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/861665
IN THE WIND P52 TRIUMPH TEAMS UP WITH BAJAJ AUTO B ritain's Triumph Motorcycles and India's Bajaj Auto have announced a strategic alliance that will see the development of new models and allow the two companies access to uncharted markets using their combined reach. The alliance is not a financially binding one, such as the deal between KTM and Bajaj Auto; Bajaj currently has a 47 percent stake in the Aus- trian powerhouse. Bajaj will gain access to the Tri- umph brand to exploit its full potential—primarily in India—where the majority of Bajaj's machines are sold. Bajaj recently lost its number one position in India to Royal Enfield owners Eicher Motors, and this new agreement is likely to see the company rocket back to the top spot in one of the world's biggest and most vibrant motorcycle markets. What this means for the wider world is still unclear, but don't be surprised if we see a new range of especially small displace- ment machines being built in India under the Triumph badge in a similar vein to the KTM 390 Duke and the Indian-owned, TVS Motor Company-made, BMW G 310 R. CN Don't worry, Triumph's awesome Street Triple 765 RS will not be made in India. WITKOWSKI BATTLES TO BATTLE CREEK HS WIN M ike Witkowski came from behind to win the D-14/Bat- tle Creek M.C. hare scrambles, round seven of the SRT AMA East Hare Scramble National Championship in Battle Creek, Michigan, August 5-6. Ideal racing conditions greeted the racers, including the 12 Pro-class riders, such as Witkowski, Wally Palmer and last year's champ Kyle McDonal, all fighting for the 2017 AMA Cham- pionship number-one plate. However, it was Parts Unlim- ited KTM rider Corey Parlin with the holeshot ahead of Palmer, Witkowski and McDonal. Parlin kept his KTM out in front for quite a while before giving way to Witkowski, then Palmer. Witkowski led it for the rest of the way to take the win over Palmer and Parlin, making it a KTM sweep. McDonal and his Beta took fourth, while Joe Mc- Neil, on another KTM, rounded out the top five. New to D-14 is the Schoolboy class, which was won by Mike "The Beast From The East" Beeler Jr. followed by Logan Densmore in second and Zach Dubois third. Ken Held Mike Witkowski fought his way to the front and was rewarded with the win at the SRT AMA East Hare Scramble in Battle Creek, Michigan. PHOTOAGRAPHY BY DAN MORTON