Robby Gordon, Arctic Cat enter five-year development and marketing deal

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MINNEAPOLIS, August 6, 2015 — Arctic Cat Inc. (NASDAQ: ACAT) announced today that it has entered into an exclusive, five-year product development and marketing agreement with famed racer Robby Gordon and his newly formed SPEED RMG Partners LLC with Todd Romano, an aftermarket futurist.

“Our partnership aims to set new standards for product innovation and excitement in the off-road vehicle industry,” said Arctic Cat President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Metz. “We see significant opportunities to re-imagine what’s possible and create dynamic, end-user focused new products and accessories, in line with our stated strategic growth initiatives. We believe this effort will further enhance our competitiveness and brand position. We will announce further details about this exciting collaboration at our wheeled dealer show later this month. Stay tuned.”

The agreement reflects Arctic Cat’s commitment to the high-performance off-road vehicle market, and its Wildcat™ side-by-sides and accessories. Gordon and Romano will provide research and development consulting on new technologies.

“We sought a partnership with a company that shared our passion for creating new markets with untapped potential,” said Gordon. “Arctic Cat’s vision complements our ideas. We are excited about what we can achieve together.”

Gordon is a recognized pioneer in racing and off-road vehicle design, with 30 years of experience designing and developing state-of-the-art machines. He has proven to be among the most competitive racers at NASCAR, IndyCar, TransAm, International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), International Race of Champions (IROC) and the Dakar Rally. Gordon has won seven international off-road class championships, two stadium series and three Baja 500s. He also created the enormously successful Stadium Super Truck (SST) series.

Romano is the founder of DragonFire Racing and Finish Line Marketing. DragonFire Racing pioneered the development of performance accessories for the UTV/SXS industry and has become an industry Icon. The attention that DragonFire Racing brought to the industry quickly attained international recognition and led to its acquisition. Finish Line Marketing is a recognized leader in the power sports space as an innovative creator of marketing programs that raise consumer awareness and retail demand.

Arctic Cat, in collaboration with Gordon and Romano’s Speed RMG Partners, plans to create the most innovative technology and products the industry has seen.

Beta Motorcycles joins SuperMotocross in 2024, Benny Bloss named first factory rider

Beta Motorcycles 2024 Bloss
Beta Motorcycles
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Benny Bloss will race for the factory Beta Motorcycles team in 2024 as that manufacturer joins SuperMotocross as the ninth brand to compete in the series. Beta Motorcycles will make their debut in the Monster Energy Supercross opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California in January.

Benny Bloss finished among the top 10 twice in Pro Motocross, in 2016 and 2018. – Beta Motorcycles

“The wait is over and we can finally share everything we have been working towards,” said Carlen Gardner, Race Team Manager in a press release. “It has been a great experience being a part of this development and seeing the progression. The only missing part was finding a rider that would mesh well with our Beta Family.

“After a one phone call with Benny, we knew it would be a good fit for him, and for us. We are happy to have him on board for the next two years and can’t wait to see everyone at Anaheim in January.”

Bloss debuted in the 450 class in 2015 with a 15th-place finish overall at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Bloss has a pair of top-10 rankings in the division with a sixth-place finish in the Pro Motocross Championship in 2016 and a seventh in 2018. His best Supercross season ended 15th in the standings in 2018.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Beta Factory Racing team,” Bloss said. “It’s cool to see a brand with such a rich history in off-road racing to come into the US Supercross and Motocross space. I know this team will be capable of great things as we build and go racing in 2024.”

Bloss is currently 22nd in the SuperMotocross rankings and has not raced in the first two rounds of the Motocross season.

Testing for Beta Motorcycles is scheduled to begin in August and the team expects to announce a second rider at that time.

The family-owned brand adds to the international flare of the sport. The company was founded in Florence, Italy in 1905 as Società Giuseppe Bianchi as they built handmade bicycles, The transition to motorcycle production in the late 1940s.

Beta Motorcycles competed and won in motocross competition in the late 1970s and early 1980s with Jim Pomeroy and other riders.

Beta will join Triumph Motorcycles as a second historic brand to join the sport in 2024. First established in 1902, Triumph has won in nearly every division they have competed in, dating back to their first victory in the 1908 Isle of Man TT. Triumph will debut in the 250 class in 2024 and plans to expand into 450s in 2025.