From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders identify Pirelli preference

New rider Chris Walker felt the benefit of three more days in the seat of the FP1 at the conclusion of Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s three-day test at Phillip Island, Australia.

While testing a variety of new tyres provided by World Superbike championship manufacturers Pirelli, both he and team-mate Troy Corser made steps towards identifying the best construction and compound for the forthcoming race season. And, with one more test remaining before the first round at Valencia at the end of February, Chris took encouragement from the fact that he was only 0.3 seconds away from the best time of 1:35.4 set by team-mate Troy Corser on his home circuit.

Chris said: “I went quicker today on a tyre which wasn’t quite as good as the one we found yesterday. And I am also pleased that I was doing the same lap times as Troy when we were on the same tyre and the same rim. That is really encouraging, particularly at Phillip Island. I am really enjoying working with this team and have already developed a good relationship with our Pirelli representative. When he tells me the differences between tyres, I can definitely feel what he is describing. But they had so many different tyres to test out here that, once we had found the best medium-soft compound, there were not too many left to test and I had wanted to break into the 34s.

“The team has worked to get the bike a bit more Chris Walker-like – a bit softer and looser – so that I can back it into corners and slide it out of them. I have altered my ride height to make the bike more stable on the brakes and that has helped. I jumped on the bike on Tuesday and it felt alien – nothing like the motocross bike I have been on all winter! – but it was good to quickly get it working how I like it and it gives us a clear direction for the next test.”

Chief engineer Steve Thompson said: “Although we still have a lot of work to do with Pirelli in making sure we maintain our corner speed advantage, we now have a clearer idea of the type of tyre that will best suit our bike. Hopefully we will be able to put what we have learnt here into practice at next month’s pre-season final test. Chris has worked very hard on the set-up of the bike with the tyres available and his attitude has been excellent. We have also had the opportunity to test a new cooling package from MB Motorsport, which has produced significant improvements.”

Troy said: “We have been trying to do a few more laps today on the tyres we have found to work best for us, but I still think there is room for improvement. We need a bit more stability as I am still experiencing a small chatter, although I think we are going in the right direction. At this stage in the tyre development I don’t think the lap times have been too bad.”

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKI TEAM MANAGER REX WHITE DIES

January 15th 2004

Rex White, who managed the 500cc world championship winning official Suzuki GP team in the 1970’s and 80’s died yesterday at his home in the south of England.

Rex was in charge of the UK based Texaco Heron Suzuki Team that took Barry Sheene to his two world titles in 1976 and 1977.

The cause of death is as yet unconfirmed, but Rex had been unwell for sometime.

Full story to follow.




And now, reaction from a reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I know that Rex might not have been that well-known in the U.S. but I had known him and his buddy Ron Grant for many years.

Rex was a very nice guy who went out of his way to help me out when I was running the race version of the Suzuki T500. He sent over boxes of GP parts and information and I never received a bill.

I, for one, am diminished by his passing.

David Hirsch
Galveston, Texas

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ben Bostrom was the fastest rider during a two-day test at California Speedway involving American Honda and Erion Honda.

With warm temperatures, relatively light winds and little rubber and lots of dirt on the 2.36-mile infield road course, Bostrom turned a 1:26.00 Thursday on his race-tire-equipped Honda CBR1000RR Superbike.

Bostrom’s time from the test was faster than any time he recorded during last year’s race weekend at the Fontana, California track.

After riding the new CBR1000RR at Daytona International Speedway, Willow Springs, Laguna Seca and California Speedway, Bostrom has declared the bike incredible.

“Everywhere we’ve gone this bike has been the most incredible bike I’ve ever been on,” said Bostrom. “It’s really fast, it steers well, it does everything a bike should do. No complaints. Riding a bike is really fun again.

“Over the last couple of years I got kind of down, especially after last year – it really kicked me in the butt. Part of me kind of wishes I’d like to have another year on the RC51 to try and see how fast we could go, because at the end of the year we started getting faster on it, but once I got on this thing (laughs) that thing (RC51) was out! That’s (CBR1000RR) the funnest thing to ride. It makes me feel like a kid again, like I’m just learning to ride all over again. It’s fresh and exciting again. It’s really great.”

As good as the new Honda is Bostrom feels it can get even better, especially the rear end of the bike and the clutch. “I think maybe they need to come out with a new (clutch) design or something. That would set you into the corner a lot better. You kind of have to wait on it a little bit,” said Bostrom, echoing comments he made at the Daytona test in December.

Honda team members are expecting updated clutch parts before the Daytona race in March, which they hope will also help their riders launch the CBR1000RR Superbike off the line – something that has thus far proved difficult.

Asked for his outlook on the upcoming season, Bostrom laughed then said, “As long as we stay healthy, that bike’s so good we’re going to be up front. The bike’s great. I plan on doing some winning.”

Sharing Superbikes with both Bostrom and Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke at California Speedway as he has at other tests this winter, Miguel Duhamel took over the reigns of Bostrom’s CBR1000RR Thursday afternoon and went faster with nearly every lap until he ran out of fuel and daylight. Duhamel ended with a fast time of 1:27.00 on his final lap.

“I was just starting to get comfortable,” said Duhamel, immediately after climbing off his bike. “The promise that it showed the first time we rode it is coming good. The power is amazing, and it steers great, really turns great. Everyday we’re finding new stuff about the bike, but it’s really good.”

Duhamel also tested his CBR600RR Formula Xtreme racer, which was equipped with a full MoTec engine management system for the first time and is on-schedule to meet its horsepower target, according to Crew Chief Al Ludington.

Like Duhamel, Zemke rode both a CBR1000RR Superbike and CBR600RR FX machine during the test. Zemke said he struggled on the Superbike because he couldn’t make improvements to the bike’s set-up that would allow faster lap times. Zemke’s fastest time (1:27.31) was set just before lunchtime Thursday.

As for his few laps on the FX bike, Zemke said he was mainly trying to “work the bugs out of it…getting it to run right with the fuel-injection mapping.”

The Erion Honda CBR600RR Formula Xtreme machines were equipped with new, pressurized Ohlins forks, new Brembo brakes and new rear suspension linkages at Fontana.

Zemke’s teammate Alex Gobert continued development work on his CBR600RR FX bike and got to ride what will become his Superstock CBR1000RR for the first time. The 1000cc machine was essentially a street bike at California Speedway – equipped with a slip-on exhaust canister, rear sets from a CBR600RR, 17-inch Dunlop slicks but still wore the stock suspension and bodywork, including the taillight. Still, Gobert did a 1:32.87 on the machine within six laps.

Sport Tire Services sent a crew to California Speedway to mount and balance Dunlop tires, and the test was attended by Dunlop’s Les Washburn.

American Honda has one Superbike test remaining, January 25-26 at Daytona, before it goes to Japan to build the remainder of its CBR1000RR Superbikes in time for the 2004 season opener.

In the meantime, American Honda and Erion Honda will continue testing their CBR600RR Formula Xtreme bikes.

Unofficial Lap Times:

1. Ben Bostrom, Superbike, 1:26.00
2. Miguel Duhamel, Superbike, 1:27.00
3. Jake Zemke, Superbike, 1:27.31
4. Miguel Duhamel, Formula Xtreme, 1:28.40
5. Jake Zemke, Formula Xtreme, 1:29.10
6. Alex Gobert, Formula Xtreme, 1:30.11
7. Alex Gobert, Superstock, 1:32.87

From a press release issued by the Bruno Event Team:

BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK REMAINS IN DISCUSSION FOR A 2005 UNITED STATES MOTO GP

(Birmingham, AL)- When questioned as to the possibility of MotoGP returning to the United States and more specifically the status of talks with the Barber Motorsports Park, Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta offered the following comment: “We are very pleased with the continued growth in popularity of the MotoGP World Championship Series as evidenced by the increased attendance figures in 2003. We are presently in discussions with the Barber Motorsports Park for 2005 and believe it to be in the best interest of the series to return to the United States. We are optimistic and anticipate further word on developments in early 2004.”

When asked to comment on the status of current discussions, Gene Hallman, President of the Bruno Event Team added the following: “The Barber Motorsports Park had an excellent year in 2003. The facility hosted two very successful spectator events culminating with the AMA Honda Superbike Classic, which attracted approximately 50,000 spectators.”

“Development of the facility was completed with the grand opening of the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Museum, the largest motorcycle museum in the world. Overall, the venue has received extremely high marks and we are very excited about the potential of this facility. With regard to MotoGP, we are confident that this facility would be an excellent location for a U.S. Grand Prix. We will continue our discussions with Dorna for a 2005 event and hope to have closure in the spring of 2004,” continued Hallman.

The Bruno Event Team is a sports marketing company based in Birmingham, Alabama that manages spectator events at the Barber Motorsports Park.

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