INTERVIEW
POLARIS' VICE PRESIDENT OF MOTORCYCLES STEVE MENNETO
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30,000 bikes this year, while it
searches for a way to increase
volume to meet the significant
demand for its two-wheeled
products, fueled especially by
orders for the new Scout model
launched last August.
Menneto has a unique un-
derstanding of the powersports
industry from both sides of the
marketplace. He started out his
business life as a Polaris dealer
in New York, before crossing
the bridge to join the company
17 years ago, becoming Director
of Sales for Polaris' Motorcycles
Division. He took over respon-
sibility for Victory Motorcycles
from Mark Blackwell in May
2009. After Polaris purchased
Indian in April 2011 from British
entrepreneur Stephen Julius's
Stellican Corp., he was promot-
ed to Vice President of Motor-
cycles in August 2011. Visiting
him in his office in Minnesota
brought the chance to find more
about his plans for Victory as
well as Indian—including bringing
what was once America's most
famous competition brand back
to the racetrack.
Steve, you must be pretty
satisfied that you managed to
persuade your board of man-
agement to purchase Indian,
with your first quarter results
showing such a steep rise in
motorcycle sales year-on-year.
