Other key change is a new date: January 21-23, 2021.

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The MIC’s American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) is moving to January 21-23, 2021 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Previously scheduled for this October, North America’s largest powersports show is changing more than timing; the show will become a trade-only event and emerge as an integral part of the buying season.

“Timing is everything,” said Cinnamon Kernes, vice president and general manager, MIC Events. “Transitioning to the first quarter has been part of a long-term strategic plan for AIMExpo, along with providing more focus on our core audience – dealers.  These changes not only align the show with the ideal buying time for dealers and retailers, but also provide the perfect opportunity for brands to reconnect with dealers, kicking off what will be a pivotal year for the industry, additionally, this move to January opens the door to partner with a major distributor in a much more strategic and meaningful way.”

A trade-only show allows AIMExpo to concentrate on industry needs and education at a time when powersports needs it most.  Quality over quantity is necessary in the new trade show landscape.  With this new focus on retailers, the show will now take place over three days instead of four, saving exhibitors and attendees time and money.

COVID has forced retailers and manufacturers to change the way they do business – at warp speed.  AIMExpo’s education, developed in partnership with PSB will focus on these ideas and innovations to help retailers improve efficiency, stay competitive and improve bottom lines.  AIMExpo will provide tools and solutions for retailers as we start the new year.

“With all that’s happened recently, transitioning to Q1 makes sense now more than ever,” said Andre Albert, director of sales and marketing. “The show will align with the order-writing time of year; it will help alleviate financial burdens in 2020, and allows us to focus on the industry and its needs. This change in timing and focus allows brands to connect  with the most engaged buyers looking for growth and success in 2021.  We’re excited and looking forward to the evolution of AIMExpo – Together We Rise.”

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MV’s offering some trick bits for free if you snatch up a new model before the end of May.

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To celebrate spring and promote its new, exciting 2020 models, MV Agusta will offer a free special parts kit worth up to €1.500 to the first 100 customers who reserve their new bike before May 31st. The models included in the offer are the Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso, the Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso SCS, the Brutale 800 RR, the Dragster 800 RR, the Dragster 800 RC and the F3.

The individual value of the special parts kits, specific to each model family, range from roughly €1.000 for the Turismo Veloce, the Dragster and the Brutale models to over €1.500 for the F3.

The offer applies to all eligible bikes reserved through the online form in the MV Agusta official website or directly at participating MV Agusta dealers. Details, terms and conditions and a list of participating dealers can be found on the mvagusta.com site.

The initiative is part of MV Agusta’s new course as set out in the ambitious 5-year plan, with significant investments and a particular focus on the expansion of its customer base worldwide.

The 2020 model range received a particularly positive welcome both from the specialist press and from MV Agusta enthusiasts. This move aims at further growing the MV Agusta riders family around the world.

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Ducati is launching an international fundraising effort to finance the rehabilitation programs that the S.Orsola general hospital of Bologna has developed for patients in post COVID-19 recovery.

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Ducati launches #raceagainstCovid, a fundraiser organized by the Borgo Panigale company in favor of the Policlinico di S.Orsola of Bologna, an excellence of the area as well as one of the largest hospitals in Italy. In this way, Ducati wishes to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, and it does so with the approach that most distinguishes the company – that of great challenges, forming a team, sharing a goal and looking to the future.

For this reason, Ducati has rallied together its entire family – employees of the Bologna headquarters and its subsidiaries throughout the world, DOC (Ducati clubs), dealers, suppliers, partners, riders and enthusiasts – to offer support to those who work every day on the front lines to protect the health of citizens.

Making your contribution to the fundraising is simple: for those wishing to donate by credit card, please visit the dedicated page of the GoFundMe platform (of which a mobile app is also available); for those who prefer to participate by bank transfer, simply make a payment to the account of the hospital (IBAN IT68E0306902480100000300027), indicating the cause “raceagainstCovid donation.” The donations are received directly by the University Hospital of Bologna Policlinico di S. Orsola.

The goal is to collect, by June 2020, the necessary funds to finance instrumentation, research and staff of the Policlinico di S.Orsola of Bologna dedicated to the exclusive care of patients in post COVID-19 recovery.

“Even on those who recover, COVID-19 often leaves a significant aftermath on organs and systems that it has attacked with its harsh action. Lungs, heart, circulatory system, kidneys, brain are the preferred targets of the virus. Impairments of lung, cardiac and renal function occur, the risk of thrombosis remains and there may also be neurological residues. To monitor these patients, treat them and follow their rehabilitation, dedicated multidisciplinary areas have been set up with cardiologists, neurologists, nephrologists, pneumologists, physiatrists and infectious disease specialists. For these patients, even complex rehabilitation programs are proposed that require dedicated personnel and specific equipment such as, for example, telemedicine tools for remote patient control, robots for patient rehabilitation at home, ultrasound, echocardiographs, electro-stimulators of respiratory muscles and instruments that measure their strength and train them, traditional active and passive exercise bicycles (for patients with respiratory problems forced in bed),” declared Chiara Gibertoni, General Manager of the Policlinico di S.Orsola.

Ducati has always been an active part of its territory, which is characterized internationally for the Motor Valley of ‘masterpieces’ on two and four wheels, but also for its excellent medical facilities. The Emilia-Romagna Region has become a national hub for the treatment of COVID-19. The same Ducatisti from all over the world are extremely close to this land which has always been the location for the factory where the red bikes of Borgo Panigale come from.

“Faced with a tragedy such as that caused by the COVID-19 virus, one can remain immobile, paralyzed by terror, or react quickly, precisely and in a coordinated way. Helping the health system in every possible way is a duty of every single citizen and also of the companies that are a fundamental part of the social fabric,” declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati CEO. “Ducati was founded in Bologna ninety-four years ago and is therefore inextricably linked to this city. I am sure that our riders, fans and enthusiasts from all over the world will join us to give the city and the whole country a strong sign of solidarity, as well as sincere thanks for the effort and dedication that the doctors are making to combat this new and still not fully understood serious illness.”

The members of the Ducati Board started off the fundraising collection, followed by many other employees. The amount collected was then doubled by the company, reaching the amount of € 100,000, the starting point of #raceagainstCOVID.

“In all these weeks of Coronavirus emergency, our regional public health service has received incredible demonstrations of support in the face of the outstanding work of doctors, nurses and operators to whom we will always be grateful,” commented the President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini. “A lot of affinity and many donations, from those who could give a lot and from those who could give less, but really a desire to stay united against the pandemic that still continues today. This is why Ducati’s initiative is just as wonderful and important: to mobilize both its employees, a formidable team, and Ducati enthusiasts all over the world for a fundraiser that will support the post-COVID rehabilitation activity of the S.Orsola hospital in Bologna, given the important consequences that it can still have on the organs and systems attacked by the virus of those who recover. Both dedicated staff and specific equipment are needed, and Ducati is on the track for this: thanks very much to Claudio Domenicali, to the entire Borgo Panigale team and to anyone who loves the red bikes for what is already a certain victory. Thanks again.”

To donate by credit card:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/donazione-ospedale-s-orsola-covid

To donate by bank transfer:
Account in the name of: Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna per sanità di Bologna per COVID-19
IBAN: IT68E0306902480100000300027
SWIFT CODE: BCITITMM
Cause: “raceagainstCovid donation”

All information on the fundraising is also available on the dedicated page of the Ducati website.

Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. – A Sole Shareholder Company – A Company subject to the Management and Coordination activities of AUDI AG
Founded in 1926, since 1946 Ducati has been manufacturing sport-inspired motorcycles characterized by high-performance Desmodromic engines, innovative design and cutting-edge technology. With its factory located in Bologna’s Borgo Panigale district, in 2016 Ducati celebrated 90 years since its foundation. The model range covers several market segments with the following families: Diavel, XDiavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, SuperSport, Panigale and Streetfighter. In 2015, Ducati presented the Ducati Scrambler: a new brand made of bikes, accessories and apparel that that stands out for its creativity and self-expression.
In 2017, Ducati presented the Panigale V4, the first Ducati production bike to mount a 4-cylinder engine derived directly from the Desmosedici GP engine. Ducati iconic motorcycles, together with an extensive range of bike accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in 90 countries worldwide. In 2019 Ducati delivered 53,183 bikes to customers, consolidating its sales over the 50,000-bike threshold for the fifth year running. Ducati competes in both MotoGP and Superbike World Championships. It has been competing in MotoGP since 2003, winning both the Manufacturers’ and Riders’ titles in 2007, while in Superbike Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers’ titles and 14 Riders’ titles.

The Policlinico S.Orsola
The University Hospital of Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola – Malpighi is an extremely old hospital (the first centre dates back to 1592) and is home to the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. It is located in the heart of the city of Bologna over an area of approximately 1.8 km and a logistical organization which is structured in 27 pavilions that house the Operating Units of the Polyclinic. Every day around 20,000 people access the hospital (employees, university students and teachers, patients, visitors and suppliers). The Polyclinic is a national and international reference centre for various pathologies. The internal organization is structured into 9 departments with integrated activity (hospital and university), a type of organization that enables it to guarantee assistance, teaching and research activities, to which the 87 operating units belong. It has 1,487 beds with a staff of 5,185 employees, including researchers and university doctors; there are approximately 65,000 hospitalizations per year and over 3,000,000 specialist external services. The Policlinico is part of the Covid Intensive Care, a structure supporting the intensive care of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Italian national network.

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