Erik Pritchard Stepping Down as President and CEO of U.S Powersports Industry Associations

IRVINE, CA – January 24, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the powersports industry’s leading trade and education associations – Motorcycle Industry Council, Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association – announced that he is pursuing new opportunities and will step down from his position at the associations on March 22, 2024.

“It has been a privilege to work with the boards, the member companies, the broader industry, and the talented staff at the associations,” Pritchard said. “We were able to help the powersports industry not only survive but grow during a global pandemic, and we launched numerous strategic programs to support future success. I’m confident that powersports will continue to be an important part of transportation and recreation in America, and that the associations will be there to help.”

Under Pritchard’s guidance, the Motorcycle Industry Council has grown as the voice for powersports. He led the way in establishing and enhancing key stakeholder relationships for the entire powersports industry, including with local and federal government officials, parallel industry associations, and additional powersports associations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pritchard helped navigate the industry through global shutdowns, led the team in working with the U.S. government to ensure powersports businesses could stay open, launched campaigns to position powersports as the perfect way to social distance, and provided tools to give businesses real-time information on guidelines and available support.

“Under Erik’s leadership over the past 10 years, the MIC has been strengthened as an association that’s keenly focused on ensuring the livelihood of our industry,” said MIC Chair Derek Brooks, motorcycle product line manager, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.  “The work Erik led, with the MIC government relations team, was directly responsible for keeping motorsports dealers’ doors open during COVID. He’s also led the charge to expand awareness of motorcycling and increase ridership. The powersports industry is in a stronger position because of Erik’s significant contributions.”

During Pritchard’s tenure, more than 1 million students enrolled in skills development courses with MSF, SVIA, and ROHVA. He also identified the need and ensured the development of expansion initiatives at both MIC and…