Powersports Business Power Hour

Brendan sits down with Performance Brokerage Service's George Chaconas, Juan Pardo, and co-owner Jesse Stopnitzky for this edition of Power Hour to discuss the health of the buy/sell powersports market in Q1.

As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Powersports Business speaks with Ted Sherseth, co-founder of America’s 9/11 Ride. What started as a grassroots memorial ride in 2001 has grown into a major annual event honoring first responders and victims of the attacks. Sherseth discusses the ride’s history, dealer support, scholarship fundraising efforts, and how motorcyclists continue to unite in remembrance and service.

Already one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers, Sonic Automotive is rapidly growing its powersports business, recently acquiring five Harley-Davidson dealerships in California, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina to bring its total portfolio to 20 stores nationwide. During a recent Power Hour podcast with Powersports Business, President Jeff Dyke explained how the acquisitions strengthen Sonic’s presence in key year-round riding markets and support the company’s aggressive growth strategy in powersports.

On this episode of the PSB Power Hour, Brendan sits down with Rad Gladfelder, director of powersports at Young Powersports, one of the industry’s fastest-growing dealership groups. Fresh off multiple PSB Honors awards — including a PSB Leadership Award — Gladfelder shares his journey from a family-run dealership to helping lead an 11-store operation, and how the group is expanding while others scale back.

Coaching is emerging as a critical driver of growth and retention in motorsports, shifting the focus beyond equipment and competition to rider development, safety, and community. Insights from the USMCA highlight how certified coaching—built on standards, training, and accountability—helps new riders stay engaged, avoid injury, and build long-term confidence in the sport. For dealers, integrating coaching into the sales process isn’t just an added value—it’s a powerful way to strengthen customer relationships, improve retention, and support the future of the industry.

At AIMExpo in January, we stopped by the Denago Powersports booth to take a look at their latest model, which is a feature-packed UTV for the utility segment. We later sat down with GM David Garibyan to talk about their new models and how affordability fits into the mix with powersports dealers. The company now has more than 200 dealers in the U.S, and continues to grow. We talk about the secret sauce that makes the "Denago Difference," as their tagline says.

In this episode of the Power Hour podcast, Powersports Business editor Brendan Baker sits down with Scott Schloegel, senior vice president of government relations for the Motorcycle Industry Council, to unpack the complex policy landscape shaping the powersports industry in 2026. He outlines a wide range of pressing issues—from ongoing tariff uncertainty and rising costs for manufacturers and dealers, to emerging state-level regulations on PFAS “forever chemicals” that could impact vehicle production. He also highlights the importance of public land access and the Recreational Trails Program, emphasizing its direct connection to industry growth and rider participation. And finally, we talk about the importance of participation in the MIC Fly-In in Washington D.C. later this month.

At AIMExpo, we caught up with Northwood University’s Dr. Dave Oventhal, division chair of the Center for Automotive & Mobility Studies (CAMS), to talk about something that could shape the future of the powersports industry: education. From curriculum insights to industry partnerships, this conversation explores how higher education is stepping up to fuel the talent pipeline.

The ink was barely dry on the transaction from Polaris to Carolwood LP when we reached out to Mike Kennedy to join us on the Power Hour to talk about the transition and future of Indian Motorcycle.

Yamaha Motorsports President Mike Martinez, who’s retiring after an amazing career, sat down with us at AIMExpo to talk about his retirement, transition, and plans for more (BDR) adventures.