From a press release issued by Michelin North America:

RACING VETERAN JIM RHODES JOINS MICHELIN AS ROAD RACING MANAGER

Jim Rhodes, a veteran race tire technician who’s spent 25-plus years around the paddocks of U.S. and world championship road racing, has joined Michelin North America as its motorcycle road racing manager.

Rhodes, 41, has been actively involved with racing and Michelin since the late 1970s, when he began traveling to races to help mount tires for longtime Michelin trackside distributor Walt Schaefer of Altoona, Alabama. Over the ensuing decades, Rhodes has become a familiar face in paddocks both in the U.S. and overseas, fitting his weekend work at race tracks around his career in engineering in the U.S. Air Force, from which he recently retired after more than 23 years on active duty.

“Jim brings an incredible level of commitment and expertise to our growing road racing program in the U.S.,” said Bernard Jarrousse, product manager for the Two Wheel division of Michelin North America. “He’s worked with Michelin and our race distributors at every level of the sport, from local club races to MotoGP and World Superbike. Now that he’s working full-time for Michelin, he’ll be an even greater asset both to our organization and our teams.”

During his military service, Rhodes worked with some of the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft, such as the B-1 Bomber, B-2 Stealth Bomber, Airborne Laser and “other things I can’t talk about,” he added. So he’s no stranger to the demands of advanced research and development programs. “Racing is the ultimate R&D proving ground, where feedback and results are immediate”, he said.

As road racing manager, Rhodes will oversee domestic testing and development of Michelin Pilot racing tires, as well as supplying tires to Michelin partner teams in AMA Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Formula Xtreme. Michelin-supported teams for 2003 include Team Valvoline Emgo Suzuki, with riders Steve Rapp and Chris Ulrich; Annandale Honda with Ty Howard and Craig Connell; and No Limits Honda with Doug Chandler and Jason Curtis.

These riders will enjoy the same advantages as the Michelin-equipped teams that have won the past nine World Superbike Championships, the last ten 500cc Grand Prix championships, and the inaugural MotoGP crown in 2002.