Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

I believe that it’s pretty common knowledge that liability waivers aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. We sign them knowing that we aren’t completely unprotected from negligent behavior. Whether Dunlop is negligent or not would be up to the courts if this does proceed. There have been a number of serious incidents recently involving Dunlop tires. The issue with Continental tires several years ago and the resulting exclusion from racing is the complete opposite of how the AMA has handled Dunlop’s problems. That’s pretty unfair and it probably comes down to the almighty dollar.

Lawsuits are bad for our sport but this is not a one-time event and the problem has been known long enough where something should have been done. Whether they knew about the problems before Livingood’s incident will be debated but they definitely knew afterward and there have been several failures since.

I won’t use Dunlops because I don’t want to worry about that extra nail in my coffin. The crap with testing dates last season is also another reason to not buy Dunlops.

Peter Rollins
Lincolnville, Maine


FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

I agree with the idea Dunlop (and any other manufacturer) should be held responsible if defective products, known defective products, are sold for any use especially racing. Dunlop had all their Factory riders in meetings at least 3 times last year stating to them (but not the press!) that they had discovered ‘The Problems’ with their 17 inch slicks and then their 16.5 slicks as well. Still failures occcurred and yet, it seems, Dunlop continued to supply doubtful tires. I believe it will take a lawsuit or at least the discovery phase thereof, to make Dunlop tell the truth…..and that’s too bad!

Scot M. Tway
Auburn, Alabama


FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

First, I will preface my statements with the fact that I have been a road racing competitor since 1987. I’ve raced GP bikes, endurance racers, production bikes, and some priceless Vintage machinery.

Second, I’ve had the great opportunity to race on various tires over those years: Avon, Bridgestone, Dunlop, and Michelin. Currently, I am happy to say that I have a great and long standing relationship with Michelin.

Racing certainly has an amount of risk that a person in the normal world does not consider to be necessary. Life IS full of risks, regardless. Racing, in general, is about the development of products under circumstances that allow manufacturers to test products for increased durability, better traction, develop new technologies, and so on. Again, these developments are not without any risk whatsoever to products, machines, or individuals. Nothing is ever going to be perfect all of the time. Developing these products on a racetrack are not the “normal” risks that most individuals might take.

As a racer that is on Michelin tires, I understand the care and concern that guys like Ron Wood, Jim Rhodes, Walt Schaefer, and Tom Mason have for me and my other fellow Michelin riders. However, having worked with Jim Allen when I was on Dunlops, I know that he and the staff he works with certainly would not recommend or utilize a tire without discussing options with a rider. Certainly, some tires just can’t be used. Others can be. But honest mistakes can be made during the process of manufacturing, mounting, and use, or a combination there of, that cannot necessarily be accounted for. Yeah, there are failures, but there are a lot of tires out there, too. Given the variations on everything, a rider must assume that something can happen at some point. That’s the risk we assume as racers.

I wish Brian all the best. Always keep praying and never give up.

“Super” Dave Rosno
Eagle, Wisconsin