A press release just in from Dunlop’s agency, Vreeke & Associates, points out that Dunlop swept the World Superbike and World Supersport podiums at Donington Park last weekend, and also at the earlier race in Sugo, Japan. Dunlop has factories and race tire development shops in England and in Japan.

The text of the release follows:


“Dunlop Fills Record Breaking 9 Podium Positions at World Superbike events at Sugo and Donington.

“Buffalo, NY. National fervor swept the air as local boys made good at both the Japanese and British World Superbike Championship rounds at Sugo and Donington Park. A clean sweep by Dunlop Tires—-nine out of nine podium positions at each of the two events—-made the two days of racing all the more memorable.

“Every year racers know both the Japanese and British rounds of the World Superbike Championship series will be fiercely contested. A whole flock of talented and aggressive local riders turn out for the Sugo and Donington WSC events. They know this is their chance to show off in front of the home crowd, and just perhaps impress a team manager from a larger team with more and better resources.

“Sugo, especially, becomes a high-stakes game that gives up-and-coming riders a chance to launch their world-level racing careers. Since 1996, every round has been won by Japanese riders, and this year was no different as Japanese wild card rider Makota Tamada wrapped up a double victory aboard his Cabin Honda. Tamada took the checkers over runner-up Troy Corser, a WSC regular riding with Aprilia, and third-place Japanese rider Hitoyasu Izutsu (Kawasaki) in Race One. Tamada again bested Izutsu and another Kawasaki rider from Japan, Tamaki Serizawa, in Race Two. Even though the riders who made it to the podium for both races were from four different teams, all chose to ride on Dunlops—-a telling statistic!

“Meanwhile, in the 600cc World Supersport support race at Sugo, Italy’s Paolo Casoli topped fellow Yamaha rider Jorg Teuchert, and Kawasaki-mounted Aussie Andrew Pitt filled out the podium—-again, all on Dunlop tires.

“At Donington, nine more Dunlop hats were needed for the top-three finishers in both WSC legs and the 600 World Supersport round. Brit wild card rider Steve Hislop started the weekend by taking Superpole on his Ducati, then finished third behind Suzuki’s Pier-Francesco Chili and winner Neil Hodgson, also Ducati-mounted, in the first Superbike race. Tire choice was crucial on the wet-but-drying track surface, as evidenced by the podium. Hodgson almost pulled off a double victory in Race Two, but Chili snatched the lead two laps from the checkered flag. Aprilia’s Corser took third spot. Just as in Japan, four different teams captured podium positions, but with a single brand of tire.

“The story remained the same in the World Supersport race at Donington. Casoli took his second victory of the season, and consolidated his championship points lead. Suzuki’s Karl Muggeridge came home in second, followed by Teuchert. Three teams, three bikes, three riders—one tire.

“Nine out of nine podiums at two venues is quite a feat. But the way 2001 is shaping up, don’t be surprised to see a repeat performance soon—-by Dunlop.”


FYI: Dunlop is a contributor to the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund, pitching in $2900.