Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

It is sad to see this behavior from Dunlop. The impact is far reaching, and not in a positive way.

If club racers start switching tire brands because of this issue, our trackside tire vendors will suffer. These folks show up and support their product, and make it that much easier for us to race.

Only people I see gaining anything from this is some top-level factory teams, while club racers, and vendors will reap the repercussions with less availability and smaller sales.

This is bad business any way you slice it.

Wayne Nielsen
CCS SW #61
Glendale, Arizona



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

After Dunlop has bought up all of the test dates, what happens when they still lose tires at Daytona and elsewhere?

Will the AMA bow down at the Dunlop altar and mandate pit stops/tire changes?

Perhaps the AMA needs to rule about private test schedules being established by a certain date.

Perhaps Dunlop needs to call Pirelli/Metzeler and license the mobile automated tire build lines, as it appears evident that they can’t cut the mustard in a straight-up fight.

I especially relish the possibility of a Michelin victory with E-Boz, particularly at Daytona, with icing on the cake being a non-crashing “tire delamination” by Mladin, Yates, or other factory Dunlop “test subjects”.

Dunlop will reap far more negative publicity for its Draconian act of excluding the competition than it will gain by preventing Michelin et. al. from participating in joint tests.

I feel that it is Dunlop’s way of saying “Hey, we can’t build a tire as good as Michelin, Pirelli, Metzeler, or Bridgestone, so let’s just prevent them from testing, and see if we can catch up to the stuff they were building last year!”

Kudos to you dipshits at Dunlop. I hope it bites you in the ass, and I, along with most of the rest of the USA, will be rooting for the underdogs, especially E-Boz on the Ducati.

Good luck to Michelin & Pirelli.

Mark Lewellen
Ozark, Missouri



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail


Been a Dunlop user for more than 30 years, currently on three bikes, average two sets per year–no more, not now, not ever.

What were these idiots thinking of? Are they that convinced of Michelin’s superiority or their own fallibility?

What happened to “competition is better for everyone”?

I think Dunlop would have been money ahead lining “Scott and the boys” at AMA’s pockets to create a spec series. They most certainly will no longer get my $500+ per year.

Hugh Flanary
Bow, Washington



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Dear racers and enthusiasts of motorcycles and motorcycle racing:

I would like to start off by stating my opinion of Dunlop buying up test days. It is a very unfortunate tire situation with Dunlop. You would think with all the bad publicity that they have received for the past year of tires exploding they would try to draw more race teams and privateers to their brand. Instead, they have in my opinion done the exact opposite.

Anyone in the motorcycle industry can see the negative impact on non-Dunlop teams. Dunlop has consistently failed to produce a tire that can stand up to the motorcycles of today at high speed tracks. Mat Mladin would probably not be as outspoken about racing at Daytona if Dunlop had a good track record. If they bought additional track days to test tires that is one thing, but to buy up track days just to exclude non-Dunlop teams is an outrage. What are they afraid of? If they have such tire superiority, then prove it on an equal playing field.

I know many members of the audience that reads Roadracing World have influence with many dealers and suppliers of Pirelli, Michelin, Bridgestone and Dunlop. I would encourage everyone to tell their dealers, even local shops, that they will not buy Dunlop street tires. The only way to combat what Dunlop has done is to hit them in their profit. If you are planning on buying a new bike that is equipped with OEM Dunlop I suggest you tell the dealer you are buying from that you want another brand of tire before you buy the bike. I am not trying to hurt dealers here but the fact is everyone needs to express their opinion and let it go up the chain to the motorcycle manufacturers.

Maybe Dunlop’s position is, even bad publicity is good publicity.

Bobby Hilliard
AMA #611
WERA #611
Cleveland, Tennessee



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

This is one instance where I am going to vote with my wallet. When I replace the rubber on my bike this spring, I will definitely not be buying Dunlop.

Good luck to Eric Bostrom and Ducati! This alliance has renewed my excitement about the upcoming season!

Melissa Bergquist
Elk River, Minnesota



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Just thought I’d throw my two cents worth into this BS. As a former player in the National Endurance Series (Who are these guys, N2Racing/National Car Rental Honda, remember Moroso 1992?), I think Dunlop is only playing the game that brand ‘P’ started with the SBK and SS class this year. As a devoted brand-‘M’ user I must tell myself “all is fair in love and war,” and unfortunately this also applies to motorsports–remember the Bridgestone move against Michelin in F1 cars last year?

Is it right? Probabably not, but then we are not mega-million-dollar companies, are we, so what’s fair isn’t an issue.

Kevin Dennis
N2Racing
Tuskahoma, Oklahoma



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Nice to see your website calling attention to Jim Allen and Mike Buckley’s latest lame attempt in tire domination. Even with all the publicity, I doubt that Ron Barrick or Merrill Vanderslice (of AMA Pro Racing) will do anything about it. Dunlop has the AMA in the palm of its hand. Past history has shown that Jim Allen and Dunlop have quite a bit of say in what happens within the AMA.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Daytona 200 changed in some way this year. I would also be willing to bet that if it was just Michelin or Pirelli with a tire problem, there wouldn’t be an extra test at Daytona sanctioned by the AMA. When Dunlop yells jump, the AMA asks how high!

What a shame.

Ensign Dave Porter
U.S. Navy
Former AMA/CCS Racer and Pirelli Race Manager
Meridian, Mississippi




FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I find it interesting that no one seem to looking at the fact that Dunlop is now in a tire war. They need to keep all their information close to the vest, trade secrets and all. you don’t see any other business inviting
the competition to their R&D tests.

Does their buying up dates mean the other tire companies can’t test, I don’t think so. It may be harder but we are talking about big companies
with a lot at stake and it is a tire WAR to be sure.

Will Eikenberry
Littlerock, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

This is another screw-up, like the Jim Allen move of the early 1990s of giving superior tires to certain individuals. Now I have yet another reason not to purchase Dunlops–that and the fact that the tires cup almost immediately after purchase.

Mike Durel
Myrtle Point, Oregon



See related post:

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