Kenda has strengthened its global team with two new appointments, bringing exceptional sales support to Europe and adding extensive engineering know-how to the Kenda European Technical Centre (KETC). Michael Eckert joins as senior sales manager, Engin Ünal as senior engineer, effective 1 August.
The new Kenda Knarly extreme enduro tyre is now available in the UK via well-known two-wheel tyre specialist wholesaler Cambrian Tyres.
Developed in conjunction with top US pro riders, the road legal Knarly features a soft compound front and supersoft compound rear designed to tackle the very toughest of obstacles.
Kenda has signed up Jeff Ward as its latest brand ambassador. The British-American multi-time AMA Motocross, Supercross, Supermoto champion, 7-time international MX des Nations champion, X Games gold medallist and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee joins Motocross Hall of Famer and X Games Gold Medallist Doug Henry in this role.
The technical team that STARCO operates in Europe is joining together with parent company Kenda’s technical team. The aim of integrating the two teams is to leverage synergies within the firms’ global technical structure as well as drive further technological improvements. According to STARCO, it also represents a significant step in both companies’ growth plans for Europe.
As part of its commitment to being a ‘one-stop shop’ for motorcycle and scooter tyre retailers in the UK, Cambrian Tyres partners with all major brands in the two-wheel marketplace and supplies customers from its warehouse stock of more than 100,000 tyres. The wholesaler is also sole UK distributor of the Bridgestone motocross and Continental two-wheel ranges (see separate articles) as well as for the Anlas brand and, from the second half of 2019, Kenda. This last name is back in the local two-wheel market after a decade’s absence, and demand has started off on the right foot.
Kenda Rubber Industrial has expanded its research and development centre in Germany, reinforcing its development team in Winsen (Luhe). Italian Antonio Gallo has joined Kenda Europe Technical Center (KETC) as a tyre tester to put the Taiwanese manufacturer’s high-performance tyres through their paces.
US-based two-wheel race team FactoryONE Sherco has chosen to partner with Kenda Powersports in a multi-year agreement that starts in the 2020 season. Under this agreement, Kenda becomes the official tyre company for the FactoryONE Sherco team and will provide team riders with tyres to compete in AMA Endurocross, Hard Enduro, GNCC, NEPG and more.
For many, the annual Weston Beach Race is the ultimate test of man and machine. More than 900 riders battle it out on the sands of the Victorian seaside resort, with the goal of claiming one of the most coveted prizes in motocross after a gruelling three-hour race.
Already a major success in the United States with several factory level partnerships, Kenda Tyres is the latest tyre brand to enter the UK market. It’s wasted no time in partnering with some promising British talent – the P.F.K. Ling group, who, with 12 riders in its stable for 2019, operates one of the largest motocross and enduro teams in East Anglia.
Kenda and its Italian partner Gruppo Sirio are cooperating to exhibit “the full breadth of [Kenda’s] product range” at this year’s Autopromotec. Key products on-show include the Kenetica 4S all-season tyre, the Kenetica ECO and the Emera A1.
Cambrian Tyres, the largest two-wheel tyre distributor in the UK, has been appointed official importer of Kenda Tire’s motorcycle tyre range in Great Britain. As such, Cambrian is bringing the Kenda brand back after a ten-year absence from the UK two-wheeler market.
By taking advantage of synergies arising from its acquisition by Kenda in 2017, STARCO has introduced its UK-made Flex lite wheel solution to the US market. Kenda USA subsidiary Martin Wheel presented this European market top-seller at a trade show in Las Vegas last week. STARCO shares that interest in the 10- to 15-inch solutions amongst end-users was strong, and it looks forward to receiving feedback about Flex lite from US-based manufacturers and distributors.
Kenda
