After a year without big motorcycle shows for manufacturers, small companies and punters alike, Yamaha have just released a statement confirming they won?t be at Motorcycle Live at the Birmingham NEC in 2022.

Instead, they?ll focus on presenting their 2022 line-up digitally, via their online platforms. It has, however, been confirmed that they will be in attendance at EICMA (the Milan Motorcycle Show). Do Yamaha think the Italians are more important than us Brits" Probably not, no; it?s just that EICMA plays a much bigger role in the launch of new products, for all the manufacturers. But anyway, EICMA is besides the point. What?s going on, why won?t Yamaha be at Motorcycle Live" And what does it mean for the rest of the industry"
Well I expect being forced to have a year off the NEC has put things into perspective for Yamaha, as it would have done, to some extent, for the entire UK motorcycle industry. Every exhibitor at the NEC bike show is making a massive investment to be there, even the small ones. By the time they?ve paid for the floorspace, the physical stand, the staff, and the logistics of getting everything there, you?re into thousands and thousands and thousands of pounds. Ludicrous amounts of cash as well as resources get fired into the bike show every year, particularly for the manufacturers.

Cluster

I imagine, despite last year being a bit of a clusterfuck all round, the UK HQ for Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki etc. could all breathe a ...