From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

DUCATI PRESENTS BOSTROM WITH 999

Eric Bostrom visited Ducati North America headquarters and received keys to a 999 this week.

AMA racer Eric Bostrom visited Ducati North America to meet with CEO Michael Lock and staff this week in Cupertino, California. As the newest addition to the Ducati family, Bostrom was welcomed by Michael with the keys to a 2004 Ducati 999, based upon the 999R Factory AMA04 bike he will ride this season for the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team. The 999 dominated the World Superbike Championship in 2003, finishing 1st and 2nd in overall points.

Ducati Corse’s commitment to success is carried to the United States this year with full support for Bostrom’s AMA campaign. This effort is important to winning the competitive AMA series and demonstrates Ducati’s continued development through racing worldwide. The 999 features winning technologies derived from the racetrack, such as the 4-valve testrastretta engine. On the standard 999, this engine delivers 124 horsepower at 9500 rpm.

The addition of a factory supported Ducati team in the U.S. has generated a wave of excitement among fans. Bostrom’s first race of the season is the Daytona 200 on March 6th in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Eric concluded his visit by accepting a framed photo, signed by the Ducati North America staff, in addition to his new motorcycle.

From a press release issued by FGSport:

World Superbike Championship 2004
Winter Tests
Phillip Island, January 13 – 15 (Australia)

Pre Season SBK Pace Hots Up

The countdown to another new era of World Superbike competition has continued apace over the winter months, with Valencia and Phillip Island playing host to some of the championship’s top teams.

The most recent test, a three-day marathon completed at Phillip Island in Australia on Thursday 15 January, saw two of the main factory teams, Ducati Fila and Foggy Petronas, in attendance.

With the World Superbike Championship opting for a spec tyre format, putting all riders in all classes on Pirellis, the Phillip Island test was a crucial one for all concerned. The abrasive Aussie tarmac provides the toughest test of the year for rubber, especially for the left hand side of the overworked rear tyres.

Weather conditions were most favourable in the morning sessions, and for Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila) the tests were seen as a success, with the Frenchman lapping hard on all three days, setting competitive single lap and race simulation times. Laconi’s best race long effort would have placed him on the podium in one of last year’s Phillip Island races, even without the spur of actual competition to boost his performance still further.

For his team-mate, James Toseland, the test was a generally positive one, but a heavy crash, exiting Honda corner on day two, put paid to his thoughts of completing full race simulations. He had to make allowances for three stitches on his leg, bruised and blackened fingers and a large amount of overall discomfort. Nonetheless, Toseland set a 1:34.8 lap and the young Briton is expected to be back to full fitness for the next planned SBK/Pirelli test at Valencia, from 11 to 13 February – a mere two weeks before the 2004 season kicks off at the same venue.

The unique Petronas FP-1 three-cylinder machines of 1996 World Champion Troy Corser and Chris Walker were also at Phillip Island, with both riders setting times within the 1:35 bracket, on a machine which is still to develop its full potential. A new cooling system helped the team keep the engine temperature under firmer control.

Corser, one of the best development riders in the world, as well as one of the fastest in competition, experienced some chatter during the tests, but declared that the lap times were about where he expected them to be at this stage of the evolution of the technically fascinating FP-1.

As the season approaches the final line up of riders in the series now includes another pilot who has proved his global credentials time and again – Australian Garry McCoy. Now resident in Andorra, McCoy drove to the pre-Christmas SBK/Pirelli test to join his new 2004 team, NCR Ducati. Having injured his right radius in a celebrity Supermoto race a short while beforehand, McCoy completed only a handful of laps on his Ducati 999 RS but with at least one further test scheduled before he makes his competitive debut in SBK at Valencia on 29 February, he is expected to be on pace from the first outing.

The next Valencia test will see the public debut of the all-new Honda Fireblade, prepared by Ten Kate and ridden by reigning World Supersport Champion Chris Vermeulen.

Other notable 2004 SBK entries include the Zongshen Chinese team, featuring experienced pilots Warwick Nowland and Piergiorgio Bontempi on Suzuki GSX-R1000 machinery, plus the competitive DFX Ducati squad, featuring Steve Martin and Marco Borciani on customer 999s.

In World Supersport another year of intense competition beckons, with top class entries from Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha all preparing for another dip in the Supersport crucible.

In the Ducati camp, Lorenzo Lanzi was testing the new-to-World-Supersport 749 factory machine at Phillip Island, suffering a crash on oil on day one. His eventual best lap proved to be a 1:37.08, as he too fought against the effects of high winds in the afternoons.

In the previous Valencia tests Ten Kate Honda riders Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes, plus Klaffi Honda pilot Sebastien Charpentier were in attendance, setting quick lap times throughout. The Yamaha line up for 2004 will be spearheaded by Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Fabien Foret from the Belgarda team and Christian Kellner and Kevin Curtain from the Yamaha Motor Germany outfit. Suzuki’s usual dynamic duo of Stephane Chambon and Katsuaki Fujiwara will have an updated 2004 machine to compete with in Supersport.


In 2003 the Superbike World Championship achieved the following:

– More than 2-billion worldwide television viewers

– Live broadcasts on 85 television networks covering 170 countries

– 1,950 broadcast hours with a television media value in excess of US$ 590-million

– 1,000,000 race spectators

– More than 32-million Internet page views on www.worldsbk.com

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Phillip Island (Australia)
15 January

LACONI AND TOSELAND (DUCATI FILA) CONCLUDE SUPERBIKE TESTING IN AUSTRALIA

Regis Laconi completed Ducati Fila’s World Superbike pre-season test session at Phillip Island today on a positive note, the Frenchman knocking half a second off yesterday’s best to end with a time of 1:33.55, which he set during the better morning conditions. Britain’s James Toseland was still feeling the effects of yesterday’s spill and his best mark over the three days remained the time of 1:34.50 he posted on Wednesday.

Laconi, who exclusively used race tyres today, added more than 450 kms to the Ducati 999’s development curve, completing a massive total of 106 laps during the final day. The 28-year-old Frenchman said: “I am quite tired but very happy! Yesterday I said I could improve my time but I didn’t think I could get down to 1:33.5. Step by step we’re working well in the team to find the settings that are helping me to ride more easier and now that I’ve reached a good feeling with the 999, I’m a lot more confident. My long-run in the afternoon went well and I was almost one second a lap quicker than my race time here last year”.

Toseland, who completed 78 laps with a best time of 1:34.80, continued the tyre testing programme, which was cut short yesterday when he highsided in the morning, and the 23-year-old was able to make a good choice of front tyre. “Unfortunately I was suffering a bit from the effects of yesterday’s crash” said Toseland, “and as a result was unable to push as hard as I would have liked. For the moment the times are not important, it’s what I’ve done here that counts and I’m pretty pleased with the progress we’ve made”.


LANZI UPS THE PACE WITH THE 749R SUPERSPORT

Lorenzo Lanzi wrapped up three days’ testing work on the 2004-spec Ducati 749R he will campaign in this year’s World Supersport championship with a total of 78 laps today. The 22-year-old Italian shaved a further four-tenths off his time to end up with 1:37.08.

“I recorded some good times in the morning but then my 749R started to feel the effects of the wind in the afternoon and I was unable to repeat that performance” commented Lanzi. “The general set-up of the bike is good, we’re just searching for that little bit of extra grip at the back. Hopefully at Valencia, we’ll find it!”.

All three Ducati Corse riders will be back in action from February 11-13 at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, Valencia for the final pre-season test session organised by exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli and championship promoters FGSport.

Editorial Note: The quickest race lap during the 2003 World Superbike race at Phillip Island was a 1:33.813 by Ruben Xaus on a Michelin-equipped Ducati 999F03.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

After 15 years of service as race officials, George and Marge Mood are retiring from their positions as WERA Regional Race Director and WERA Chief Registrar, respectively.

George Mood made the announcement Wednesday on the electronic message board (BBS) on WERA’s official website, www.wera.com. His statement read in part:

“The why is not important to the readers of this BBS. It is important that you know this: WERA deserves our full commitment on our part to continue in our capacities. For reasons we gave to Evelyne (Clarke, President and CEO of WERA Motorcycle Racing Inc.), we do not feel that we can serve WERA and its members as we have in the past.

“This has not been an easy decision for either of us. We have spent much time in conversation, attempting to find a way to handle our family matters and our obligation to WERA as officials. We concluded that we would not be able to give WERA the energy and attention that we have in the past.”

The Moods could not be reached for further comment at post time.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Proton Team KR Team Manager Chuck Aksland confirmed to Dorna Sports Wednesday that Kurtis Roberts and Nobuatsu Aoki would be the riders for the team in the 2004 MotoGP World Championship, but this was far from news to Roberts.

“I’ve known since before Valencia, as in the GP (November 2), so it’s nothing new to me,” Roberts told Roadracingworld.com. Roberts said he talked to Ducati and “some other satellite” teams, all in MotoGP, but going with his father’s team was his plan all along.

“I don’t even know what I’m making, I don’t even know what my contract reads and all that, and I don’t care. I’ve wanted to do this from day one. Unless something unbelievable came along, this is kind of what I planned on doing,” said Roberts.

Aksland told Dorna that a decision on what brand of tires the team would use is “still up in the air” between Dunlop and Michelin, but which brand of tires he rides on matters to Roberts.

“Tires of course do (matter) because it’s kind of tough to have too many blocks stacked up against you. It would be nice if we didn’t have to be behind in every category and then tires on top of that, you know?” said Roberts, before expressing his preference to ride on Michelins. “There is only one tire in MotoGP right now, I feel.”

Team KR will not test again until late February at Jerez, according to Roberts. At that time, the team is expected to have completed significant revisions to its 990cc V5 four-stroke engine and chassis for the 2004 season.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Dunlop’s position is that they need to protect their technology between themselves and the Dunlop sponsored teams as to tire developments.

Now, my belief was and is that that was what their private pre-season and now January test dates were for. The TEAM tests, organized by Yoshi and others, was to spread the cost of track rental so that teams could dial in their set-ups for the different tracks. This I believed had little to do with specific tire testing but more to testing new parts and pieces and suspension set-up.

Now Dunlop is trying to make us believe these dates were for their benefit. I don’t think so! Dunlop is saying that the other tire manufacturers can get their own dates, well seems their #1 competitor did have their own specific test dates prior to Dunlop at Daytona and seems like they have their s#@t together.

Dunlop says if the other tire manufacturers don’t like it to get their own test dates. No, Dunlop, get your own to correct your obvious problems and leave the team tests alone.

The only way I can see for them to recover the good will and good name of Dunlop is to contribute these test days to all teams as it was and if needed get their own private test dates as required.

Carl Foster
Welaka, Florida



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail


I have just read the press release issued by Dunlop Tire Company’s advertising and public relations agency. Do I understand correctly that Dunlop’s position is that a history of supporting the AMA, an organization whose ethics and business practices have been subject to repeated popular scrutiny, entitles an entity to practices that are, at best, morally questionable and at worst, monopolistic and illegal?

I am curious about Dunlop’s statement that, “as other tire manufacturers begin to renew their race support efforts once again in the U.S. during the 2004 season, we welcome the challenge; rigorous competition only makes for better racing.” Is the implication that welcoming competition equates to forcefully limiting the opportunities of said competition’s participation and testing?

As a reader who respects and relies on Roadracing World’s reporting, and who wonders if he is missing some of the facts, I am interested to know if it agrees that Dunlop’s actions represent “accepted practice in European, MotoGP, and World Superbike racing.” I cannot recall a story indicating similar practices in European, MotoGP, and World Superbike racing.

Based on what I have read in various RoadRacingworld.com website articles, I am also curious to know if its editors recognize any misleading implications of Dunlop’s statement that non-Dunlop teams will be able to secure “their own dates at AMA venues to do their own development work.” Did I understand incorrectly that the majority of non-conflicting and otherwise desirable testing opportunities had been purchased by Dunlop, subsequentially excluding non-Dunlop teams?

Interested in the impressions of others…

Christopher Clark
Former MRA and AMA road racer, current enthusiast
Boulder, Colorado



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Vie e-mail



Mike Buckley can attempt to spin this situation as much as he wants. It was bad form, period. Dunlop has alienated professional teams, club racers and race fans with their underhanded maneuver.

Spin it all you want, Dunlop. You’ve lost countless cutomers who don’t buy your insincere attempt to explain your reasons for hoarding track time. I look forward to seeing Eric Bostrom wipe up the floor with Dunlop-shod racers this season.

Ian Gillies
AFM #308
Alameda, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

In 2003 I purchased six sets of Dunlop tires for my nine streetbikes and one racebike. Unless Dunlop rescinds its decision on the buy-up of test dates and allows other manufacturers access to those dates, in 2004 I will not be buying any Dunlop tires.

I encourage others to also boycott Dunlop.

Dan Moricoli
Wellington, Florida FL



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Read the Dunlop statement.

As in politics, the cover-up is worse than the initial stupidity. Given exploding tires, any effort to preclude other teams from full testing and safety is unconscionable.

If the AMA fails to step in and protect its riders, it deserves to get its ass sued off.

What about a nice article on the historical record of the AMA whoring with Dunlop?

Mike Mc Allister
Lahaska, Pennsylvania



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Buckley’s cup runneth over. Instead of expending energy here in the states to seek revenge for what WSBK did to Dunlop over there, why not put that energy into tire development? WOW! There’s a thought. Enough of the diplomatic pussy footin’ around–pull your head out, Buck. I foresee you losing through three jobs at once, ala Ed Youngblood.

Todd Erickson
CCS #251
Janesville, Wisconsin



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

We shouldn’t forget that these are the same people who opposed rain tires because they were more concerned about their advantage than peoples’ lives.

Mike McAllister
Lahaska, Pensylvania



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I applaud Mr. Cilley from New Hampshire for going against the grain on this anti-Dunlop attack. The way Dunlop handled this particular situation was kind of slimy, but they are good capitalists and given the same situation I would have chosen to do the same thing. If my tires were disintegrating at racetracks all over one of the biggest markets in the world in very public situations, I would want to take my testing in-house as well. Mr. Jim Rhodes, who helped me a great deal this past year getting Michelins while I raced AMA Supersport, will no doubt arrange a fine schedule for Ducati Austin and the other Michelin-supported AMA teams that will surely result in a great deal of success. I believe the backlash (as bandwagon-esque and immature as it is) by the general public against Dunlop will result in better product from all tire companies in the future. And I think the pure big-eyed fear coming from Dunlop should be an indication to the general public that Michelin tires are indeed as good if not better than most of the tires that Dunlop produces, despite the past AMA race results. Boycotting Dunlop for being Good Capitalists (i.e. Good Americans) is akin to boycotting all shops and retail outlets from California because of a proposed mandatory donor organ plan: Lame.

Quentin Wilson
AMA Supersport # 808
Chatsworth, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I have to say Jim Allen and Dunlop have just shown how big their balls are. At the end of the year we will see if Championships are won by balls alone. They are making a business decision and like any business decision some are good and some turn out disasterous.

Myself I am cheering for the Ducati Austin team and all other teams and riders running non-Dunlop rubber. If nothing else this year will be interesting with all of the new machinery, new classes and now political twists. Just imagine the factory Michelin technicians working with factory Ducati men against the best Japan has to offer. Sounds like Mr. Allen just reacted to the huge lump in the back of his pants. Can’t wait.

Steve Bailey
Brantford, Ontario, Canada



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

WOW, makes you wonder if Michelin had thought of this loophole that all of the sudden people would be stating how bad of a product they have and how they will vote with their wallet. I think it’s BS. Business is business and Dunlop just happened to find the loophole first. Who wouldn’t want the track to themselves for testing and not have to worry who is looking over their shoulder. And by the responses some of these people are sending in you would think everyone rides a GSX-R1000 at 200 mph every race. I don’t recall hearing about any “blowouts” from any tire manufacturer for the club races. Our team currently runs Dunlops and have had great success with them and will continue to stay with Dunlop until (in our eyes) their product does not stand up to the test. To everyone else, grow up, now AMA can fix the loophole so that everyone can find something alse to whine about next year.

This is MY opinion, and no matter the differences, I still wish EVERYONE luck and safe riding no matter what or where they are riding!

Shane L. Williams
WERA Endurance
Cincinnati, Ohio



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I feel Dunlop has done nothing wrong or unfair. As stated in some previous post, Dunlop has a right to buy whatever track rental they want. If they want to invite other teams or not, that is at their discretion. I will tell you that I have raced on all of the major tire brands and they are all great tires. I also hope that nobody takes this out on our local Dunlop tire distributor, Sport Tire Services, because they are a great bunch of guys, along with all the other tire supporter guys. So for now to us little guys, I don’t think it matters. Let all the big wigs fight it out and in the end hopefully they will just create better tires at a cheaper price, because of all the competition between the tire manufactures.

Tim Kamholz
A.F.M #15
Newark, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I just called my broker and sold all of my Dunlop stock. Now, where can I get a Michelin T-shirt?

Tony Kerr
Jefferson City, Missouri



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

From what I understand reading about Dunlop’s buy-up, one team rents all these dates and than invites other teams to join to cut down on cost.

This lead renter team is one that sold dates to Dunlop, and if this is a joint effort of all the teams, this lead team is who screwed up michelin/pirelli teams, not Dunlop or AMA. Unless these are offical AMA test dates I don’t see how anybody did anything wrong except the lead renter team screwing up competition and not holding to their words.

BTW: Michelins are best.

Zoran Vujasinovic
Reno, Nevada



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I, for one, am not at all surprised by Dunlop’s tactics regarding the test day “gobble-up.” Unfortunately, what is surprising, is AMA Pro Racing’s position on this issue. The fact that they actively participated in that process leads one to question, “Who really runs AMA Pro Racing?” Obviously, AMA Pro Racing’s agenda is to bow down to, or kneel in front of, Dunlop just because Dunlop said so. Dunlop’s business tactics are unsportsmanlike and shady; however, the conduct of AMA Pro Racing (and its leadership) is inexcuseable. AMA Pro Racing owes us an explanation followed shortly by an apology.

Tyson Silva
OMRRA #199
DirtyRottenBastards Racing
Lake Oswego, Oregon



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I can see it now-

this is a satirical press release that is probably closer than we think….

“Pickering, OH – Today AMA Pro Racing Director Mike Buckley announced that the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) will be changing it’s name to the DMA (Dunlop Motorcyclist Association), to more accurately reflect its true mission, which is the furtherance of all of the member companies that are on the board of directors.

Director Buckley went on to state that the DMA will no longer allow unregistered or unapproved journalists, vendors, or competitors access to any events, tests, functions or other items of interest to the DMA and its subjects.

Buckley further stated that effective 90 days ago, the DMA will require that all companies desiring to use or provide product or services that will be used in DMA competition or other DMA sanctioned events must be petitioned to the DMA board of directors 1 year in advance of the desired review date.


Products and services will be reviewed for technical and performance merit by the DMA staff. If they are found in compliance, a certificate will be issued allowing use on a trial basis for 10 days. If after that period the DMA determines that the product/service is not a threat to the dominance of the DMA member controllers, it will be approved for use by privateer members, until they can be eliminated from all DMA sanctioned events.

For additonal information or comments on this release, don’ t call or write us, as we tire of constantly hearing your complaints about our management of our organization.

Additionally, we are raising the DMA dues by 20% to cover the cost of the DMA track testing dates, retroactive to 12/31/03.

Sincerely,

Mike Buckley
DMA Director/President

DMA is a registered trademark of the Dunlop Motorcyclist Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the profit of all its corporate members on the board of directors.

Disclaimer-This is a bogus press release made up to reflect the feelings of a very disgusted member at the ongoing abuses of office of the directors of the AMA. It currently mostly false statements.

Mark Lewellen
Ozark, Missouri



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I’ll weigh in with the rest of the riff-raff. Tire wars (and the resulting effects) have been going on in professional motorcycle racing forever. Anyone who has watched, attended or raced certainly knows this.

No one over here in the States groused with the new spec tire rules in WSC, but now all of a sudden everyone is up in arms because Dunlop is playing hardball in our backyard? This is a business, like it or not. If I was a competing company (or team shod with that company’s tires) pitch the ball back, even harder.

As has been said by a few, racing is war. Especially at this level. Like a war, the tide of battle will ebb and flow. But like a train wreck, we’ll all sit fascinated and watch. It’s part of the silly season, and in some ways keeps us busy kvetching in the off-season. Private companies like ZoomZoom Trackdays are already extending themselves to provide alternative testing dates and I’m sure more will step up to the plate. It’s not the end of the world, people. It’s hard, cold business.

The battle will move on, eventually to the racetrack where it rightly belongs. I for one won’t be switching from Dunlops because of this.

Jim Race
AFM #250
San Mateo, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I dub thee, Dumlop, because you are a pretty dumb outfit.

You must think the fans are pretty dumb, too.

If I ever manage to purchase another motorcycle, it won’t be wearing Dumlops.

Dianne Sawyer, in an ABC TV interview, 12-16-04, asked GW Bush about all of his pre-war prevarications and he said, “What difference does it make?” Sounds like something a Dumlop exec would say, regarding how their customers and fans feel about their recent decisions.

Andy Schwarm
Monrovia, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Alright, that did it. Three times I have sat down at this computer to type a formidable response to all this Dunlop bashing, and three times I have gotten up without sending. I hope I do better this time.

1 – If you tally up a somewhat accurate estimate of all the Dunlop laps successfully completed at Daytona in 2003 alone, the number is pretty huge. Two failures occurred last year ( in testing, I believe ), which puts their success rate at over 99.99%. That’s a damn good record.

2 – Racing conditions change all the time. That’s why we change tires. 2003 saw some big time changes as far as weight, average horsepower per entrant, and top speeds. As a result, as far as tires go, what used to work doesn’t any more, so Dunlop is changing tires. We should all consider ourselves lucky to have a company as committed as Dunlop to choose from. Remember, no one kept Michelin away all these years. They did that on their own. Coming to America in 2004 was not, and is not their first choice.

3 – If even half the number of riders at Daytona last year were on tires other than Dunlop, and they matched the number of laps and speed of either Spies or Disalvo (never mind the others), chances are they would be facing the same problems by now. You don’t think so? Go find Walt at Michelin in March. Ask him to put on a medium compound rear for your next race, and then watch his face turn pale. Truth is, the laws of physics are in control up on that banking, and we keep multiplying them by going faster. No one has a sure way around this new challenge. I think Dunlop is bearing the burden of everyone’s tire problem, it’s just that most of the fastest bikes up there don’t use anything but Dunlop, so they get to wear the egg.

4 – Anyone bashing Dunlop, or any of their employees, really ought to check themselves. I have never met, watched, or worked with a more professional group of people in my racing life. Here’s my proof: In October of 2001 I headed to Daytona with a plan to win a race I was pretty confident I could. Jim Allen helped me make that plan. I got through practice after practice, and the Dunlop guys checked me out every time. We had a great starting position, turned fast laps in practice, and had a strong chance of winning. Then the weather set in. Is it going to be dry, is it going to be wet? Should we put on an intermediate just in case? The clock ticked closer to race time, and I was pretty revved up. Either way, rain or not, I knew I would be up there and out front. Fifteen minutes before our plan saw the flag drop, I found Jim Allen and pointed to the skies. I told him Dunlop was not alone on our grid, but that we stood a strong chance to win. He looked up, and he looked over. Rain on one side, dry on the other. So I said, “Which one Jim. Which tire?” He said, “I think you should park it. Come again to race another day.”

That answer crushed me. But the more I have thought about it since that day, the more it has made sense. So I parked it. Jim Allen certainly treats club racers with respect.

5 – Running scared? Trying to monopolizing U.S. racing by securing your own test dates? I don’t see that. If Michelin is committed, which it looks like they are, then they will represent formidable competition. You should never underestimate your competition. Don’t blame the-last minute moves on Dunlop. They’ve been here all along, doing the best they can do. It’s Michelin that decided only two months ago to take on Dunlop in America. Dunlop is just reacting to another change in racing conditions. “Team testing” should be easily defined by its name alone. And these two companies are definitely not on the same team.

6 – I will watch this years 200 with new found interest. I think we all will. When I do I will wish I was racing it, and I will wish I was on Dunlops.

Good luck to all who enter,

Eric Gulbransen
Menlo Park, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail


If you are still interested in posting responses to Dunlop’s well publicized testing move, here is one more:

I was going to buy Dunlops for the off road (desert) racing I will be doing this summer. I would rather my money go to a company that is has class and guts, so I am shopping for another brand now.

Tony Garcia
Morro Bay, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I own two streetbikes and two dirtbikes. Until last week, they all had Dunlop rubber.

That is approximately $900 in tires that I spend, annually.

I guess Dunlop doesn’t need my money.

Oh yeah, I race too. But they don’t need that $1200+ per year, either.

John Giordano
Hooksett, New Hampshire

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

People may not like the stance that Dunlop has taken regarding the closed tire sessions. It does smell a bit like a monopoly, but as they said in their lastest response: It doesn’t preclude other tire manufacturers from doing their own closed sessions. I think they see that they DO need to step it up a bit now that Michelin has decided to come into the fray. It is just business after all.

Maurice Thune
Chino Hills, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

AMA not involved, that’s a joke, just because they are not physically running the test date is meaningless. The rule structure that allows private tests is what needs to be abolished. All competitors should have equal access to test dates. Frankly, I believe that all testing at facilities that you race at should be abolished. It is impossible to give a privateer equal access as, let’s say, Team Honda, Yamaha, Ducati or Michelin or team Rubber Duckie. The only equal access is no access–if you want to practice(test) at PPIR or Talledega, fine; at Daytona, no way.

To blank off a small period of time directly before a race is meaningless.

If you can’t see the problem with having manufacturers directly involved in racing employees on the racing board, I can’t help that. Nobody from Honda, Yamaha, etc., Michelin, Dunlop or any manufacture of racing equipment should be on the board; the conflict of interest is plain as day. Besides no successful professional racing organization has had a board managing its affairs. Until the control of motorcycle racing in the U.S. is wrestled away from a board full of conflicted interests, motorcycle racing in the U.S. will always be a minor league sport at best. The only interest the racing controlling body should have is safety for the participants, entertainment for the fans, and equal competition under the rules.

Allen Gnuschke
Loveland, Colorado



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Some of the responses by the Dunlop defenders are interesting, and even largely with merit. What Dunlop has done is perfectly acceptable and legal capitalist business practice. That is not, in my eyes, in dispute. The late stage change of past practice, effectively hamstringing their competition, is however very unsportsmanlike. In our NBA and MLB fueled country, perhaps sportsmanship is not held in high esteem. Others of us feel differently however, and will feel free to exercize our own rights as Americans and capitalists, and refuse to reward Dunlop, instead opting for Michelin, Pirelli, and Metzeler. Legal is not the same as ethical, and not all methods of competing are as evolved or sportsmanlike. This is neither immature, nor a case of bandwagon boarding, or any other sort of questionably-mature name calling. Just making our own judgements, and playing capitalist ourselves. My new Pilot Sports are already on the way.

Roger Albert
Shop owner and consumer
Austin, Texas



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Dunlop buying out track test days and preventing the competition, non-Dunlop teams, to practice alongside prevents them from looking inferior to the competition. Hey AMA, be very careful while doing the nasty with Dunlop, their rubber seems to break! Oops!

Also, my 999 Duc rides on Michelins, my ’04 Busa rides on Bridgestone and all three of my cars ride on Michelins as well. Some simple advice for Dunlop: If you can’t hang with the big dogs, stay on the porch!

Mario Casillas
Fredericksburg, Virginia



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

An open letter to Dunlop and all of its management:

To whom it may concern, You suck.

Sincerely,

Gary Carter
#99 CRA, CCS
#919 AMA
Minneapolis, Minnesota



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

First off, I’ve never rode on anything other than Dunlops, especially while racing. I will stand behind and support Dunlop in this decision and will most definitely continue to buy their tires and work with the great guys at Sport Tire Services and the Northwest distributor.

I have to agree with Eric from Menlo Park, California. He hit it right on. Dunlop has done something they should have been doing all along and that is to have closed tire tests. I think that it is absolutely a great business decision.

In any other industry if you have something that is going to be new to market or making an awesome product even better, you sure as hell don’t do it so all your competitors can see what you are doing. Dunlop is just going in this direction from what I can tell and I for one support Dunlop.

GOOD LUCK to all the DUNLOP-shod teams in 2004.

Luke Gaylor
WMRRA #158
OMRRA #158
Kent, Washington



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

We may not like what Dunlop has done, in fact a lot of us find it pretty slimy, but I agree with Tim Kamholz. Our local Dunlop guy (Terry Newby – Sport Tire Services) has, and will continue to do, everything he can for his local club racers. In 2002, when I was heading out to VIR for the USGPRU final, there was rumor that 125 tires were in shortage. Terry graciously contacted his East Coast partners, made sure there was no truth to the rumor, and even offered to send me tires in advance if I was still worried (enough for all of those making the trip). He did far more than I would ever expect a tire vendor to do, he took care of his customers even though we spent the $ with the East Coast Dunlop guys.

I may not personally like what Dunlop corporate is doing, but that doesn’t mean I’d give up supporting my local Dunlop vendor who has gone out of his way to help out his local club racer! (ask Terry about his long haul to Portland for the USGPRU race up there when their freight guys went out of business!)

Our local vendors have done nothing wrong. We should continue to support them and the value they bring to club racing. You won’t see me jumping the bandwagon.

John Rabasa
AFM #789/USGPRU #789
Santa Clara, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Dunlop and their execs have made a bad move. Not in the business sense, mind you. If I call you up and say “sure, you can test with me,” that’s as good as a handshake or a written contract to me. To you, I would think it would mean the same. But, to buy-out all the test dates, without ramifications…..is simply unethical in my books.

It’s no different than taking your hand away after we were about to shake. At the least, any test dates that can’t be made for the other teams because of the late date, Dunlop should show a “good faith” agreement and allow them to test. To me, that would clean the slate.

Darick Pash
CMRA #123
Abilene, Texas



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

After 15 years of advertising with your paper, Steve Brubaker, Terry Newby and I have decided to stop.

Please cancel our 1/2-page ads. We no longer wish to do business with Roadracing World. We’ll take our business elsewhere.

Dennis Smith
Sport Tire Services
Paso Robles, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Let Dunlop know how you feel about their recent actions

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/contact.asp

Scott Weber
Minneapolis, Minnesota.



See related posts:

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

1/12/2004 AMA Director And Dunlop Vice President Buckley Personally Arranged Buyout Of AMA Co-op Team Tests To Stifle Competition

1/13/2004 Dunlop Issues Statement On Buy-up Of AMA Team Co-op Test Dates

From a press release issued by Tony Bell in response to an inquiry made on behalf of a reader:

I would like to update the progress on Vicky’s rehab from the motocross injury of May 1st 2003.

The fractured shoulder has healed quite well but surgery to repair ligament damage and tears to the rotor cuff will have to take place some time in the near future. The severity of the damage to the left hip resulted in nine screws and two plates being used to hold the socket together. Vicky was unable to walk for three months after surgery. She started to use crutches August 1st but the shoulder injury limited what she could do and a wheelchair was the only way to get around. Five months after the start of rehab she has a 20% range of motion moving the leg backwards, about 25% movement laterally and 10% rotation. The doctors have told her she will never regain a full range of motion but she continues rehab each week and visits the gym twice a week.

Knowing Vicky very well I knew that not being able to ride a dirt bike again would leave a big gap in her life as she has ridden dirt bikes and raced bikes since the age of nine. On December 1st she rode a Honda CRF250 around the Vet track at Elsinore. She has to stand on a bike stand to get on the bike and if it stalled when riding she would not be able to get it started so the idle has to be set quite high. She claims she is riding, “not to fall off” but is managing to clear most of the jumps and tabletops at the track. Although in pain she is doing what she loves especially when riding with our eldest son Christopher and we’re looking forward to having our youngest son James on a CRF50 with training wheels as soon as he’s out of diapers!

Tony Bell
[email protected]
Lake Forest, California

From a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
PRESEASON TESTING – MALAYSIA
14TH JANUARY 2004 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KAWASAKI RACING TEAM: HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR 2004 SEASON

A new version of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine, together with two new riders and a change in tyre supplier for the 2004 season mean that expectations are high as the Kawasaki Racing Team head for Sepang in Malaysia, and the first of three overseas preseason tests.

Kawasaki’s assault on the 2004 MotoGP World Championship will be spearheaded by seasoned Grand Prix campaigner Shinya Nakano. Twice a winner of the prestigious Rookie of the Year award, Nakano will test the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR for the first time at Sepang next week, but already the 26-year-old Japanese rider has his sights set firmly on the podium.

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Shinya Nakano and Kawasaki’s Shinichi Morita.

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Joining Nakano on the Ninja ZX-RR will be former Kawasaki test and development rider, Alex Hofmann. The 23-year-old rider – the only German competing in this year’s MotoGP World Championship – is determined to build on his impressive wild card performances in 2003, with regular points scoring finishes on the new Ninja ZX-RR being the ultimate aim in his first full season in the blue-riband class.

Developed using the lessons learnt during Kawasaki’s debut MotoGP season, the latest version of the Ninja ZX-RR machine features a revised 990cc inline four-cylinder engine, housed in a new chassis, designed jointly by engineers in Japan and Europe. The new chassis, which will be built in Europe, has resulted in a much more compact Ninja ZX-RR and a lower centre of gravity.

Also new on the Ninja ZX-RR for the 2004 season are Bridgestone tyres. The Japanese tyre company have invested heavily in research and development in recent years and this commitment has been rewarded on the track, with Bridgestone securing their first MotoGP podium finish in 2003. Initial tests of the new tyres have been extremely positive, with Hofmann managing to improve his previous best lap time by almost two seconds during end of season testing at Valencia.

The Kawasaki Racing Team will test for four days at Sepang from 20-26 January, before returning on 11 February for a further three days of testing at the Malaysian circuit. The Phillip Island circuit in Australia will be the venue for the final four day overseas test, scheduled for 23-26 February, after which the Kawasaki Racing Team will return to Europe for the annual IRTA tests at Catalunya and Jerez.

Shinya Nakano – #56
“I am very happy to be joining Kawasaki and grateful to the factory for giving me this opportunity. I think it is a great project – Harald Eckl has explained the development plans for the bike and the details of the team for 2004 and I am extremely motivated for the challenge ahead.”

“I am looking forward to testing the new bike at Sepang and working with my new teammate, Alex Hofmann, to develop the bike ready for the start of the season. This will be my sixth year in Grand Prix racing and my target is very clear; to get back on the podium.”

Alex Hofmann – #66
“I am obviously looking forward to my first full season in MotoGP aboard the new Ninja ZX-RR machine. We tested the new bike briefly at the end of 2003 and it was a definite improvement over the previous version. I’m confident that, with an extensive preseason test schedule ahead of us, we’ll be able to improve the bike even further before the season gets underway in South Africa.”

“I’m also looking forward to working with Shinya, not just because he’s an experienced MotoGP rider who I can learn a lot from, but also because he’s such a nice guy and so easy to get along with.”

“My aim for this season is to continue to improve my riding, score points in every race and, hopefully, be in a position to challenge for top ten finishes on a regular basis towards the end of the year.”

Harald Eckl – Team Manager
“This, our second year in the MotoGP World Championship, is obviously very important to us and excuses about being beginners in this class just won’t cut it anymore. We have applied the lessons learned in 2003 and, as a result, we head into the coming season with a new team structure, an updated version of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR, a new tyre supplier and two new riders. Expectations are high.”

“The latest version of the Ninja ZX-RR is a result of collaboration between engineers at Kawasaki in Japan and engineers based in Europe. The chassis will be jointly developed, which gives us the development flexibility we need to compete at the very highest level. Engine development will be conducted entirely in Japan. For me it is a very promising package.”

“We also have two good riders in Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann. Shinya’s Grand Prix experience will undoubtedly accelerate our development process, with his input allowing us to close the gap on the top teams in the championship. This will be Alex’s first full season in MotoGP, but I fully expect him to be up there with Shinya in the races.”

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Phillip Island (Australia)
14 January

DUCATI FILA TESTING CONTINUES IN AUSTRALIA FOR LACONI AND TOSELAND

Regis Laconi and James Toseland (Ducati Fila) both made substantial progress in lap times on the second day of pre-season testing at Phillip Island. The 28-year-old Frenchman completed a total of 74 laps on the Ducati 999, recording a time of 1:34.00 on softer Pirelli tyres and 1:34.28 on race rubber, which is not far off last year’s best race lap of 1:33.8, set on Michelins. Team-mate James Toseland also made considerable progress on yesterday’s time, improving to 1:34.50 in the morning before a crash brought his day to a premature end.

Out of the massive selection of compounds Pirelli have brought along for the tests, Laconi was able to find a selection of tyres that satisfied him in view of the race, and tomorrow’s final day will be devoted to two long-runs in the morning and the afternoon.

“The weather was much better today and it was easier to work” declared Regis. “We found a good solution for the front tyre and the settings, while the rear is quite good although we still need to find more side grip. My times are good, I did over half a race in the 1:34s. It’s difficult to know how much more improvement I can make because the conditions change all the time here, but I’m confident I can get into the 1:33 bracket tomorrow.”

Toseland arrived at Honda corner on his nineteenth lap of the morning before highsiding at low speed. The 23-year-old British rider cut his right knee and had to have three stitches put in. He stayed off the bike the rest of the day but will test again tomorrow.

“I opened up coming out of Honda curve” explained James, “and the bike suddenly lost grip at the rear. It was a low-speed crash, but I’m sure I’ll be OK for tomorrow.”

In two sessions, Ducati Fila engineers have succeeded in ironing out the problems of stability that emerged during Valencia testing in November and the 999 is now at a good competitive level in view of the start of the season in six weeks’ time.


LANZI MAKES FURTHER PROGRESS WITH THE DUCATI 749R SUPERSPORT

Lorenzo Lanzi also completed a total of 74 laps on the 749R he will race in this year’s World Supersport championship, improving to 1:37.46 on the second day. The Italian mainly concentrated on tyre testing and managed to obtain satisfactory grip levels at the rear.

“We did a lot of tyre testing work today” said Lanzi, “but unfortunately I’m still suffering from jet-lag and felt tired later in the afternoon. The bike feels good, the engine also, and the set-up is almost perfect, we just need to improve with the rear tyre.”

Tomorrow will see the third and final day of testing for the Ducati Superbike and Supersport teams at Phillip Island.

From a press release issued by BMW North America:

BMW MOTORRAD USA POSTS SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF RECORD SALES

Year-to-date sales up 13 percent over last year
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – BMW Motorrad USA, the importer and distributor of BMW motorcycles in the United States, posted its seventh consecutive year of record sales. In 2003, a 13 percent increase in sales was recorded over the previous year. For the first time ever, motorcycle sales surpassed the 15,000 mark in the U.S., with a total of 15,299 units sold. Sales in December were the second-best for that month in the company’s history, while the month of September broke previous sales performance records.

“Our sustained success during our 80th anniversary year demonstrates the strength of the BMW brand across a broad range of models,” commented Arturo Pineiro, General Manager for BMW Motorrad USA.

BMW’s top-selling motorcycle models during 2003 were the R 1150 RT sport tourer, the K 1200 GT (one of Cycle World’s 10 best motorcycles for 2003), the new R 1150 R Rockster, the classically-styled R 1200 CLC tourer, and the trans-continental R 1150 GS Adventure.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Corp. in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 73 MINI passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at:
www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com