Since the global pandemic took hold in 2020, we’ve learned a few things. One, motorcycles and scooters are a pretty great way to get around while keeping your distance from other people. Two, different geographic areas go through different viral surges at different times. Just because it’s not that bad wherever you are doesn’t mean that it’s not terrible somewhere else. Three, circumstances can and do change. For example, vaccine rollouts in the U.S. got off to a rocky start, but as of April 22, 2021, about 41 percent of U.S. adults have received at least one dose. While the global pandemic rages on, however, it is not just the moto-industry that is being affected it is much more, AMERiders has your information.
We’ve seen COVID cases rise and hospitals get overwhelmed in waves, across multiple countries. The U.S., Brazil, Italy, the U.K., France, and Japan all immediately come to mind. In April, 2021, India is currently in the grips of the world’s largest surge. Hospitals and private citizens alike have been taking to social media to plead for oxygen, which is in extremely short supply. If you’ve seen international news in the past two weeks, you’ve no doubt seen at least one story about this incredibly dire and catastrophic situation.
That’s why several of India’s motorcycle and auto manufacturers have announced that they’re shutting down for at least a few days. Industrial oxygen is a key part of component manufacturing in both the motorcycle and auto industries. As of April 29, 2021, there is currently a ban in place on the use of liquid oxygen for industrial applications, in order to divert it to save lives in the country’s extremely serious fight against the ravages of COVID.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India announced that it would close all four of its factories from May 1 through 15, 2021. It plans to perform its annual maintenance tasks during this time, which had previously been scheduled to take place in June. Maruti Suzuki India, the auto manufacturer, is doing the same from May 1 through 9. Currently, that company’s managing director, Kenichi Ayukawa, is hospitalized after testing COVID-positive for a second time.
Hero MotoCorp was the first to shut down its factories, announcing a plan to shut each one down for four days at a time, on a rotating schedule, between April 22 and May 1, 2021. Auto manufacturers Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd. and MG Motor both announced additional shutdowns of their own, to help divert much-needed oxygen flows to the humans who need them during this crisis.
There’s no way to overstate the seriousness of this situation. The people of India need as much help as they can get right now. If you want to pitch in, Fast Company has a great list of organizations on the ground you can donate to if you’re able.
More cancellations
When the Global Pandemic started last year there were many cancellations of get-togethers, races, games, and more we hoped that this year would be different well that might not be true as we see the start of some cancellations going through now. On April 30, 2021, the Harley Owners Group Europe, Middle East, and Africa officially announced that the 2021 European H.O.G. Rally is canceled for this year. You probably already know why, and as a result, it’s probably not a surprise at this point. That doesn’t make it any less disappointing if you were planning to go, though.
According to the organizers, if you’ve already booked accommodations for the 2021 event you should be able to get a refund. To do so, contact any providers through whom you booked your accommodations and/or travel directly as soon as possible.
“We have explored all possibilities to hold the European HOG Rally 2021, because we know that it means so much to thousands of people. But we are also aware that the journey – especially across borders – would have been a challenge for our customers,” Harley-Davidson EMEA consumer experience manager Tom Robinson said in a statement.
“Therefore, the cancellation was the most responsible thing we could do. I would like to especially thank the local authorities, the hotels in the city of Portorož as well as our sponsors and dealers for their patience and their work in supporting this event,” he concluded.
Racing calendars are living documents due to the ongoing global pandemic. World-class organizations like Dorna and FIM have remained optimistic, but COVID-19 surges and shutdowns inevitably impact the race schedule. As a result, the latest update to the 2021 World Superbike Championship (WSBK) provisional calendar removes a legendary track but also introduces a new circuit to the series.
Australia’s Philip Island is a fan and rider favorite. The fast and flowing course produces some of the most competitive racing, and many look forward to the Australian round. Unfortunately, the coronavirus situation forced organizers to delay the race. Now, FIM, Dorna WSBK Organization, and the Philip Island Grand Prix Circuit have canceled the 2021 race.
When a door closes, a window opens; and that window is the Czech Republic’s Autodrom Most. Built in 1983, the Autodrom has hosted countless motorsport events, including national motorcycle races. Scheduled for August 6-8, 2021, the WSBK Czech Republic round will put the Autodrom Most on the world stage.
“This is a milestone and a unique event in Autodrom’s almost 40-year history,” said Autodrom Most CEO Josef Zajicek. “We are becoming organizers of World Championship races for the first time. This fact imposes technical requirements on us and an important organization.
“Nevertheless, we are happy to take up this challenge. Our goal is to open our complex to the general public, which is why we need to provide the best possible quality events for our racing fans. And the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship is undoubtedly one of these events.”
The 2021 Czech race weekend is the first event in the five-year agreement between the Autodrom and WSBK. Similar to Philip Island, Autodrom Most will return in 2022, and remain on the calendar through 2025.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Autodrom Most to our calendar for the next five seasons,” noted WSBK Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla. “Today’s announcement that WorldSBK is set to return to the Czech Republic for the first time since 2018 reflects the continuing popularity of the Championship among the Czech fans. With Czech teams and riders within the paddock, this is a great opportunity to showcase the Czech Republic on a world stage and I trust the Autodrom Most will be hosting exciting events in the future.”
~AMERiders
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