Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Club racer Jeff Selbert, who was hired as Racing Manager by Pirelli Tire North America, Motorcycle Division late last year, was fired yesterday.

Selbert replaced interim Pirelli Racing Manager Jeff Johnston, who returned to his job as Product Specialist working with dealers to promote retail sales.

Roadracingworld.com was unable to obtain official comment from Pirelli Tire North America, Motorcycle Division prior to posting that Selbert had been fired despite leaving phone messages for Mark Wilhelm, the man in charge of Pirelli’s motorcycle operations in the U.S., and for Johnston. But Selbert responded to our original post by calling roadracingworld.com.

“What happened to me at Pirelli was as unfair as what happened to (former Pirelli Racing Manager) Rich Munson and which happened to Jeff Johnston in the span of 12 months, and it was all due to the same guy, Mark Wilhelm,” said Selbert.

“We were all three backed into a corner. We’re operating in the best interests of Pirelli’s desire to pursue road racing in the U.S. and there’s an individual who’s holding us back, and that’s current country manager Mark Wilhelm.

“It was unfair the way I was treated yesterday and something will be done about it and I hope (Pirelli International Racing Manager) Eddie Roberts and all of his efforts are able to overcome this.

“I have nothing against Pirelli, it’s definitely one individual who’s throwing people under the bus. There’s some very unfair things happening at Pirelli right now and I just got caught up in the mix.

“I was very excited about this opportunity, it was the opportunity of a lifetime for me, and it was taken away very quickly and very unfairly,” concluded Selbert.

During Selbert’s brief tenure, long-time Pirelli stalwarts Arclight Suzuki switched to Dunlop, starting in 2004. But Selbert said that he was in no way responsible for the decision by Arclight co-owner Chuck Warren to switch tire brands.

Hooters Suzuki has also switched from Pirelli to Dunlop for the 2004 season.