Maico Fouls Financial Plug

MAICO FOULS FINANCIAL PLUG

Whatever happened to legendary German marque Maico? A few months ago, the newly Dutchbased company appeared to be on track, producing 250 and 500cc enduros and motocrossers. Recently, though, the factory has gone bankrupt, and anyone associated with the company has been served papers. Even the facto^ ry’s machinery is on the aucJzh

tion block. This, in an effort to recoup a portion of the $3.5 million that investors reportedly lost on production of the 70 1999 models, eight of which made it to America. Oxford, Alabama’s Ronnie Smith, the U.S. importer since 1991, sees little hope for the once-powerful bike maker. Limited production may be a possibility, as Smith says the Dutch KTM importer may have purchased the factory.

Jimmy Lewis