Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Are there not laws against this practice? Seems like Microsoft recently got sued for similar actions.

Andrew M. Cross, Jr
Lexington, Kentucky



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I just read your report, Dunlop Buys Up AMA Team Test Dates, Excludes Non-Dunlop Teams, in your late-breaking news section. Personally I think this is a crappy move by Dunlop! Then again, given the propensity their tires seem to have for coming apart, God knows they need all the test time they can get!

I guess they figure if you can’t beat them, lock them out!

Mike Piper
Staunton, Virginia



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I just read your article on the fact that Dunlop bought out the available test sessions to stop the others using them, now when a Michelin rider wins at Daytona this spring victory will be even sweeter. That is assuming that the AMA or Dunlop don’t make some strange and unprecedented decision to make the Daytona 200 shorter, or in 2 or 3 parts because Dunlop’s tires can’t handle the banking/weight. I also find it strange that people decried the WSBK series for going to a spec tire rule, but for years basically Motogp and AMA have been ones (with Michelin and Dunlop, respectively).

I guess all I am saying is, that Dunlop are scared to death that E-Boz is going to win first time out on the M brand and that SStock riders using non-Dunlops will have extra confidence at fast tracks knowing their tires don’t have a history of exploding on a semi-regular basis.

Robert T Wilson
ex-USCRA 163, CMA 163
Riverview, New Brunswick, Canada




FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Well, isn’t it refreshing to see how Dunlop is reacting to their recent trials and tribulations with self-destructing tires and the looming spectre of Michelin making a real effort in the AMA series? Instead of proving the superiority of their product in a straight-up fight with Michelin/Pirelli etc, they instead buy up all the test dates to preclude any brand other than Dunlop the opportunity to test on “off weekends” during the AMA schedule. To me, this does not speak favorably of either Dunlop for their “We’re going to win here or we’ll fix it so we do anyway”-attitude or the AMA for their complicity in this affair. I know that Dunlop is and has been a major player in AMA racing for years, and I applaud their support and efforts. But despite their well-publicized troubles at Road Atlanta in 2003 or recently at Daytona tire tests, they should not try to “shut out” competition via closing off testing to any teams not running Dunlop tires. Because if they do in fact win another superbike title, it will be a hollow victory in that true competition was avoided via creative means. It’s almost like the World Superbikes in 2003. Sure, Ducati won, but then again, who did they compete against? Exactly! Come on, Dunlop, you’re better than that. Win the fight in a fair fashion, don’t do a Mike Tyson ear-bite to avoid a potential beating.

Stan Simmerson
Raleigh, North Carolina



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Dunlop’s lockout of its competitors smacks of the blinding arrogance often displayed by very large companies. “Blinding” in so much as it blocks the view of consequences outside the immediate desired effect.

To wit, it was a terrible PR move and displays a surprising lack of confidence in their ability to compete on a level field. It also echos middle-management thinking (the bane of all real progress).

Reg Kittrelle
Scotts Valley, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Every business must make a profit and to do that you must balance expenses and income. If your expenses go up, your income must go up and since Dunlop’s expenses just went up by a $300,000 to $600,000 this year they either eat the loss (not likely) or we, the consumers, end up paying for this little catfight.

I doubt they expected this large expense when they put together their 2004 budget. Since Dunlop would have been testing at these times before anyway, apparently the only real gain by Dunlop is to screw with the Michelin and Pirelli guys. Boy, that’s really classy.

Dunlop, what’s the value to the customer?

I was planning on running Michelins this year anyway so I guess this only confirms my decision.

Jonathan Umfleet
OMRRA #215
Newberg, Oregon



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Thank you for publishing Dunlop’s latest move to achieve tire dominance. This announcement came just in time for me. I was about to replace another brand of tire with a pair of Dunlops, not now. I’m not going to shred the Dunlops that are already on one of my bikes, but I may be shamed into sanding the sidewalls.

Mark Weiss
Chandler, Arizona



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I feel Dunlop’s move is most selfish and reeks of the type of behavior that even the most rivaled teams would not stoop to. Dunlop has acted as a spoiled child would and has not considered the safety of Eric Bostrom and others who need track time not only for practice, but to make sure that their tires wont do the “Dunlop Pop” at speed.

Dunlop has proven to me that they only care about winning at all costs, not for the riders’ safety. This is not just a blow to Michelin and Pirelli, but to the series as a whole.

Andy Pleune
Portland, Oregon



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Dunlop’s move to exclude competition in AMA Superbike saddens me. To me, it seems a self-serving move to hurt the series, the careers of the riders and teams on other tire brands, and most important to deprive fans like me of the competition we’ve enjoyed over the years.

I have been a fan of both Dunlop and Dunlop riders over the years, purchasing and using many versions of Dunlop tires on both street and dirt bikes.

I usually attend several AMA Superbike races each year, and coordinate a group trip to Daytona for the 200 by Arai. I’m a huge fan of the riders as well.

Unless something is done to reverse Dunlop’s anti-competitive move, I will not purchase Dunlop tires again, and I will boycott all AMA Superbike races this year, and I will not watch AMA Superbike races on television. I don’t think AMA Superbike is something I can’t live without.

D. O’Neill
Falls Church, Virginia



See related post:

1/8/2004 Dunlop Buys Up AMA Team Test Dates, Excludes Non-Dunlop Teams