”
“This opportunity just landed in my lap,” Anderson told Powersports Business, “and I had to go with it. IFW is a great company.”
Parks formerly worked for Polaris Industries of Medina, Minn., where he was involved with parts, garments and accessories as well as the Victory motorcycle line. He reportedly returned to Polaris as a California-based dealer relations rep supervisor.
The departure of Anderson and Parks positions Rhoda Shaver to manage IFW’s Aftermarket Product Design and Development Department, supported by Giani Hennigan, Brooke Uyesaka and Amanda Wollny; product developer and a 13-year veteran at IFW, Paul Golde replaces Parks and is promoted to International brands manager for IFW’s dealer direct division; Shawna Rousseau is promoted to sales department supervisor, updating IFW’s reps with new products and programs; and, replacing Eric Anderson, Tom Monroe is promoted to national sales manager for IFW’s distributed brands division, which includes Firstgear and Honda licensed products. Monroe joined IFW in early 2002, and is expected to work closely with Tucker Rocky — Firstgear will begin its 10th year as a Tucker Rocky exclusive line.
IFW’s offerings include Vemar helmets and Oxtar boots from Italy, as well as Held gloves, Schuberth helmets and the Hein Gericke collection from Germany.
Global restructures Staff
Global Motorsport Group, Inc. (GMG), Morgan Hill, Calif., has appointed a new vice president of sales and marketing as well as four vice presidents to complete the firm’s new regionalized sales structure.
“In order to meet and exceed our dealers’ expectations for world class customer service and business growth support, we must be in the territory with feet on the ground,” said Frank Esposito, president of GMG. To accomplish that, he said, GMG will divide the U.S. into four regions, with each region led by a vice president of business development.
Maurice Murray has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. The four regional vice presidents are: Tim Dodd, whose family founded Motorcycle Stuff, and who ran the family business completely until Global purchased it in 2000, heads the Midwest region; Steve Veltri, the West Coast region; Lewis Hill, the Mid South region; and Mike Cleveland the North East region. All five report to Esposito.
Each of the regional vice presidents has responsibility for developing and growing a team of outside sales professionals for both sides of the GMG portfolio, Custom Chrome and Motorcycle Stuff. Each distribution brand will have its own reps but all will report into a consolidated regional management office under the direction of the respective regional vice president.
“The needs of a dealer in New Hampshire are not always the same as those of a dealer in Texas or California,” Esposito said in a prepared statement. “So, without real time, first hand market intelligence and face-to-face communication, we compromise the speed and accuracy at which we deliver product to each of these markets.”
In other GMG news, the firm said it plans to expand e-trading and added a new exhaust brand to its distribution.
GMG reached an agreement with Perot Systems Corporation (NYSE: PER), Plano, Texas, on an additional contract valued at $1.9 million to create, enhance and manage GMG’s electronic commerce and Web-based businesses.
The contract requires Perot Systems to develop an e-commerce platform for the motorcycle parts distribution industry.
Also, GMG’s Motorcycle Stuff division is now the exclusive metric distributor for D&D Performance Exhaust Systems of Fort Worth, Texas. D&D has been making high performance motorcycle exhaust system for over thirty years. Motorcycle Stuff now carries these exhaust brands: D&D, Scorpion Exhaust, FMF Exhaust and Shogun Exhaust. Yoshimura Exhaust products will not be carried in 2004.
Parts Unlimited Preps TV Show
Parts Unlimited, the world’s largest distributor of motorcycle parts and accessories, plans to present the TV series “Inside Motorcycling presented by Parts Unlimited” on the Spike TV network beginning in January.
The TV show will “take a look at motorcycling from the inside,” covering the innovators of the latest high-tech motorcycles and components while also going behind the scenes during national championship races, the company said.
Produced by WATV in association with Don Emde Productions, publisher of Parts Magazine, the program will air Saturday mornings. Emde is involved in developing program features.
Metzeler/Pirelli drop Distributors
Pirelli/Metzeler Motorcycle Tires has restructured its Canadian-market distribution. Only Parts Canada and Full Bore will be retained. Full Bore will handle both Pirelli and Metzeler; it had previously distributed the Metzeler line alone. Parts Canada already carries both lines.
White Brothers Adds Alloy MX Gear
White Brothers, Yorba Linda, Calif., has added the all-new 2004 Alloy MX Apparel line, and began nationwide shipments Oct. 21. Dealers seeking information on the Alloy MX line can go to www.alloymx.com or call White Brothers, at 888/926-7337.
N-R Ready for 2004
Nelson-Rigg USA, Inc. has completed a 10,000 sq. ft. addition to its headquarters in southern California. This first phase of the expansion program provides a new automated shipping system and additional design and R&D areas.