PHONY JOE ROCKETS SEIZED
U.S. Customs agents recently seized a shipment of counterfeit Joe Rocket leather jackets and Joe Rocket is out to see justice done, the Canada-based manufacturer reports. Fortune was with the makers of Joe Rocket apparel when a customs agent, who wears an authentic Joe Rocket jacket while riding, spotted the knock-offs in a shipment from Pakistan, the firm relates. Randy Robison, President of Joe Rocket's parent company, Robison, Inc., said, “We have invested years of experience developing the Joe Rocket brand into the market leader it is today. Our brand is our livelihood and there is no way I will allow it to be stolen, misused and outright desecrated like this.” Joe Rocket has engaged the services of a patent and trademark lawyer with the firm Harness Dickey to pursue charges against the counterfeiter or counterfeiters unknown. Robison also extended thanks to the sharp-eyed Birmingham, AL, customs agent who spotted the fakes, saying, “The fact that he is a fan and loyal customer of Joe Rocket warms my heart to no end.”

JANKLOW BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL
Watch out for the other guy in South Dakota - it could be the ex-governor, now back behind the wheel after killing a motorcycle rider in 2004. A self-professed speeder and convicted stop-sign runner, four-time South Dakota Governor and one-time Congressional Representative, Bill Janklow has just completed his three-year probation for causing the death of biker Randolph E. Scott, 55, of Minnesota, a crime for which Janklow spent over three months in county lockup on a second-degree manslaughter conviction, according to Web sources. At the time of his trial, Janklow was widely reported in a 1999 speech to have said, “Bill Janklow speeds when he drives - shouldn't, but he does. When he gets the ticket, he pays it,” a line dutifully reported recently by blogger Cyril Huze. Janklow spent 100 days in jail and endured three years of probation for the manslaughter rap, speeding, running a stop sign and reckless driving, sources report, noting a $5,000 penalty for fines and court costs was also tacked on. Huze called the fine “small” and wrote that Janklow “only temporarily had to surrender his law license.” The light sentence was reportedly based on Janklow's lifetime of public service, but nonetheless drew howls of protest from some segments of the motorcycle community. “He just completed three years of probation during which he was forbidden from driving. Now he can drive again,” Huze reported.

“STEP AWAY FROM THE BIKE”
LoJack, which calls itself the leading provider of tracking and recovery systems of stolen motorcycles, issued a report stating newer sport bikes are the most popular theft targets and that stolen bike numbers have risen 135 percent in the last five years, with Florida, California and Texas tops on the list of states with the highest rates of theft. LoJack reports the top five brands thieves steal are Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Harley-Davidson. LoJack asserts four of the top five stolen/recovered bikes were sport bikes and 87 percent of those were 2005/2006 models. “Today's professional thieves view stealing motorcycles as a theft of opportunity and an easy money-making proposition, which is why bike theft is increasing at such an alarming rate,” stated LoJack Chairman and CEO Richard T. Riley. The firm offers an online guide to theft protection called “BikeSmarts” at www.lojack.com.

A REPO TOO SOON
A Pennsylvania man who thought he was surrendering his bike to a repo man accompanied by a state constable was apparently bamboozled and gave his $30,000 bike up to a pair of crooks, alleges the Beaver County Times. According to the paper's Web site, Michael Grimm had fallen behind on payments for his customized 2001 Harley Road King when the thieves, one of them wearing a “PA State Constable” T-shirt, came knocking and Grimm surrendered the bike. But after his Harley was gone, Grimm became angry because he believed he had another day to make good on his debts and called Harley to complain, the report states. That's when he learned the repossession had not been authorized by Harley representatives and neither did any area repo shops know anything about it, the site reports, noting Grimm and the cops are now looking for the customized ride.

A CASE OF BAD GAS?
In response to the latest penalties levied by AMA Pro Racing due to alleged fuel violations at round three of the AMA Supercross Series in Anaheim, CA, VP Racing Fuels announced it is investigating the situation. “First, we have to determine if the fuels involved were, in fact, off-spec,” said Steve Burns, VP's President and CEO. “With regard to two of the fuel samples involved, it's highly unlikely the oxygen content could measure as high as AMA's lab indicated, so we suspect there may have been some problems with the lab work,” he added. “We're working with the AMA and the teams involved to obtain samples of the alleged 'off-spec' fuel, so we can have tests run by an independent lab,” Burns continued, noting, “We hope everyone involved reserves judgment until this analysis is completed.” VP promised to release the test results when they become available.

DEFENDING THE TLD BRAND
Troy Lee Designs (TLD) has reached an agreement to settle “a patent and trade dress infringement lawsuit” against Viva Motor Sports, Inc., Troy Lee Designs reports, noting that under the terms of the agreement, Viva Motor Sports will stop all sales and advertising of three helmet models that TLD had alleged were “confusingly similar” to its SE helmet. TLD further reports Viva Motor Sports has agreed to pay an undisclosed penalty to the Corona, CA-based TLD. “We are very pleased with the outcome of this case,” stated TLD Product Development Manager Jeff David, adding, “Troy Lee Designs has successfully protected the integrity of the SE helmet's unique design. We work exceptionally hard at creating leading-edge designs for our products and we will continue to enforce our trade dress rights pertaining to our helmets and apparel products.”

MOORES GOES TO KLEMPF'S
Jeff and Pat Moores, mainstays of British motorcycling in the Northeast for 30 years, have moved on. Klempf's British Parts announced it has recently acquired the remaining new inventory, Web site and catalog from Moores Cycle Supply and Jeff and Pat Moores' wholesale distribution arm, J&P Cycle Distributors, in Connecticut, noting owners Jeff and Pat Moores have retired. (Klempf's Mitch Klempf emphasized his firm had not purchased J&P Cycles in Anamosa, IA, which remains in business and is not affiliated with Klempf's.) “We will have more stock and a better Web site to keep vintage British motorcycles alive,” stated a Klempf press release, which asserted the firm has over 18,000 items in stock, both new and used. The Moores Web site stated, “After 30 years in the business, we have retired. Please refer your future business to our friends at Klempf's British Parts.” Minnesota-based Klempf's new Web site is www.klempfs.com.

HELMET WARS
Riders in Arkansas have not been required to wear helmets since 1997, when the state's helmet law was repealed. But there is a movement afoot to bring mandatory helmet use back, according to Todaysthv.com, which reported state Senator Kim Hendren is sponsoring the bill. Hendren is quoted as saying, “When a motorcycle's rider has an accident, we the people of Arkansas will take care of that person, whether they have insurance or not. The only thing the people are asking is, we'll do that because we're compassionate, but try to use the safety mechanisms available to minimize that.” Opponents of the legislation told www.Todaysthv.com statistics have not proven riding without helmets was a legislative misstep. “We all worked to get this helmet [law] removed for 15-plus years at the Legislature and got it done in 1997. So far, statistics have not proven we made a mistake,” said bike shop owner Rodney Roberts, who noted bike rallies at Fayetteville and Hot Springs would suffer if riders were forced to wear helmets.

LANE CIVIL TRIAL DATE SET
“Celebrity motorcycle builder Billy Lane will face his crash victim's family in a civil case in August, but the trial for a DUI manslaughter charge he faces in the Labor Day wreck that killed Gerald Morelock is still pending,” stated the Florida Today newspaper. According to the paper, Morelock's mother sued both Lane and DaimlerChrysler, which provided Lane with the Dodge pickup truck he was driving, a month after the accident. “The family alleges Lane, who police said had a blood-alcohol level of .192 the night of the accident, and DiamlerChrysler, who used Lane's fame to advertise its vehicles despite prior driving citations on Lane's record, are liable for auto negligence,” added Florida Today. Brevard Circuit Judge John Dean Moxley Jr. reportedly denied a motion by Lane's attorney to dismiss the case and has set the trial date for Aug. 20.

HD STRIKE SHORTENS SHIPMENTS
Harley-Davidson announced that union employees at its York, PA, facility, represented by International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local Lodge 175, went on strike Feb. 2. As a result of the strike, Harley-Davidson said it expects to reduce production of engines and transmissions at its facility in Menomonee Falls, WI. In Tomahawk, WI, production of injection-molded components are also expected to be reduced, added Harley. “The Company anticipates that reduced powertrain production could result in temporary layoffs for up to 500 of its approximately 1,500 production and distribution employees in southeast Wisconsin,” noted a company press release. It continued by saying reduced component production in Tomahawk could result in the temporary layoff of up to 240 of the facility's production employees. Harley's powertrain plant in Wauwatosa, WI, is not expected to reduce production at this time, concluded the press release.

PASSINGS

MARCEL FORTNEY, R.I.P.
The motorcycle industry lost one of its best known and most loved veterans with the unexpected passing of Marcel Fortney, 49, who succumbed to a heart attack at his ranch near Templeton, CA, on Jan. 15, 2007. Fortney was most recently the U.S. agent for the Italian helmet maker AGV, working with AGV's exclusive American distributor, Parts Unlimited. “It's unbelievable that Marcel is no longer with us,” stated Parts Unlimited President/CEO Jeff Fox. “I've known him since he was representing Pirelli back in the 1980s and there wasn't a more knowledgeable or personable guy in the business.” Besides Pirelli and AGV, Fortney reportedly had worked in his 30-year motorcycling career for Cycle Guide magazine, Fox Racing, Yoshimura and Artehouse. Fortney's friend Justyn Amstutz, Executive Vice President and COO of National Powersport Auctions, called Fortney, “Calm, cool and creative,” adding, “I just can't believe he's gone. Not only was he a leader in our industry, but those of us blessed enough to also know him as a friend will miss him very much.” Survivors include his wife Christie and 14-year-old daughter Mackie, for whom the Mackie Memorial Fund has been established and to which donations may be made, c/o Mid State Bank, 1207 Maricopa Highway, Ojai, CA 93023.

RACING HALL OF FAMER BARTLETT MARKEL DIES AT 71
Bartlett D. “Bart” Markel, 71, “the godfather of flat-track racing in Flint and one of the greatest racers in American Motorcyclist Association history,” died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, reported the Missouri newspaper The Flint Journal. According to the paper, Markel competed in more than 140 AMA Grand National Series races and won the AMA Grand National Championship three times before retiring in 1972. He was reportedly inducted into the AMA's Hall of Fame in 1998. His daughter Stacey Kelly said her father had been in poor health for a while and was with Markel when he died quietly at home, added the Journal. Markel's remains have been cremated, stated the paper, and all contributions are being taken for “The Aid for Injured Riders” fund. More details on Markel's racing history can be found at: www.motorcyclemuseum.org.