Dunlop Powers Canadian Superbike Champions

Toronto, ON: Goodyear Canada Inc. (“Dunlop”) extends its congratulations to the five Dunlop sponsored champions recently crowned at the final round of the Canadian Superbike Championship series held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

Jodi Christie clinched his first Canadian Pro Superbike Championship on his Honda Canada/Accelerated Technologies Honda CBR1000RR. Kenny Riedmann racked up his first Pro title in the Pro Sport Bike Championship aboard his Castrol Triumph 675. Pedro Sousa earned the Amateur Superbike title with his Honda CBR1000RR, while Tomas Casas captured the Amateur Sport Bike crown by riding his Yamaha YZF-R6 with impressive results from 21st spot on the starting grid to the victory in the final race of the season. In a dramatic turn of events, Jacob Shaw-O’Leary took the Honda CBR250R National Race Series title as points leader Eric Quintin crashed out of the final race while leading.

For 2014, Dunlop entered a multi-year agreement to serve as the official tire of the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship, supplying tires for all classes of Canada’s national motorcycle road racing series. Dunlop enjoys a long and proud history with motorcycle racing around the world, and particularly in Canada. Dunlop won 16 Canadian Superbike Championships from the time the Superbike champ was first awarded the number one plate in 1986 to the final year of open-tire competition in 2005.

Dunlop’s U.S. affiliate, Goodyear Dunlop Tires N.A. (“Dunlop U.S.”) serves as the spec-tire supplier to the AMA Pro Road Racing Series in the United States, and enjoys strong involvement with the American-based WERA regional racing series. Other international arenas include spec tire status in Moto2 and Moto3 GP racing, plus open-tire competition in the Australian Superbike series.

All riders in the CSBK series competed on Dunlop GPA DOT and Slick NTec tires manufactured at the Dunlop U.S. plant in Buffalo, New York, with the exception of the Honda CBR250R Series competitors, who used Japanese-manufactured Dunlop race tires. Multiple compound choices were made available in both slick and DOT tires; these Dunlop products are identical to the tires used in AMA National competition.

“We have found the spec tire format to be a great equalizer in the Mopar Canadian Superbike Championship, and that the use of a single tire supplier has helped level the playing field and made the national series more accessible to a wide range of competitors,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, which runs the national series. “At the same time we have seen the crucible of fierce competition help improve the breed of road racing tire, resulting in a product that combines ever-expanding performance with enhanced rider safety.”

Dunlop Motorcycle Tire Technician Tony Romo said, “We were really excited for the opportunity to be involved in the CSBK series because of the great racers, teams and fans. Dunlop’s return was very well received. We were very confident that the Dunlop race tires proven in AMA competition would prove equally effective in CSBK. Throughout the season, many racers commented on how they loved the feel and durability of Dunlop tires, and the fact that they were able to turn faster lap times. A number of the CSBK participants race in the USA in AMA competition as well, and they especially enjoyed being back on Dunlops full-time. I also have to commend Pro 6 Cycle Inc., the Canadian Dunlop motorcycle race tire distributor. They invited us to team up with them to give the CSBK paddock great tech support, and the end result was great for everyone.”