Opie Caylor starts the season off with a win Just this past weekend, Opie Caylor kicked 2009 off with the same start to the season as almost every season he has competed, by winning a WERA race at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway. “It’s kind of strange running your first race of the season in June but there has been so much going on!” said Caylor. “I left Marietta Motorsports last June to go to work for a dealership and that didn’t work out so I came back to Marietta just a few weeks ago. My wife lost her job back in November, while she was pregnant. And she gave birth to our daughter Abigail just a couple of months ago. And not to mention that just a month ago, my trailer got stolen. I knew with the birth of my daughter, my season’s start would be delayed a little but so many other things have happened it just took longer than I expected to get back to the track.” The on-track action got started on Friday and Opie wasted no time in letting everyone know that he would pick up right where he left off last season. On a brand new GSXR750, Opie used one of Dunlop’s’ latest compound of D211 to record his fastest ever practice time at the track by turning a 57.23 which is less than a second off of the motorcycle lap record. ” I’m really happy with that lap. That’s .6 faster than I’ve ever been here in practice! Grant Matsushima has built me a great engine and Huey really has the tuning for VP’s race gas just right for me, I’m definitely looking forward to Sunday.” In Sunday morning warm-up, Caylor backed up the fast time from Friday with a 57.35 and was looking forward to good day of racing. That was until a violent thunderstorm struck on second call for the first race of the day. Canopies were being tossed around like little wads of paper. People were scattering all over the place and within 20 to 30 minutes there was 2 to 3 inches of rainwater in the paddock. ” My first inclination was to pack it all up and go home, with the lightning still popping off. But I decided to wait it out. Things started looking better after another hour or so.” After everything was secured and the weather had calmed down a bit, Opie regained his focus and went about his business on track. Starting from the middle of the third row for B Superbike, Opie got a good launch. He was already up into second by the time they reached the back straight for the first time. He then used his power advantage to overtake the race leader going into the chicane leading back onto the front straight. The track was still damp in places so Opie wasn’t able to generate the same lap times that he had in practice. However, he did manage the fastest lap of the day, a 58.6 and was able to secure the win with an eleven-second advantage. ” It was a little sketchy out there for sure! There were some damp spots in areas of the track where I normally go so I had to improvise a little. The funny thing was that I was already geared up for A Superstock when the storms hit. Holding on to my canopy, my brand new Komodo K-FX suit got soaked. It was really heavy from all the rain but once I was on the bike and was riding again, it’s great ventilation made it feel like I had an air conditioner inside it! And that’s a good thing when it’s the middle of June in Alabama!” On the podium, following the day’s events, Opie had this to say: “Over the past six or seven months, I’ve really been through the ringer with just lots of personal things. I’ve even shared some of those things with some of you. It’s been a really tough time for me and I truly believe that it’s my faith in God that has got me through all of this. Along with the support of not just sponsors but the people that represent the companies that provide me with sponsorships. I’m talking real friendships with people that genuinely care about you and support you no matter the decision you have made and that being said, this win goes to each and everyone of them!” Opie Caylor returns to action in just two weeks time for another WERA Sportsman event, this time at Road Atlanta. More, from a press release issued by Bridgestone: Catalunya Grand Prix debrief with Tohru Ubukata Round 6: Catalunya Post-race debrief Circuit de Catalunya, Tuesday 16 June 2009 Tyre compounds used: Front: Medium, Hard. Rear: Hard, Extra Hard (asymmetric) The Catalunya Grand Prix was the hottest of the season; a rare dry race for the 2009 MotoGP season. Track temperature reached a high of 56 degrees Celsius during the weekend, making it equally demanding and sweltering for tyres and riders alike. A fantastically close head-to-head battle between teammates Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo was won by the Italian on the last corner of the last lap, meaning the Bridgestone slicks were not given any rest during the 25 lap race. Q&A with Tohru Ubukata – Bridgestone Motorsport Manager, Motorcycle Race Tyre Development How did the Bridgestone slicks cope with the very high track temperature during the weekend? The track conditions this weekend were some of the most demanding we can expect to see all season, so it was a very tough challenge for our Bridgestone slicks but they performed well. Tyres are normally cooled by air flow during a lap, particularly along the straight where the side loads are reduced, so when the ambient temperature is as high as it was over the weekend, this makes it even tougher. Not only do you have the high track temperature increasing the heat in the rubber, but the hot air is less efficient in cooling them between corners so you end up with a much higher operating temperature throughout the lap. However, I am happy with the durability and consistency of our slick tyres this weekend. We saw that Valentino and Jorge could produce very consistent lap times throughout the race in a very close race right to the chequered flag. Also, we have now seen this season that with just four slick compounds our tyres can perform well with track temperatures that range from to 20 degrees Celsius in Le Mans to 56 degrees Celsius here. I am happy because this shows the wider operating range we intended for our tyres this season as Official Tyre Supplier. It was the first race for Bridgestone’s asymmetric rear tyres in Catalunya. How did they perform? I am pleased with the consistency and performance of our asymmetric rears this weekend. Both the hard compound and the extra hard compound rear slick tyres were used this weekend, although it was the extra hard compound that was chosen by all riders for the race because of its increased durability over the 25 laps in such high ambient and track temperatures. Asymmetric tyres are very important at this circuit as the right side of the rear tyres gets used much harder than the left, mostly because of the two very long right hand corners that the riders are on the power through. These really increase the temperature of the rubber, and so the compounds we use for the right shoulder of the rear tyres need to be harder. The soft compound left shoulders are needed to provide the riders with optimum grip at a lower operating temperature through the left handers. The grip and feeling for the riders was consistent throughout the lap, between right and left hand corners, so we can say that the asymmetric rear slick tyres worked well in Catalunya. More, from a press release issued by RMP Racing: Millson Gets Up To Speed at ICAR Mirabel, Québec CANADA June 16, 2009 RMP Racing’s Pro Superbike racer Ross Millson put in an impressive effort at the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship earning a finish just outside of the top ten. After a crash at the first round of Canada’s premier road racing series Millson was determined to bring home at least a top ten finish for his crew and sponsors at the 2.8 km Circuit ICAR track built on the grounds of the Mirabel Airport. Throughout the weekend Millson, chief mechanic Mark Millson and Accelerated Technologies owner John Sharrard worked with a new Race Tech rear shock which lead to promising results. “We were using scrubs for many of the early practice sessions and we seemed to be getting less tire wear than other teams going out on fresh rubber” said Millson. “This track presents many challenges when it comes to suspension set up and tire choice.” Looking to maximize the new found set up, Millson chose to go with a softer tire compound for Saturday morning’s pre-SuperPole qualifying session. “The choice to go out on the softer tire was worth a shot, but it ultimately back fired” said Millson. “Starting from seventeenth was obviously going to present some challenges on a one line track like ICAR, but we knew that if we went back to our original setup we would be there at the end.” Confident in which tire compound would work best with the suspension settings, the Millson brothers made a last minute gearing change to maximize what the bike can do on the straights. Millson made up for a less then stellar qualifying effort with a great start aboard his Inside Motorcycles sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000 and acquired six positions within the first lap. After mixing it up with J.F. Cyr and Erick Beausejour in the opening few laps Millson settled into the eleventh spot. With time running out Millson pushed towards a top ten finish, however in the remaining number of laps he was unable to advance his position. A minor off track excursion on the last lap dropped Millson one spot. Quickly remounting he reentered the track to finish 12th overall. “We were able to set our fastest laps of the weekend midway through the race so that’s very encouraging “¦we’re looking forward to Calgary and the rest of the season” said Millson. Up next for the RMP Racing team is Round 3 of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park, Calgary, AB – June 25-28. For additional information about RMP Racing’s Ross Millson and Steven Nickerson or to learn more about marketing opportunities with the team please visit www.rmpracing.ca. More, from another press release issued by RMP Racing: Nickerson Celebrates Second Straight Podium with New Sponsor Mirabel, Québec CANADA June 16, 2009 – Hamilton, Ontario’s Steven Nickerson earned his second straight podium finish at this past weekend’s Honda CBR125R Challenge at Circuit ICAR. Nickerson’s recent efforts have earned him the opportunity to wear Zox helmets and represent Motovan for 2009. Pumped from his win at the opening round of the Honda CBR125R Challenge, RMP Racing’s Nickerson was a little unsure of what to expect from the national configuration of the Circuit ICAR track built on the grounds of the Mirabel Airport north of Montreal. “It’s a tight course and better suited for the 125s, but the airport surface is kind of rough which made line choice really important and getting the right setup tricky” said Nickerson. Qualifying for round two of the Honda CBR125R Challenge took place on Saturday afternoon under blue skies and increasing temperatures. Nickerson, aboard his #661 Inside Motorcycles sponsored Honda CBR125R would post a very respectable 1:47.015 earning him the third spot on the grid for Sunday’s final. Sunday was once again prime weather for the racers and the numerous fans in attendance. While preparing for Sunday’s Honda CBR125R Challenge feature race Nickerson was presented with a new Odyssey full-face helmet by Michael Paladino, Marketing Director for Motovan Corporation. Nickerson’s new helmet was custom fitted by Zox’s helmet technician Stephane Dion to ensure Nickerson was race-ready for the 10 lap race. Nickerson knew he needed a great start however it wouldn’t be in the cards this day. Nickerson quickly began to challenge Ryan Roche for the third place position and finally made the pass for third and locked in the position for the majority of the race. Race leader Bodhi Edie of Warman, Sask. began to pull away from the #944 bike of Karl Robitaille who was followed by a determined Nickerson. Edie set an intense pace throughout the race. Robitaille, pushing extremely hard to catch Edie, would later succumb to the challenging 2.8 km ICAR track and was unable to rejoin the fight. Nickerson raced the balance of the race with precision and maturity however there were too few laps remaining to close the gap on Edie. Edie would win round two of the Honda CBR125R Challenge race followed by Nickerson and Pickering, Ont.’s Ryan Roche. With one win each Edie and Nickerson are now tied at 100 points in the chase for the Honda CBR125R Challenge Championship. Up next for the RMP Racing team is Round 3 of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Race City Motorsport Park, Calgary, AB – June 25-28. For additional information about RMP Racing’s Ross Millson and Steven Nickerson or to learn more about marketing opportunities with the team please visit www.rmpracing.ca. More, from a press release issued by Dunlop: Dunlop rider tops 2009 Isle of Man TT Buffalo, NY: Dunlop Motorcycle Tires is proud to congratulate Steve Plater, winner of the Senior TT crown at the 2009 Isle of Man TT Festival on June 12, 2009. Plater was also the recipient of the inaugural Joey Dunlop Trophy for posting the best overall results at the event. In just his third year of racing the infamous public roads course, the Dunlop racer powered his HM Plant Honda to victory as well as posting the fastest lap of the two-week festival at an average speed of 130.49 mph, bettering the lap record from last year set by his 2009 teammate John McGuinness. With rain delaying the start of the six-lap race over the 37.73-mile road course, fans were treated to some of the most competitive racing ever seen in the event’s 100-year history. Plater battled McGuinness and fellow competitors to record his first ever Senior TT win in record time. “It will perhaps sink in later tonight just exactly what I have achieved; its stuff dreams are made of,” said an emotional Plater. “This achievement will finally sink in next week as I have to turn my attention back to short circuits and the British Supersport Championship,” he said. “I just need a bit of Plater time on my own to take it all in.” Plater’s Senior TT win topped off an exciting two weeks of racing during which he also placed second in Superbike, and finished fourth in the Superstock class and the two Supersport races, which won the British rider the Joey Dunlop trophy for posting the best overall results for the event. About Dunlop Tires Dunlop Tires is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923. For more information, visit www.dunlopmotorcycle.com.