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/710094
IN THE WIND P38 BENELLI IS BACK S SR Motorsports has announced that the 2017 Benelli TNT300 and TNT600 motorcycles are currently being delivered to authorized Benelli Dealers, along with the 2016 Benelli Zafferano 250 Scooter. After years of being without a distribu- tor for Benelli Motorcycles and Scooters, Qianjiang (QJ), the parent company of Benelli and SSR Motorsports signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the United States in 2015. SSR Motorsports recently began to select established dealers to represent the Benelli brand, which are noted on the Benelli Dealer locator available on the SSR Motorsports website, www.benelli.ssrmotorsports.com. Benelli has a rich history of manufacturing motorcycles for over 100 years. In 1911, six broth- ers from Pesaro Italy started a motorcycle repair and parts manufacturing business in what would become known as the "Benelli Garage." In 1921 the brothers manufactured their first motorcycle. This motorcycle started the successful racing his- tory Benelli has enjoyed over the years. Legend- ary riders like Ambrosini, Grosselli, Campanelli, Provini, Pasolini, Villa plus Saarinen, Hailwood and Carruthers all helped to provide Benelli with racing victories. Today, Benelli is part of the QJ Group. QIAN- JIANG (QJ) manufactures over 1.5 million motor- cycles and scooters, plus an additional 2 million motors per year in Wenling, China. QJ distributes ATVs, electric bicycles, lawnmowers, golf carts, generators, pumps and other lawn and garden equipment worldwide. CN RODNEY SMITH JOINS BETA USA B eta USA has hired former motocross star and five- time GNCC champion Rodney Smith to coach and train their team's athletes as well as be the spokesperson for the Italian company. Smith's accomplishments include not only being inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2015, but also winning the GNCC series championship five times between 1998 and 2004, second in all-time GNCC championships with 33 race wins to boot. He also won three AMA National Hare Scrambles titles and finished second overall in the ISDE in 1992. Smith had a very successful motocross career finishing third in the 1988 World MX Championships, and also won titles in Brazil. Beta USA's Tim Pilg is pleased to have Smith aboard, "Rodney needs no introduction as his success speaks for itself. We have a great group of young tal- ent on our race team and I feel that he is the last key ingredient to help them win races. The world of racing today is ultra competitive and you need every tool in your toolbox to succeed and I feel Rodney completes our list. I am also very pleased our riders will have such a great coach on their side." Smith said, "I am excited to be a part of the Beta team and I'm looking forward to helping all of their racers reach their goals. The talent on the team is there and I want to help Beta get to the top spot on the podium." CN Benelli is back with a new distributor.