Erik Buell Racing

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Erik Buell Racing
Industry Motorcycle sport
Founded November 2009
Founder Erik Buell
Defunct April 2015
Headquarters East Troy, Wisconsin, USA
Products Motorcycles
Owner In legal administration
previously Erik Buell,
and Hero MotoCorp
Website erikbuellracing.com

Erik Buell Racing (EBR) was an American motorcycle sport company which produced street and racing motorcycles, based in East Troy, Wisconsin, USA. The business ceased trading in April 2015. [1]

History

Erik Buell founded Erik Buell Racing in November 2009 following the shutdown of his previous company, Buell Motorcycle Company, by parent company/majority stakeholder Harley-Davidson. Erik Buell Racing's first efforts were directed toward production of complete, race-only motorcycles and parts based on the Buell 1125R production model, under license from Harley-Davidson,[2] to support privateer racers.

On July 1, 2013, Hero MotoCorp, an Indian motorcycle giant, acquired 49.2% stake in the company for $25 million.[3] The two companies announced that EBR will distribute Hero motorcycles and scooters in North America starting in the summer of 2014.[4]

On April 15, 2015, Erik Buell Racing filed for receivership, a Wisconsin statute that is similar to federal bankruptcy law, and ceased all operations including closing down their website. [1]

On August 7, 2015, it was announced that Bruce Belfer, an engineer from New Jersey with a background in metal fabrication, had agreed to purchase Buell's manufacturing assets for $2.25 million, while Hero MotoCorp. of India paid $2.8 million for Buell's consulting business.

Belfer stated his intention to work with company founder Erik Buell to re-establish the business as soon as possible, including a manufacturing base in East Troy where Buell previously employed 130 people producing high-end motorcycles.[5]

The deal failed as Belfer was unable to secure financing for the $2.25 million purchase price, and the official receiver filed to re-sell the assets in a new round of bidding, so the remnants of Erik Buell Racing returned to auction on December 10, 2015.[6] The auction had no bidders, and a move where the court-appointed receiver sought to sell the asssets by accepting a pre-emptive offer from a private liquidation-company specializing in breaking-up company remnants was blocked by the judge, to allow more time for any potential new buyers to prepare their submissions, re-scheduling the hearing for early January 2016.[7]

Models

1190RR

The first focus of Erik Buell Racing, the 1190RR was an upgraded and restyled version of the Buell 1125R. Used for professional racing in several race classes, the bike has been a part of several race and championship placings.[8]

1190RS

In June 2011, Erik Buell Racing officially announced their first street model, the EBR 1190RS, a sport motorcycle with a 1,190 cc V-twin engine delivering 175 hp (130 kW).[9] Released as a 2012 model, only 100 are to be made.[10]

1190RX

On 16 October 2013, Erik Buell Racing officially unveiled their first production motorcycle, the EBR 1190RX. Like the previous 1190RS, the 1190RX is a sport motorcycle with 1,190 cc V-twin engine, but delivering 185 hp (138 kW) and 101.6 lb-ft (peak) of torque.[11]

1190SX

On Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana, Erik Buell Racing officially unveiled their next production motorcycle, the EBR 1190SX. The 1190SX is a streetfighter version of the 1190RX.[12]

Erik Buell had hinted at one more street model on the Erik Buell Racing Website. Signified by only two letters, AX. According to magazine articles, this would have been an adventure version, based on the same platform as the 1190RX and 1190SX.[13] A later article stated that the AX would not be based on the 1190, but would be a completely new motorcycle. [14]

Racing

AMA Superbike

Erik Buell Racing has competed in the AMA Superbike Championship since 2011, initially using the 1190RR and then the 1190RS. EBR riders achieved several podium finishes. Riders have included Geoff May, Danny Eslick, Cory West, Larry Pegram, Mike Baldwin, and Aaron Yates.[15]

FIM World Superbike

EBR entered the 2014 Superbike World Championship season fielding two 1190RX for Geoff May[16] and Aaron Yates. The American company signed a partnership with Italian team QB Racing, managed by Giulio Bardi and Claudio Quintarelli, who provided logistical support and a racing shop near Bergamo.

EBR became the first American OEM to earn Superbike World Championship points when Larry Pegram, entered as wild card, finished 14th in Race 2 at the Laguna Seca round.[17][18]

For the 2015 season, Team Hero EBR race squad entered two riders, American Larry Pegram and Italian Niccolò Canepa, who competed in four events achieving some finishes, before the team folded due to financial failure of the main EBR business.[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Rick Romell. "Judge declines to approve sale of motorcycle company's assets". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 14, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Team Hero EBR hit the track with their new line up Retrieved 12 April 2015
  20. ↑ Team Hero EBR to withdraw from WorldSBK World Superbike.com, 30 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-01

External links


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