AMA’s Morgan Broadhead has agreed to shorten Sunday’s Superbike race at the request of Dunlop’s Jim Allen, based on safety concerns. The Dunlop rear tires on several riders’ bikes were blistered following Saturday’s race. During a recent team test at Road Atlanta, Honda’s Miguel Duhamel crashed and was seriously injured when a Dunlop rear tire failed, sending Duhamel and his bike into the Turn 12 wall. In that crash, an Airfence Bike module–which was not properly deployed according to the Airfence installation manual–was moved out of the way by Duhamel’s bike, and Duhamel hit haybales behind the displaced Airfence module. Dunlop has also recalled a batch of Supersport front tires from the Road Atlanta paddock following three crashes attributed to bead failures. One of the crashes took Chris Peris out of the Saturday Formula Xtreme race, while Peris was running in the top 10 on a Supersport bike. When Peris’ bike came in on the crash truck, the front tire was entirely off the intact front wheel and bead wires were visible protruding from the bead itself on one side. Peris and his crew declined comment on the incident. Dunlop technicians are also having to shave down the tread on Superstock tires, to reduce heat build-up and related delamination problems. In the past, Dunlop riders have pitted for new tires when needed during AMA races. The Sunday Superbike race has been shortened to 20 laps. More, from a press release issued by Dunlop Motorcycle Tires: At the request of Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Road Atlanta Raceway have agreed to a reduction in the length of the second AMA Superbike Series race scheduled for Sunday, September 2, 2007. The new race length will be 20 laps. The number of right-hand turns at Road Atlanta generates significant heat in the right side of the rear tires. The recently repaved surface at Road Atlanta has increased the available traction and tire temperatures for all racing classes. With knowledge gathered from the recent tire testing session and confirmed in the first Superbike race on Saturday, the tire compounds available to the Superbike teams for Sunday’s Superbike race may not be able to withstand high tire temperatures for the duration of a scheduled 25-lap race. Though there were no tire failures of any type in race one on Saturday, September 1, there were several instances of blistered tires resulting in reduced grip. Therefore it has been determined that shortening the race distance will best serve the interest of rider safety. Dunlop thanks the AMA and Road Atlanta for their cooperation.