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INDUSTRY INFOBITES YAMAHA SUPPORTS LAND ACCESS WITH $350,000 IN GRANTS FOR FIRST HALF OF 2021 Yamaha Motor Corp., USA announced the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) second quarter grants, totaling more than $115,000. The powersports industry’s leading land access program has contributed more than $350,000 in 2021 alone, delivering crucial funding to grassroots ef-
forts across the country, aiding in protecting and improving access to public land for outdoor recreation. Projects in the current funding cycle support the development of new off-road riding areas and popular trail systems requiring maintenance to remain open and safe for ATV, Sideby-Side (SxS), motorcycle, and snowmobile enthusiasts. “After over a dozen years and $4.5 million donated, Yamaha is steadfast
BACKROADS • DECEMBER 2021
News from the Inside in making our efforts to support powersports enthusiasts and outdoor recreation,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s Motorsports marketing manager. “Ensuring individuals working in resource-limited areas have what they need to maintain and improve entry to public land for recreation is why the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative exists, and we’re continuing to put in the time and energy to address situations posing a threat to everyone’s ability to get out and enjoy outdoor spaces.” The second quarter 2021 Yamaha OAI grants totaling more than $115,000 were awarded to the following organizations: Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area: Northumberland, PA, City of Elephant Butte, New Mexico, Northern Timber Cruisers: Millinocket, ME, Range, Riders ATV Club: Nashwauk, MN, Stay The Trail: Arvada, CO, Twin Cities Trail Riders: St. Paul, MN. Yamaha OAI is also expanding its partnership with the Recreate Responsibly Coalition (RRC), delivering signage to public land managers seeking to educate visitors on appropriate, responsible use while enjoying trails and riding areas. Those interested in applying for the signs funded by OAI to RRC can simply complete a form @ YamahaOAI.com.
KAWASAKI HYBRID MOTORCYCLE PLANS Kawasaki has announced plans for a future range of hybrid and battery-powered bikes with the first models hitting showrooms in the near future. Along with this announcement, Kawasaki took the wraps off a hybrid prototype that it has been dropping hints about since 2020, which displays how the technology will be applied to evolutions of existing gas-powered machines.
Kawasaki stated that by 2035 every major model it sells in developed markets will be either fully electric or a hybrid. In the short term, the company vowed to have more than 10 battery-electric and hybridelectric motorcycle models in showrooms and will be launching an average of 16 new models a year by 2025, including the battery-electric and hybrids, and by then the company will have launched 15 new offroad models as well. This is a much different outlook from when Kawasaki unveiled an electric prototype several years ago with no plan for a production bike. Kawasaki hasn’t officially revealed any details of the hybrid prototype as of yet, but it appears to use the parallel twin engine from either the Ninja 250 or Ninja 400, and a large electric motor is fitted above the gearbox. with the battery is a 48V unit.
DUCATI RECOVERS FROM COVID “Ducati closed the first nine months of the year with sales volumes that are already higher than the full year 2020, both for the bikes and for after-sales products like clothing, accessories and spare parts,” notes Francesco Milicia, Ducati VP Global Sales and After Sales. Q3 was extremely positive with Ducati
