Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac made a heroic chargeback from last to sixth last night at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His championship performance salvaged points to retain his lead in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship. Dylan Ferrandis ended the night with a ninth-place finish in the challenging conditions, the company said in a release. 

Tomac got off to a good start with a runner-up finish in his heat race after qualifying sixth. He didn’t get the start he was hoping for in the main and was 12th. He immediately went to work to make his way forward, but in the chaos of that first lap, the points leader was caught up in a racing incident with his teammate and unfortunately went down on the face of the triple jump. He rejoined at the back of the field, put his head down, and fought his way back through the pack, advancing to sixth on the penultimate lap. His heroic effort gives him a three-point lead in the championship as the series nears the halfway mark, the release said. 

Ferrandis showed speed early, earning his second fastest qualifier honors of the season. He then fought his way forward from seventh to a third-place finish in his heat race. The Frenchman didn’t get off the gate as he hoped in the main and was just outside of the top 10 and then was 12th after the first lap. From there, Ferrandis continued to forge on through adversity to finish ninth. 

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on 26 February, for the second Triple Crown of the season and Round 8 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship. 

Jeremy Coker, Team Manager, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450, said, “We were having a good day in Minneapolis. The guys rode well in practice and qualified great, but our starts were not excellent in the main, and unfortunately, it put the guys in bad spots with other riders. They both fought hard and rode well. We will come back stronger next week.” 

Eli Tomac of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing said, “Well, it was not the result that we wanted, but it was a good recovery for what happened and the position I was in on the first lap. So, after that, it was just fighting for a position and trying to move forward. It was a really tough track, as usual, but even more tough tonight because it was a mix of ruts and a little bit of a dry surface. That was it; It was unfortunate what happened, and I was just trying to do my best to come forward.” 

Dylan Ferrandis of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing said, “The day started out well with another good qualifying, but unfortunately, I was in a lot of pain in the main event after my two big crashes at the previous races. I did what I could and finished ninth. We’ll keep working and try for better next week.” (MT)

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Bajaj Auto, one of the leading two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturers, has updated its popular Pulsar 150 motorcycle range. The updates include the introduction of LED headlamps and LED blinkers to the model, which the company states is intended to improve visibility and usability while maintaining the vehicle's design identity.

The updated range is available at the following ex-showroom Delhi prices – Pulsar 150 SD at INR 108,772, Pulsar 150 SD UG at INR 111,669 and Pulsar 150 TD UG at INR 115,481.

The motorcycle retains its frame and stance, though Bajaj has introduced new colour options and graphics. The Pulsar 150 continues to utilise DTS-i (Digital Twin Spark-ignition) technology, which uses two spark plugs to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, intended to improve combustion efficiency and power output.

The update focuses on integrating modern lighting components into the existing platform, which originally established the sports motorcycling segment in India.

Sarang Kanade, President, Motorcycle Business Unit, Bajaj Auto, said, “The Pulsar 150 has defined performance motorcycling for generations. With this update, we have preserved its classic character while thoughtfully adding modern LED lighting, ensuring the Pulsar 150 remains relevant, recognisable and Definitely Daring.”

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Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), the subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, held a mileage contest for the Suzuki Access scooter in Palwal. The event involved 35 participants, including current owners and prospective buyers, to test the fuel efficiency of the scooter under city driving conditions.

The initiative is part of the brand’s ‘Pickup Bhi, Mileage Bhi’ strategy, which focuses on balancing engine performance with fuel economy and build quality.

The event was organised in partnership with RV Suzuki in Palwal. The participants, all of whom had purchased their scooters within the last year, followed a specific testing protocol: a designated 20-kilometre circuit on city roads, scooters were operated on a full tank, then refilled at the end of the journey to calculate the exact fuel consumed.  Potential customers were provided with test rides and the opportunity to interview existing owners regarding reliability and comfort.

Deepak Mutreja, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motorcycle India, said, “The Suzuki Access Mileage Contest places a strong focus on fuel efficiency, bringing our brand promise of ‘Pickup Bhi, Mileage Bhi, Shandar Quality Ke Sath’ to life. By riding on city roads, participants experience the scooter’s real-world mileage. Along with mileage, customers also get to experience the quality and reliability that have made the Access a trusted choice of over 6 million customers. We appreciate the participation from customers in Palwal. We will continue to extend such on-ground initiatives to more cities across India, allowing customers to connect closely with out two-wheelers and witness their performance firsthand.”

The company intends to expand these on-ground initiatives to additional cities across India to demonstrate the performance of its two-wheeler portfolio in local environments.

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ola Electric has expanded its Hyperservice initiative by launching dedicated centres that offer a same-day service guarantee for eligible customers at no extra cost. The company will upgrade its existing service infrastructure into Hyperservice Centres, beginning with a facility in Indiranagar, Bengaluru.

The expansion is intended to reduce service lead times and increase transparency through a digital workflow.

The Hyperservice Centres include several facilities for customers and technical upgrades for vehicle maintenance. The waiting area includes a lounge and Wi-Fi connectivity for customers. Real-time visibility of the servicing stages is provided via the Ola Electric app. Going forward, the company plans to upgrade selected centres across India in the coming weeks.

Ola Electric has also transitioned Hyperservice into an open platform. This move makes the company’s spare parts, diagnostic tools, and training modules available to independent garages, mechanics, and fleet operators.

Under this model, parts can be purchased directly through the Ola Electric app or website. This is intended to allow garages and customers to access components without the use of intermediaries.

“As part of the ongoing service upgrade we are reimagining many of the fundamental aspects of the service experience. We see it as a core part of Ola ownership, and it needs the same level of innovation as the product itself. With Hyperservice Centres, we are setting a new benchmark – same-day service guarantee. At no extra cost for any customer. This is about using technology, process redesign and scale to remove friction and give every Ola customer a faster, simpler and more transparent service experience,” said the company in a statement.

The company has rolled out an in-app service appointment feature nationwide. The tool allows users to select service slots, track the status of their vehicle, and manage maintenance requirements within the unified platform to replace traditional booking methods.

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India Yamaha Motor, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, has announced the appointment of Hajime Aota as the Chairman of Yamaha Motor India Group, effective from 1 January 2026. He is set to succeed Itaru Otani, who held the position since November 2024.

The appointment comes as Yamaha continues its focus on the premium segment and digital integration within the Indian two-wheeler market.

Aota joins the Indian operations with experience in corporate strategy, planning and venture business development. He has held leadership roles in Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Prior to this role, Aota served as Executive Officer at Yamaha Motor Co, and Chief General Manager of the Corporate Strategy Centre at the global headquarters in Japan. In these positions, he managed corporate strategy, sustainability and digital transformation.

He has also worked as Chairperson of Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon Valley (YMVSV) overseeing investments in robotics, transportation, fintech and health technologies. He has also contributed towards Yamaha Motor Group’s long-term growth strategy.

Aota is a graduate of Keio University and holds a qualification from the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School.

Hajime Aota, said, “I am very excited to begin my journey in India, one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse two-wheeler markets. The rapidly evolving aspirations of Indian consumers, especially the youth, align strongly with Yamaha’s focus on premium products, innovation, and a customer-centric approach. Leading Yamaha in India is a significant responsibility, and my focus is on strengthening the brand by delivering products that seamlessly combine Yamaha’s global engineering excellence with the evolving needs of Indian riders. I look forward to working closely with our teams and partners to drive sustainable growth and reinforce Yamaha’s presence in this important market.”

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