Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail
Seems Steve Brubaker, Terry Newby and Dennis Smith of Sport Tire Services have a problem with free speech and the people or companies who provide a forum for these discussions. Was pressure put on them from Mike Buckley and Dunlop to stop advertising in Roadracing World with Dunlop ad money or is this some misguided attempt to show support for Dunlop? I never once saw an article or editorial from Roadracing World attacking Dunlop or their support companies for the underhanded way they have handled the Team testing dates.
All Roadracing World has done is reported the facts and provided a forum for people to respond with their opinions on the way Dunlop has conducted themselves. So Sport Tire Services has stepped up and shown the same amount of class as Dunlop, NONE! Here’s hoping Eric Bostrom, Ducati and MICHELIN are the AMA champions in 2004!
Greg Ruffin
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail
Well, things are getting serious now . . . it’s obvious that this is getting personal, and people’s reputations are on the line. Why else would Dennis Smith make a decision that is obviously not a good “business decision?” Those who step up to support Dunlop as a company making a good “business decision” really are missing the point, though I wholly agree that the distributors should not be tarred with the same brush as the AMA and Dunlop brass. But do you really think it’s in the best interests of Dunlop-sponsored teams for Dunlop to have a marketing stranglehold on the U.S. motorcycle tire market? Duh?
I don’t have any sympathy for Michelin – they got what they deserved in Europe by opposing the spec tire series platform. (And if you haven’t been around long enough to remember the historical record of selective tire quality distribution and who brought that to light in the USofA, better not be so quick to praise Dunlop, or to rip Roadracing World.)
If the AMA wants to come out and take a stand to ensure that everybody gets access to the same quality rubber, and designate Dunlop as the series supplier, then let them show some balls and be honest and up front about it. But to let a competitive supplier use race series organization politics to gain a competitive advantage is a sad joke.
Terry Barratt and Allen Gnuschke have hit the nail on the head with their points about the AMA showing its bush league status and minor league thought patterns in arranging what has come down here. The AMA is a walking, talking, out of control conflict of interest just looking for another lawsuit. AMA rank and file members are subsidizing business activities way beyond what lobbying is being done in Washington, but they don’t have any say in how those other activities are conducted. Recent attempts to elect independent leadership to the AMA board have been laudable, but it’s obvious that the table will be slanted against them in any way necessary to prevent the integrity of the AMA from being improved. People – FORGET TIRES – this is not about tires! It’s about integrity, and doing the right thing for crying out loud!
Which one of you wants to win at any cost, knowing that a race was bought off before the bikes ever left the line? This is not about Pirelli vs. Dunlop vs. Michelin racers, it’s about who’s going to bow down to the almighty dollar. Think about what it means for you to demonstrate integrity in whatever aspect of racing you’re involved in, and then do the right thing – after all, that’s what you’re designed for . . .
My last point – what’s to be done to improve the AMA’s integrity. Hate to say it, but it may involve some nastiness. Ever think about making the AMA financially responsible? Being able to designate where your dues are spent? Maybe organizing dues funding to be withheld at the chapter level until they get the message? Might take a class action lawsuit. But think about it . . . they’re wasting a LOT of your money.
John Cone
Marion, North Carolina
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail
I don’t understand this public outcry against Dunlop. The fact that Dunlop now needs to “protect” their R&D is justified and this is purely a business decision. And I believe it is the best interests of Dunlop to do so. People are paid to make business decisions. This decision was above Mr. Allen. Don’t blame Mr. Allen.
Don’t blame the AMA. Until the AMA starts renting their own racetracks for AMA team testing, it is up to the teams to do their own renting/testing. If the teams chose to go by what their tire sponsor chooses to do, that is up to each team.
Don’t blame the Factory Teams. Who wouldn’t want to have someone sport the bill for track rental? That frees up money for other important things (trick parts, travel costs, bonuses, etc…). I am not against “AMA tests”. I think it is a good idea. Have the AMA rent the track and the teams pay the AMA for the use during the rental period. Have prior commitments from factories and racetracks so that it is known well in advance how much it will cost, which teams will participate, and when.
The fact the Dunlop sponsors the majority of the Factory Teams is not Dunlop’s fault. They were the tire company that wanted to stick around in the U.S. and develop tires for the racers in America. There is only one thing I can conclude from all of this….
BLAME MICHELIN!
Where has Michelin been? They’ve been developing tires in WSBK and MotoGP. As soon as World Superbike went to a spec tire (Pirelli), then Dunlop and Michelin were left there standing with a bag of money and trucks full of tires. The money and tires that they had budgeted for the 2004 race season in WSBK. What do they do now? Michelin decided to go to America with Ducati and put together a factory team. They picked up an “A” class rider with Eric Bostrom, when Kawasaki decided not to go Superbike racing. Eric optioned out of his contract with Kawasaki. Now we’ve got a good season brewing here, right? This could be real exciting. A Factory Ducati on Michelins racing again in America! Dunlop and Michelin. Just like WSBK. A real tire war again. That is exactly what Dunlop said. If Michelin had showed some interest in the past about professional road racing in America, then they wouldn’t have a problem. It seems to a trend that the French doesn’t support America. Why aren’t they sponsoring AMA Factory teams? Were they too good for America? Now they have nothing to do is Dunlop supposed to welcome them with open arms? No! Would you be happy if you had spent years of time and money sponsoring racing in America, and along comes a new “French” guy thinking he’s going to ruin your chances at another AMA Championship? No! This is competition on and off the track. You do what it takes to have the advantage. What they did was perfectly legal. It would be up to the AMA to make it illegal in the future. Michelin did it to themselves, plain and simple. In the response from Michelin that this will only anger the French, that’s good! Then we have will have an awesome year of Drama on and off the track! I’ll set my VCR.
PS: Congratulations Steve Atlas on your new job! I know everyone in the CRA and in Minnesota are jealous…
Steve Lovel
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail
Wait, Mr. Sport Tire Services, Roadracing World lets us know about several Dunlops EXPLODING and the facts about a Dunlop Buyout of AMA test dates involving one of the AMA’s Directors and all of a sudden you’re discontinuing advertising in Roadracing World? I sincerely hope this is being pushed by someone higher up the Dunlop food chain. Dropping your advertising, in the premier motorcycle road racing magazine in the U.S., is bad economics. Being a businessman, you probably already know that.
Personally I hope these things have made it clear to all the tire manufacturers that safety and longevity should be more important than pure lap times, especially at Daytona. Oh yeah, one last thing. Please let the tire wars begin, so the club racers can get their tires cheaper!
Rob Hunsinger
Mill Hall, Pennsylvania
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail
Regarding the Dunlop test chaos: What are your thoughts on the subject?
Also, what’s with the Sport Tire Services advertizing decision? Is Roadracing World to blame for reporting the news and commentary, or is this a coincidence?
David Yesman
Norwich, Vermont
No, it is not a coincidence, and we believe market forces will prevail…Editor.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail
I noticed you now have space for me to increase my ad space to 1/2-page. Please do so.
Jim “Moose” Kuykendall
Trackside Racers Supply
Canton, North Carolina
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
Via e-mail
You seem to have some extra room in your magazine now. I have never advertised in a magazine before so send me an e-mail with information and ad rates.
David Hirsch
Island Racing Services
bibmen.com
Galveston, Texas
See related post:
1/14/2004 Updated Post: Even More Reader Comments On Dunlop Buying Up AMA Team Co-op Test Dates
