Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/631326
IN THE WIND P28 LITTLE NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD M otorcycle industry execu- tive Larry Little has been named Chairman of the Board of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foun- dation, the leading nonprofit funder of research into one of the deadliest forms of childhood cancer. Little, vice president and general manager of Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) Events in Irvine, California, is co-creator of the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo), the annual go-to powersports indus- try event for trade, media and the public. He has served on the PBTF Board since 2004, most recently as vice chair, and suc- ceeds Chris Hoefflin as chair. "I am deeply honored to ac- cept this leadership role, and grateful to my predecessor for his dedication to this cause and his mentorship of me," said Little. "The PBTF's mission is near and dear to my heart, and I'm excited about partnering with staff, volunteers, donors, sponsors and other supporters to move the needle closer to a cure for this deadly disease." The PBTF's largest fundrais- ing program, Ride for Kids, is a national motorcycle event that attracts thousands of riders to raise money for childhood brain tumor research and family services. Little got involved with the PBTF through his work as publisher, senior vice president and chief brand officer of Cycle World magazine. He helped establish both the Joseph C. Parkhurst Education Fund to support the foundation's college scholarship program for brain tumor survivors, and the Ride for Kids/Cycle World project bikes benefiting the foundation. A former member and chair- man of the board of directors of the Motorcycle Industry Council, Little graduated from the State University of New York College at Oneonta with a bachelor of science degree in business economics. "Larry and I have worked closely together since I joined the PBTF in 2012," said Robin Boettcher, president and CEO. "His business acumen, in-depth knowledge of the motorcycle in- dustry and heartfelt compassion for children with brain tumors make him the perfect person to lead our Board." CN HUSQVARNA – SO HOT RIGHT NOW. H usqvarna has enjoyed the best sales year in its 112-year history, with the brand reporting a 31 percent increase in worldwide sales to 21,513 units. The strong sales figures indicate Husqvarna owners KTM are doing a solid job of maintain- ing separation of brands that share many identi- cal parts across the off-road platform. This now branches into the road bike sector, with the debut of this year's 701 Supermoto and 701 Enduro, both of which use the previous generation KTM 690 Duke single-cylinder engine, and the eagerly- awaited 401 Vitpilen café racer, due out at the end of this year. Husqvarna's future looks like it will have a very road-biased flavor to it, as KTM attempts to diver- sify the brand yet further from its Austrian cousins. Husqvarna is hoping new bikes like this 701 SM will help drive sales even further in 2016.