Etc.
etc.
FLAWED FATALITIES
Contrary to recently published reports, fatalities among motorcyclists over the age of 35 are not on the rise. According to NHTSA statistics, between 1990 and 1999, the mean age of motorcyclists who were fatally injured rose from 29.3 to 36.5 years of age. At the same time, the mean age of motorcycle owners rose from 26.9 to 38.1 years old. With more motorcyclists of a given age on the road-no matter what age group-more accidents obviously come out of that group. “What we see here seems to track the census data-it’s a function of the numbers,” confirmed Rae Tyson, NHTSA spokesperson. “We need new information.”
FOUR-STROKES MAKE A SPLASH
Four-strokes are everywhere, even on the water. Last September, Honda introduced its inaugural personal watercraft, a camshaft-equipped
two-seater that is said to meet the EPA’s year-2006 emissions standards. Now, Yamaha has upped the ante, producing a four-cylinder machine that is allegedly based on the YZF-R1 repli-racer. Unlike the R1, however, the WaveRunner FX140 is fuel-injected. Company spokesmen aren’t saying whether Yamaha’s YZFR1 and R6 sportbikes will also get injection in 2002.
LAVERDA BACK IN BUSINESS
Laverda was acquired by Aprilia last year and hasn’t been heard from since. Now, a new two-wheeler sporting Laverda’s tri-color crest has been seen running around Italy. Unfortunately, the Phoenix 150 is only a scooter, the result of a deal between Aprilia and Taiwan’s Sanyang Motor Company.
V-TWINS IN VEGAS
Wayne Newton on a Ducati? Could happen, if Mr. Las Vegas is still headlining come October 26-28. Which is when the inaugural Ducati Revs America rolls into Sin City. Modeled after Italy’s biennial World Ducati Weekend and hosted by Ducati North America, the event offers an auction, concert, displays, seminars, track time and tours of the traveling “Art of the Motorcycle” exhibit. Reserve your slot by visiting www.ducati.com.
MOBILE MARKETING
Looking for an unconventional yet effective way to push software-giant Microsoft’s new interactive television service, Ultimate TV, ad-agency
Seismlcom ordered 22 sidehackequipped 500cc Royal Enfield Bullets—with replica TVs and set-top boxes mounted shotgun-from San Francisco importer Munroe Motors. Post-promo, the moving billboards will be outfitted with single-seat sidecars and raffled off.
CRAYOLA ’CROSS
How to give your pre-schoolers a lesson in Motocross 101? Get ’em a copy of MXColor’s USGP Edition coloring book. The 26-page homage is loaded with FIM action from SoCal’s legendary Carlsbad Raceway. It also documents past winners from the track’s AMA Nationals, Superbikers Race of Champions and Trans-AMA events. For your copy, send $5 (plus $1 for shipping and handling) to MXColor, 1729 Ditmar St., Oceanside, CA 92054, or log onto www.mxcolor.com.
