august 2012 - Dunlop Motorcycle Tires

AUGUST 2012
CONTENTS
4
GIVING BACK TO THE TROOPS
5
HEY BROC!
6
DUNLOP MAKES HISTORY AT MID-OHIO AMA PRO ROAD RACE NATIONAL
8
RUSSELL SETS HIS SITES ON HIS FIRST XC1 CHAMPIONSHIP
10
TAYLOR ROBERT MAINTAINS HIS LEAD IN THE WORCS PRO CHAMPIONSHIP
12
ISLE OF MAN TT RACES
14
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ISLE OF MAN TT RACES
16
AMA MX UPDATE
30
2012 MOTO2 AND MOTO3 COMPETITION HEATS UP
36
AMA ROAD RACING UPDATE
46
2012 X GAMES 18
52
GARY NIXON: HE KNEW HE COULD BEAT ’EM
56
NO PAIN, NO GAIN
60
UPCOMING EVENTS
ON THE COVER: The 2012 AMA Pro
SuperBike season is shaping up to be
one for the memory books as well as
the history books for Josh Hayes as
he continues to dominate the class.
2
FOR DUNLOP VIDEOS PLEASE VISIT
YOUTUBE.COM/DUNLOPTIRESCHANNEL
JUSTINBARCIA
Dunlop Download magazine is published for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires by Vreeke & Associates. www.vreeke.com
3
GIVING BACK TO THE TROOPS
JASON PRIDMORE AND THE STAR
SCHOOL PROVIDE RIDER TRAINING FOR
NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS
All these achievements notwithstanding, you’ll never be able to
convince Jason that his latest endeavor is not one of the most
important jobs he’s ever taken on: he’s giving back to some of
our nation’s troops by conducting special on-track training
schools for active members of the Army National Guard, plus
Over the years, Jason Pridmore has accomplished a load of
Air National Guard members on a space-available basis. Jason
very impressive achievements. He has won two AMA road
and the STAR School have been busy conducting classes in
TIRE ADVICE FROM DUNLOP’S BROC GLOVER.
Sometimes it may feel a bit intimidating to figure out which tires might work out best for your specific off-road
racing championships and an FIM World Endurance
California, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Virginia, Kansas and
riding conditions. Dunlop offers the Geomax® series of tires with four different models for a variety of terrain
Championship. He has also advised and taught racing
Washington state. Click the link below, and you can catch a
conditions, so it’s a good bet there’s something here to match your riding needs. But wouldn’t it be great to
techniques to a number of up-and-coming young riders who
video that shows what this program is all about. You’ll also hear
just call out “Hey Broc!” and have Broc Glover, six-time AMA Motocross champion and current Dunlop Senior
have gone on to become household names in the sport. And
firsthand testimonials from active members of the National
Manager, Motorcycle Off-Road, explain how to make the best choice in tires?
he’s also established a well-respected rider training school that
Guard who have taken this class as they explain how this
travels all around the country, the STAR School, to help people
program is giving many of our soldiers some very important
Well, that’s exactly what we did. In the resulting video, Broc shares his experience and knowledge about off-
become more proficient, more confident riders.
skills that ultimately help keep them out of harm’s way.
road tires with you to help you pick the tire that best suits your needs.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO
4
HEY BROC!
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT BROC GLOVER HAS TO SAY
5
JOSHHAYES
BLAKEYOUNG
DUNLOP
MAKES HISTORY
AT MID-OHIO AMA PRO ROAD RACE NATIONAL
ROGER LEEHAYDEN
History was made this past weekend at the AMA Pro Road
More impressive, the same Buffalo, NY-built Dunlop
Racing national at Mid-Ohio when Dunlop riders topped the
200/55R17 KR449 rear tire that topped Mid-Ohio in the hands
podium on U.S.-built Dunlop 200/55R17 KR449 rear slicks.
of the fastest Superbike riders in the country is also available
This new tire—developed with input from the top AMA Pro
to amateur racers through Dunlop’s Race Tire Service (see
Superbike racers and manufactured in the U.S.—was recently
additional information below).
introduced to the AMA Pro Superbike riders as an additional
option to Dunlop’s two current UK-made rear slicks, and at
“To win back-to-back AMA Pro Superbike races and sweep
Mid-Ohio it proved to be the tire of choice.
both podiums on a tire that’s affordable and available to
In Saturday’s National Guard AMA Pro Superbike race, the top
Sabastian Mincone, Dunlop Senior Road Race Manager.
amateur racers is something we are very proud of,” said
six riders all used the KR449 rear slick, and on Sunday the
“Now you can race on the same tire that Josh Hayes used to
KR449 again swept the Superbike podium. Roger Lee Hayden
win back-to-back nationals at Mid-Ohio. The KR449 has been
turned the fastest race lap of the weekend chasing down
in development for some time and marks a significant
double-winner Josh Hayes, and that lap time was three-tenths
commitment from Dunlop to offer our top racing products to
of a second quicker than the fastest race lap set in 2011 by
racers at every level.”
Blake Young, proving that the development of the KR449 has
contributed to even more competitive lap times in the AMA
The KR449 is available through Race Tire Service at 800-772-
Pro Superbike field.
TIRE (800-772-8473). The direct line for orders or tech
questions is 615-641-3323; fax 615-641-8959. Also, the
KR449 can be ordered via email at [email protected],
and online orders or requests for information can be obtained
at www.dunlopracing.com. Race Tire Service is available for
phone orders from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central time
(7:00 AM – 3:00 PM Pacific time). Orders placed before 2:00
PM Central time will ship that day. All messages left will be
returned the next day so orders can be shipped as quickly
as possible.
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7
RUSSELL
SETS HIS SITES ON
HIS FIRST XC1
CHAMPIONSHIP
After eight rounds of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC)
competition, Factory FMF/KTM’s Kailub Russell sits in second place
in the points standings, only one point behind first place. During only
his second year in the XC1 Pro class, Dunlop sponsored Russell has
proven to be a strong challenger for the top podium spot. He has
taken the overall win at four of the eight rounds including the most
recent at Big Buck Union, SC and then again two weeks later at Indy
100 Springville, NV. Russell has also grabbed the second place spot
on the podium at the last two rounds in West Virginia.
Sitting in fourth overall with 129 points is Factory FMF/KTM teammate
Charlie Mullins. The 2011 champion has continued to be a constant
threat to the podium finishing third at round four and then second the
following week at The Mammoth Park City. After placing 11th at round
six and 13th at round seven, Mullins was forced to the sidelines prior
to Snowshoe after being diagnosed with an elbow injury.
Other Dunlop-sponsored riders in the top 10 include Garrett Edmisten
in eighth with 104 points and Takeshi Koikeda in ninth with 90 points.
Round nine will take place on July 7-8 at John Penton Millfield, OH.
GNCC POINTS STANDING
1. Paul Whibley 198
2. Kailub Russell 197 (Dunlop)
3. Rory Mead 156
4. Charles Mullins 129 (Dunlop)
5. Thaddeus Duvall 122
6. Jordan Ashburn 118
7. Christopher Bach 105
8. Garrett Edmisten 104 (Dunlop)
9. Takeshi Koikeda 90 (Dunlop)
10. Nathan Kanney 88
8
9
TAYLOR ROBERT
MAINTAINS HIS LEAD IN THE WORCS PRO CHAMPIONSHIP
With seven of ten rounds completed of the World Off Road
Garrison has continued to contest his teammate for the top
Championship Series (WORCS), Monster Energy Kawasaki’s
podium position throughout the entire season, scoring second
Taylor Robert continues to put together exceptional races ex-
overall at Speedworld with 6-2 finishes. At round six in Ade-
tending his lead to 41-points over teammate Bobby Garrison
lanto, CA, Garrison was able to race his way to his second
in second.
overall win of the year finishing 2-1. In order to maintain his
position in the points chase, Garrison rode to a respectable
At round five in Surprise, AZ, the Dunlop-sponsored Robert
sixth-place finish at round seven despite being injured.
clinched his third overall win of the season finishing 1-1. Despite the extreme heat, the Arizona native was able to set the
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Justin Soule currently sits in fifth
fastest lap time and finish over a full minute ahead of second
overall with 211 points followed by Factory FMF/KTM rider
place. Robert maintained his momentum at Racetown 395 rid-
Mike Brown in seventh overall with 196 points. Brown, who sat
ing unchallenged in race one to grab the win, but was side-
second in points after the first four rounds suffered from me-
lined in race two due to mechanical issues. At round seven,
chanical issues in race two at round five sidelining him for the
Robert rode a flawless race, nailing down his overall win with a
rest of the day.
1-2 finish.
Other Dunlop-sponsored riders in the top 10 include Kyle
Summers in eighth and Ross Neely in tenth. The battle for the
top podium position will continue at round eight on July 14-15
at Pala Raceway.
WORCS POINTS STANDINGS (7 out of 10 rounds)
1. Taylor Robert 306 (Dunlop)
2. Bobby Garrison 265 (Dunlop)
3. Ryan Abbatoye 214
4. Robby Bell 213
5. Justin Soule 211 (Dunlop)
6. Gary Sutherlin 199
7. Mike Brown 196 (Dunlop)
8. Kyle Summers 157 (Dunlop)
9. Joshua Strang 100
10. Ross Neely 98 (Dunlop)
10
11
ISLE OF
MAN
TT RACES
Many people believe the term “iconic” has been overused, but
Despite this disappointment, Dunlop rider McGuinness still
applying that descriptor to the Isle of Man TT races barely
enjoyed some history-setting achievements as he raised his
begins to do it justice. What other form of motorcycle racing
career TT total to 19 wins. He claimed his 18th victory by
can begin to touch the 105-year old traditions of the TT, which
winning the Superbike TT, which prompted McGuinness to
is a genuine—and genuinely frightening—road course
say, “To compete in the TT and to finish a TT is incredible; to
spanning a touch over 37.5 miles of public roads. Curbs,
win one is amazing but to win 18, well I’m just lost for words.”
walls, trees, bridges and more line the course in a perilous
environment that demands nearly supernatural concentration
Next, McGuinness racked up his first-ever victory in the
and precision on the part of the rider.
Superstock class, and this achievement raised him to 19
What’s more, this little island located in the Irish Sea between
26 held by legendary Joey Dunlop. As testament to his TT
Great Britain and Ireland, an independent and internally self-
expertise, McGuinness is now the current IoM King of the
governing Crown dependency, is often lashed by stormy
Mountain with his record 131.578-mph lap speed set in 2009.
overall wins, just seven wins away from the all-time record of
weather, even in the summer season when the IoM TT races
are conducted. And so for the first time in the 105-year history
About the cancellation of the Senior TT, McGuinness remained
of the TT, this year inclement weather caused the cancellation
philosophical. “I think it was the right decision to cancel the race
of the much-anticipated Senior TT race, the premier event of
today. Racing my favorite bike here, starting at the front and
the week’s scheduled races. A course inspection by race
possibly winning races is the best thing in the world, but I’m also
control and rider representatives, including John McGuinness,
really nervous about riding the big bikes in patchy and damp
deemed that the race would be unsafe due to the damp
conditions. It’s disappointing for everybody but tomorrow’s
surface and poor visibility.
another day and we’re already looking forward to next year.”
JOHNMCGUINNESS
12
13
A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE ISLE OF MAN TT RACES
—
Because racing on the highways and byways of Britain
—
The battle between Giacomo Agostini on the MV and
has been ruled illegal, in 1904 car racing begins on the
Hailwood on a Honda in the 1967 Senior TT is considered
Isle of Man with the Gordon Bennett Car Trial, the British
by many as the greatest race ever on the Island.
trial for the fledging European car racing championships.
—
—
Between 1965 and 1972 Agostini managed 11 race
Following a less-than-successful trial race for
wins of his own, while in 1967 Hailwood set another lap
motorcycles in 1905, a new race for motorcycles is
record at 108.77mph, which would stand for a further
introduced in 1907. The races run in two classes with
11 years.
single-cylinder machines to average 90 mpg and twincylinder machines to average 75 mpg—standards set to
—
emphasize the road-touring nature of motorcycles.
After an 11-year absence, Hailwood returns to the TT in
winning form in 1978 and also for his final race in 1979,
with his 14th and final TT.
—
Some early notable events include American bike
manufacturer Indian taking the first three places in 1911,
—
and pauses in racing due to World Wars I and II.
The 1980s are dominated by one man: Joey Dunlop. He
records the first 115-mph-plus lap in 1980, and in 1983
wins the first of six consecutive Formula One TTs on the
—
In the 1950s, World Championship status brings the
dominant Honda machines.
world’s top riders to the TT. Italian manufacturers
Mondial, MV Augusta and Gilera rule the races, along
—
The arrival of World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty to
with riders Carlo Ubbiali and Tarquinio Provini, Geoff
the 1992 TT marks the beginning of many epic races
Duke and Bob McIntyre.
between Fogarty and Steve Hislop. This same year, Joey
Dunlop equals Hailwood’s record of 14 TT wins by
—
The late ‘50s and early ‘60s are known as the golden era
winning on his 125 Honda.
of the TT, with riders like John Surtees, Mike Hailwood,
Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read and Jim Redman competing
—
in entertaining battles. This era is also notable for the first
At the age of 48, Dunlop records his 26th and final TT win
at the start of the new millennium.
appearance of the Japanese bike company, Honda.
—
—
John McGuinness begins racing the TT in 1996 and
In 1961, Mike Hailwood wins his first of 14 TTs while also
scores his first win in 1999. The 2004 races mark a new
becoming the first rider to finish with three wins in a
high-water point for McGuinness, who achieves three
week: 125cc and 250cc victories on a Honda and the
class wins in one week. Since then, McGuinness has
Senior race on a Norton. Hailwood would later go on to
continued his impressive run, scoring TT victories and
win five consecutive Senior titles.
setting new lap records and race records.
MIKEHAILWOOD
14
15
MX
AMA
16
UPDATE
17
RYANDUNGEY
18
19
THE 2012 LUCAS OIL PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,
SANCTIONED BY AMA PRO RACING IS IN FULL SWING WITH
DUNLOP-SPONSORED RIDERS DOMINATING THE SEASON AND
SWEEPING THE TOP TEN IN BOTH THE 450 AND 250 CLASS.
With six of eleven rounds completed, Red Bull KTM’s Ryan
of the day. He made an attempt to return the following weekend
Dungey has quickly proven he is the man to beat this season
at High Point but after placing fifth in moto one was unable to
with a commanding 72-point lead heading into round seven at
return in moto two or at Budds Creek. Stewart returned to the
Spring Creek. It has been a continuous battle between the top
starting line at RedBud, finishing 6-3 for third overall.
four in the 250 class, with Monster Energy Pro Circuit
Kawasaki’s Blake Baggett leading the points chase over GEICO
Dungey has grabbed four first-place overall finishes since the
Honda teammates Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac—all three of
start of the season, at Thunder Valley in CO., High Point in PA,
these riders Team Dunlop alumni—and Red Bull KTM’s Ken
Budds Creek in MD, and the latest at RedBud in MI. For four
Roczen. In the WMX class, Rockstar Suzuki’s Jessica Patterson
consecutive weeks, he managed to put together stellar rides
has a 9-point lead over Troy Lee Design/Lucas Oil Honda’s
taking eight-straight moto wins and extending his points lead
Tarah Gieger in second.
over Motoconcept’s Mike Alessi in second. With his signature
holeshots, Alessi has been a front-runner all season appearing
Despite a long-term absence from the nationals and just
on the podium at four out of six races.
recently getting acquainted with a new bike, Yoshimura
Suzuki’s James Stewart came out strong at the season opener,
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer has had a noteworthy
dominating the competition with a 1-1 finish for the overall win.
season, clinching his first podium in a 450 moto at Freestone
After battling with Dungey throughout both 30-minute-plus-
with a third place in moto one. He maintained his momentum at
two-lap races at Freestone, Stewart again came out on top in
Thunder Valley finishing 2-4 for second overall, then again at
both motos, delivering a powerful 1-1 performance.
High Point with 3-3 finishes for third overall. Rounding out the
Unfortunately, Stewart sustained an injury during a crash at
top five are Chaparral Honda’s Andrew Short and Yoshimura
Freestone and was knocked out of the races for the remainder
Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe.
JAKEWEIMER
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IN THE 250 CLASS, THE TOP
FOUR RIDERS HAVE CONTINUED
TO PUT ON A SHOW WITH
HEATED BATTLES THROUGHOUT
BOTH MOTOS EACH WEEK.
In the 250 class, the top four riders have continued to put on a show with heated
battles throughout both motos each week. Baggett has managed to maintain his
points lead after seizing the overall win at Hangtown but not without constant
threat from the competition. At Budds Creek he topped the podium again
finishing 3-1. Baggett again came out on top at RedBud, grabbing his third
overall win of the season with 1-1 finishes, extending his lead to 19 points.
Barcia and Tomac have consistently contested for the top spot. Tomac grabbed
his first overall win in Texas after logging two incredible rides, charging from sixth
in both motos to take the lead and pull away. He appeared on top of the podium
again at High Point after making an incredible charge, slicing through the pack
and passing for the lead on the last lap of moto two. Tomac stood on the podium
once again at RedBud, seizing third overall with 5-3 finishes. After taking second
overall at Hangtown, Barcia wrapped up his first overall win at Colorado finishing
1-2. The battle continued the next weekend with Barcia grabbing the win in moto
one and third in moto two for second overall. With a 1-5 finish, Barcia took third
overall at Budds Creek. After nailing good starts in both motos at RedBud he
made his fifth podium appearance of the season, grabbing second overall with
2-2 finishes.
Roczen has been a constant front-runner as well standing on the podium at
every round this season except one—four times in third and once in second.
Although he has yet to grab a moto or overall win, Roczen’s consistency has him
sitting one point away from third overall with 235 points. His Red Bull KTM
teammate Marvin Musquin rounds out the top five with 189 points.
In the WMX class, Patterson has topped the podium at three of the five races
grabbing four moto wins of the season. She has maintained her points lead
throughout the season, currently sitting 19-points ahead of Troy Lee Designs/
Lucas Oil/ Honda’s Tarah Gieger after RedBud. Team Honda Muscle Milk’s
Ashley Fiolek grabbed the overall win at Texas and was sitting in second overall
in the points chase until being sidelined at High Point due to an injury. Fiolek
made an impressive return at RedBud dominating the competition with a 1-1
performance, putting her back in the championship point’s chase. Teammate
Sayaka Kaneshiro made her first podium appearance with a third in moto two
and Thunder Valley and then grabbed her first-ever career overall finish at High
Point with a 5-2 finish.
BLAKEBAGGETT
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MIKEALESSI
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JESSICAPATTERSON
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JUSTINBARCIA
450 CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
(AFTER 6 OF 12 ROUNDS)
250 CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
(AFTER 6 OF 12 ROUNDS)
WMX Class Championship Points
(after 5 of 8 rounds)
1.
Ryan Dungey
286
Dunlop
1.
Blake Baggett
272
Dunlop
1.
Jessica Patterson 201
Dunlop
2.
Mike Alessi
214
Dunlop
2.
Justin Barcia
253
Dunlop
2.
Tarah Gieger
192
Dunlop
3.
Jake Weimer
202
Dunlop
3.
Eli Tomac
236
Dunlop
3.
Ashley Fiolek
175
Dunlop
4.
Andrew Short
178
Dunlop
4.
Ken Roczen
235
Dunlop
4.
Mariana Balbi
155
Dunlop
5.
Broc Tickle
162
Dunlop
5.
Marvin Musquin
189
Dunlop
5.
Jacqueline Strong 148
Dunlop
6.
James Stewart
151
Dunlop
6.
Wil Hahn
161
Dunlop
6.
Kasie Creson
146
7.
Brett Metcalfe
142
Dunlop
7.
Blake Wharton
125
Dunlop
7.
Sara Pettersson
139
Dunlop
8.
Josh Grant
137
Dunlop
8.
Jason Anderson
121
Dunlop
8.
Sayaka Kaneshiro 137
Dunlop
9.
Justin Brayton
131
Dunlop
9.
Jessy Nelson
109
Dunlop
9.
Alexah Pearson
100
Dunlop
10. Kyle Chisholm
100
Dunlop
10. Jake Canada
105
Dunlop
10. Sade Allender
99
Dunlop
ELITOMAC
CLICK HERE FOR MORE MX IMAGES
TARAHGIEGER
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2012 MOTO2 AND MOTO3 COMPETITION
HEATS UP
The competition in Moto2 and Moto3 racing has turned into a
In like manner, 17-year-old Maverick Viñales (Blusens Avintia),
free-for-all. So far this season, four different riders have won
the winner in Qatar, has also continued his winning ways with
races in both Moto2 and Moto3 classes in which Dunlop is the
three victories to lead the Moto3 class with 105 points. How-
official tire supplier.
ever, Sandro Cortese (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is stalking close behind with 103 points. In order, Luis Salóm (RW Racing GP),
With six rounds completed so far in the 2012 season, it ap-
Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI) and Luis Rossi (Racing Team
pears that winning at the Qatar opener presaged only more
Germany) fill out the top five.
good things to come. That first race saw Team CatalunyaCaixa
Repsol’s Marc Márquez take the win, and he currently holds
The racing has been especially close in Moto2, with Espargaró
the series points lead with 102. Márquez has won two races,
winning the Spanish GP over Márquez by a scant 0.241 of a
but right behind him stands another two-race winner, Pol Es-
second, and Iannone barely squeaking past Lüthi to win the
pargaró (Pons 40 HP Tuenti) with 96, plus Thomas Lüthi (Inter-
Catalunya GP by 0.083 of a second! Two races, four riders,
wetten Paddock), who also has 96 points and has won one
two victories achieved with a cumulative margin of less than a
race. Rounding out the top five are Andrea Iannone (Speed
third of a second; does racing get any better than that? Let’s
Master) with 84 points and one win, and Scott Redding (Marc
get really brave and make one more guess at future happen-
VDS Racing Team) with 70 points.
ings: We predict there will be plenty more close and exciting
racing to come in MotoGP racing! So check back soon for further updates from Dunlop Download.
MARCMÁRQUEZ
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MAVERICKVIÑALES
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POLESPARGARÓ
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AMA ROAD RACING
JOSHHAYES
36
UPDATE
37
JOSHHERRIN
AMA PRO NATIONAL GUARD SUPERBIKE
THROUGH THE HAYES, A CHAMPIONSHIP RISES
After seeing the trap speeds posted by Josh Hayes’ #1
Therefore, it should be no bombshell to learn that Hayes leads
Yamaha YZF-R1 SuperBike at Daytona last March, it was easy
the AMA Pro SuperBike points standings as the series rolls
to predict that the Mississippi Madman would dominate the
into Mid-Ohio for the seventh round of the 2012 season. All
AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike class this season. Hayes’
that horsepower has almost made it look easy for Hayes—the
R1 nearly blazed a space shuttle-like contrail when it set the
37-year-old rider is impressive to watch, nonetheless. Out of
Daytona SuperBike pole and simultaneously made jaws drop
11 SuperBike races, Hayes has won eight, including an
with a trap speed well over 200 mph. This wasn’t just a trinket
impressive streak of five in a row at the most recent rounds.
purchased by Hayes for one lap—he did it multiple times while
his teammate Josh Herrin set even faster trap speeds. Those
Hayes for the title, then, is not a tough call. But his rival,
numbers are impressive for a fairly decent MotoGP bike, and
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young, has pulled out a stirring
they’re really impressive for a domestic SuperBike.
performance or three this season—including a run for the win
from the back row at Road Atlanta. It’s not over yet, and even
if it is, just a glimpse of that strafing Yamaha R1 is worth the
BLAKEYOUNG
38
price of admission.
39
DAVEWESTBY
AMA PRO GOPRO DAYTONA SPORTBIKE
CAN CARDENAS CAPITALIZE?
MARTINCARDENAS
In the middleweight Daytona SportBike class, Colombian rider
DiSalvo is a talented, veteran rider, so look to him to notch
Martin Cardenas currently leads the season standings by 51
more wins and give Cardenas a serious run for his money.
points over Jason DiSalvo as the DESB series heads to MidOhio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH. Thus far, Cardenas,
Meanwhile, Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha rider
who rides the #36 GEICO Suzuki GSX-R600, has six wins on
Cameron Beaubier now has two DSB wins based on his
the season and looks to be the odds-on favorite to win this
breakthrough weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in
year’s championship, which would be the second DSB title of
Birmingham, AL, where he won his first career DSB pole and
his career.
went on to win both races.
Jason DiSalvo, who rides the #40 Team Latus Motors Racing
As the season progresses, the plot to watch will be whether
Triumph Daytona 675, is in second place in the standings, with
Cardenas can continue to maintain his consistent position at
one win on the season aboard his three-cylinder machine.
the front of the field by piling up more wins, or if a surging
Beaubier can continue the momentum he built at Barber and
notch more wins to put him in contention with Cardenas,
JASONDISALVO
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DiSalvo, and M4 Suzuki rider Dane Westby.
41
JAMESRISPOLI
AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM SUPERSPORT
FROM EAST TO WEST, AMERICA IS RACING
INTO THE FUTURE
Divided geographically into an East Division and a West
This one is too early to tell and too close to call, but Lewis
Division, with championships awarded in both standings, the
keeps getting better and better as the season progresses, so
AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport series is the
the Princeton, KY, rider will be tough to beat.
place to watch America’s youngest and fastest riders do battle
aboard middleweight production bikes.
Meanwhile in the East standings, Attica, New York’s own
James “The Rocket” Rispoli has three wins to this point on
In the West, Suzuki rider and Earl Hayden protégé Jake Lewis
the season, and he leads the East by 59 points of second-
currently leads the series with two race wins thus far. In second
place Hayden Gillim who, himself, has one race win aboard
and third in the West are Yamaha rider Stefano Mesa and
his RoadRace Factory-sponsored Yamaha. Also with one win
Dustin Dominguez, who is Triumph-mounted. While Lewis has
on the season, and currently sitting in third place is Elena
a 39-point leads going to Mid-Ohio, Mesa and Dominguez find
Myers who races for SuzukiScoopFans.
themselves separated by just one point in the West standings.
Rispoli, who is the defending Motorcycle-Superstore.com
SuperSport National champ, has been very strong aboard his
Orient Express Celtic Racing Suzuki, and he looks like a
favorite to repeat as series champion in the East.
JAKELEWIS
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MICHAELBARNES
AMA PRO VANCE & HINES XR1200 SERIES
THE KIDS VERSUS THE VET
The 2012 contest in the Vance & Hines XR1200 Series has seen an interesting
battle between the young and not so young riders that inhabit the class. As it
stands, three riders are vying for the top of the championship standings. They
are 25-year-old Tyler O’Hara, 22-year-old Kyle Wyman and 43-year-old Michael
Barnes.
After Wyman won the Daytona edition of the Vance & Hines XR1200 Series
class on his Riders Discount Vesrah Harley-Davidson XR1200, and ex-SuperMoto rider Tyler O’Hara went home with the checkers after the XR1200 race at
Road Atlanta, some felt that the 2012 XR1200 series was the domain of riders
still in the entry years of their 20s.
That was until the king baby-boomer himself, Floridian Michael Barnes,
sneaked his way in and stole the Infineon round of the series. Though he may
not admit it publicly, Barnes was racing motorcycles before both Wyman and
O’Hara were born. His highly popular Infineon win was his first in sixteen seasons.
Since then O’Hara won the round at Miller Motorsports Park, while Wyman
won the next two on the schedule, at Road America in Wisconsin and Barber
Motorsports Park in Alabama.
As the series heads into Mid-Ohio it’s a three-way battle for the championship
lead: O’Hara with 165 points, Wyman at 159 and Barnes at 144. Their next
closest rival is Michael Corbino with 89 points to his credit.
KYLEWYMAN
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TYLERO’HARA
CLICK HERE FOR MORE RR IMAGES
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The 2012 X Games 18, held in Los Angeles, CA, saw Dunlop-sponsored riders earn a whopping 21
medals out of the 24 up for grabs. Dunlop riders swept the podium in Moto X Speed & Style, Women’s
MX Racing, Men’s and Women’s EnduroCross, Moto X Best Whip and Freestyle. Medals in the Best
Whip competition were awarded based on votes from fans texting in; Jeremy Stenberg took the gold,
followed by Jarryd McNeil with Silver and Todd Potter with Bronze. In the Step Up event, Ronnie Renner grabbed the Gold by setting a record height of 47 feet, beating the previous record by an amazing
10 feet. Dunlop riders took home a total of seven Gold, eight Silver and six Bronze medals.
GAMES 18
TAKAHIGASHINO
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SPEED & STYLE RESULTS
Gold- Mike Mason (Dunlop)
Silver- Nate Adams (Dunlop)
Bronze- Ronnie Faisst (Dunlop)
WOMEN’S MX RACING
Gold- Vicki Golden (Dunlop)
Silver- Tarah Gieger (Dunlop)
Bronze- Livia Lancelot (Dunlop)
WOMEN’S ENDUROCROSS
Gold- Maria Forsberg (Dunlop)
Silver- Louise Forsley (Dunlop)
Bronze- Chantelle Bykerk
MEN’S ENDUROCROSS
Gold- Mike Brown (Dunlop)
Silver- Cody Webb (Dunlop)
Bronze- Cory Graffunder (Dunlop)
MOTO-X BEST WHIP
Gold- Jeremy Stenberg (Dunlop)
Silver- Jarryd McNeil (Dunlop)
Bronze- Todd Potter (Dunlop)
STEP UP
Gold- Ronnie Renner (Dunlop)
Silver- Matt Buyten (Dunlop)
Bronze- Brian Deegan
MOTO-X BEST TRICK
Gold- Jackson Strong
Silver- Taka Higashino (Dunlop)
Bronze- Cameron Sinclair (Dunlop)
FREESTYLE
Gold- Taka Higashino (Dunlop)
Silver- Levi Sherwood (Dunlop)
JEREMYSTENBERG
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Bronze- Javier Villegas (Dunlop)
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VICKIGOLDEN MIKEBROWN
MARIAFORSBERG MIKEMASON
ROBBIERENNER
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GARY
NIXON
HE KNEW HE COULD BEAT ’EM
Two-time AMA Grand National Champion Gary Nixon
Slowly, he advanced; sixth in the Grand National series in
died of heart failure August 5,, 2011, after attending the
1964, then third, then second in 1966. By then, Triumph
U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, CA. He was 70. Nixon
had seen the value of putting factory race engineering be-
was well loved because somehow he combined appeal-
hind its 500cc twins, and it saw that Gary Nixon was the
ing humility and heroic determination.
man to use it.
His climb to the 1967 and ’68 AMA road racing titles, his
Nixon won the Daytona 200 in 1967, and now with really
recovery from his “career-ending” 1969 compound frac-
good equipment he was finishing lots of races. Winning
ture of the left leg and his second career in road racing
the Portland Mile, the Santa Fe short track and the Carls-
were not easy. His name began to appear in national re-
bad road race, he became national champion. He had not
sults in 1960, but his many low placings and DNFs show
been mistaken—he could beat those guys. Then, he did it
how hard it was to combine speed and reliability in those
again the following year.
days. Why did he keep on regardless? Because, Nixon
said, “I can beat them guys.”
Badly breaking his left leg at Santa Rosa in 1969 put an
end to Nixon’s championship hopes, but he rebounded
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Nixon raced both dirt track and pavement, and his first
and quickly rose back to the top, teaming with legendary
national win was a road race at Windber, PA, in 1963.
builder Erv Kanemoto to win several races in 1973 on a
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NIXON WAS WELL LOVED BECAUSE SOMEHOW HE
COMBINED APPEALING HUMILITY AND HEROIC DETERMINATION.
Kawasaki. In 1974, Nixon led the Daytona 200 on a Suzuki
ahead of Giacomo Agostini and Kenny Roberts, but crashed out
This look-for-the-grip style came into its own in 1974 when
on lap 37. His peak year was 1976: he finished second at Day-
Goodyear arrived on the scene with slick tires that offered grip
tona and missed winning the World Formula 750 Championship
in places on the track where there previously wasn’t much.
by a whisker.
When pressed again to do the riders’ school, Nixon said,
A racing club once asked Nixon to give a riders’ school. “What
would I tell ’em?” said Nixon.
“Okay, I can tell ’em, look at the starter, try ’n’ figger out just
when he’s gonna throw the flag. Get a good start, after a while
start lappin’ guys, ’n’ then win the race.”
The club officials replied, “You know, Gary, show ’em the line.
Give ’em some tricks of the trade.”
What could be simpler?
Gary Nixon didn’t have a line; he rode wherever there was grip,
He didn’t always win. The early years were hand-to-mouth—
because he was racing his competitors, not a stopwatch. His
none of today’s fly in, get met at the airport and check into a
competitors were on the line, so he needed to know how to go
plush hotel. Nixon came from an earlier era, when going
fast where they weren’t—off-line—so he could get around them.
without food to afford gas to get to the next race was normal,
when riding injured and hurting was necessary to keep the
Nixon knew the value of overloading his competitors’ brains. If
money coming.
they were on-line, concentrating on getting on the gas at a certain point, with every detail thought out, here would come
Nixon never lacked confidence. “I could do as good as
Nixon, up the inside, heading straight for the other rider’s apex.
anybody at sports until I got to the eighth grade,” he said.
Suddenly, all bets were off, because Nixon was the only one
“Then them other guys all grew big ’n’ I stayed the same
with an in-the-moment plan. The competitor, forced to go
size. So then I hadda find somethin’ where I could still beat
wide, was now going too fast to make the corner gracefully,
them guys.”
but Gary was right where he wanted to be, ahead, and accelerating away from the inside.
He found it.
GARY NIXON TRIBUTE AT DAYTONA
To honor the life of the late Gary Nixon, at the season-opening Daytona 200
race Jason DiSalvo and Team Latus Motors Racing fielded a Triumph
Daytona 675R painted in a blue and white motif evocative of the #9 Triumph
race bikes Nixon raced in the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Among his many
accomplishments, Nixon won the Daytona 200 in 1967 and 1968. For his
part, DiSalvo staged an epic come-from-behind charge to nearly win this
year’s Daytona 200, giving up a bare 0.048 of a second to Joey Pascarella to
finish second. For the remainder of the AMA Pro Road Race season, DiSalvo
will revert to running his familiar #40 on his racing Triumph 675R.
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NO PAIN,
NO GAIN
During the off-season of 2011 and into the preseason of
healthy lifestyle since he began racing professionally in the
2012, two-time-reigning Superbike champion Josh Hayes
1990s. Today, Bostrom primarily uses a bicycle as his
had a goal that is probably a pretty common one with his
training device, but in the past, he has also raced dirt bikes
fans. Hayes wasn’t plotting a way to shave two-tenths from
off-road, surfed and spent a short amount of time in the
his lap time, and he wasn’t conspiring to put himself in
gym, a place he professes to dislike. His training on a
position to race as a wild card at Laguna Seca next July.
bicycle led him to start racing mountain bikes off-road in
the mid-2000s, and he is now considered one of the best
No, all Josh wanted to do was lose seven or eight pounds.
mountain bike riders in the United States for his age class.
Other riders who also race bicycles have raced some
Staying healthy and keeping fit have obviously become a
pedal-crushing events with him, and they have come away
large part of American life, and a trend towards living a
stunned at his level of fitness.
healthier lifestyle has nudged its way into how racers
prepare for the racing battle. The days of riders, with
“He’s not human,” said one former world champion
heaving chests, openly smoking cigarettes in victory circle
of Bostrom.
are thankfully well behind us, as are open cans of beer at
the post-race media press conference. How much have
In the late 1990s, Bostrom looked like a man who knew
times changed from the era when Miguel Duhamel
where he came from and was out to look the part. He’s a
confessed he barely trained at all the year he won the AMA
second-generation dirt track racer, and he sported the body
Superbike title? Today, some riders own personal
that would support 120-mph sliding on clay—ropy, strong,
hyperbaric therapy chambers (used to promote healing
looking like, if not a dirt tracker, then a cowhand. He had
from injuries) and look to Lance Armstrong as a role model
spent a great deal of his Superbike career muscling around
for training.
the Honda RC45 and RC51, Ducati 998 and Yamaha R1,
and he felt he needed the bulk to manhandle those
Former AMA Superbike champion and World Superbike
motorcycles. That all changed when he switched to the
race-winner Ben Bostrom has never lived anything but a
600 class.
BENBOSTROM
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JOSHHAYES
In 2008, while racing a 600, Bostrom was able to whittle
he ate and cranked up his exercise routines, specifically,
himself down to 142 pounds. The ropes of well-defined
the aerobic aspects of his regimen. “Less in, more
muscle on his arms, chest and back were gone, and he
output,” says the likable Mississippian.
became a sort of Greek mythological figure, with a svelte,
sinewy human male body on top of the strongest legs
Hayes uses a bicycle as his main tool for staying fit, but
one might ever see.
his activities don’t end there, by any means. He uses the
road bicycle most days, joining other riders, friends and
On the diet side, Bostrom bristles at the suggestion that
those who just hope to hang on to his draft for a morning
he’s on a special diet that he will one day walk away
ride. But on other days, you won’t find him anywhere
from and return to something people might consider
near a Lycra riding suit. Riding a dirt bike is still an
more normal.
activity that Hayes uses to stay sharp, and as anyone
who has ridden one at speed will attest, throwing around
For Hayes, it wasn’t vanity or a new respect for healthy
an off-road motorcycle takes huge effort.
living that motivated him to drop just under 10 pounds.
He thought about it and decided to have as little mass on
Riders keeping physically fit is now solidly in its second
his Superbike as possible. “I just didn’t want to get
generation in racing. There isn’t a rider in the paddock
passed running from the chicane to the finish line at
who doesn’t have a road-going cycle or mountain bike in
Daytona,” he says, not mentioning that, in the second
his training arsenal, along with various devices to
Superbike race at Daytona, last March that’s exactly
measure his heart rate, his percentage of body fat,and
what happened.
other fitness metrics. Never before has the term
motorsports athlete been more fitting than it is today.
In an effort to drop to 155 pounds, Hayes watched what
And that’s because being fit is being fast.
BENBOSTROM
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ERICBOSTROM
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UPCOMING EVENTS
WORCS ATV #7
August 3-5
Cahuilla Creek Motocross
Anza, CA
AMA Road Racing #9
August 17-19
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis, IN
WORCS Bikes #10
September 7-9
Honolulu Hills
Taft, CA
GNCC Series #10
September 15-16
Unadilla
New Berlin, NY
MotoGP–Moto2
August 9
Indianapolis, IN
AMA Motocross #10
August 18
Red Bull Unadilla National
New Berlin, NY
AMA Motocross #12
September 8
Lake Elsinore National
Lake Elsinore, CA
MotoGP–Moto2
September 16
San Marino Grand Prix
WORCS Bikes #9
August 10-12
Cahuilla Creek Motocross
Anza, CA
MotoGP–Moto2
August 26
Czech Republic Grand Prix
National Hare and Hound Series #8
September 8
Panaca, NV
AMA Motocross #9
August 11
Moto-X 338 National
Southwick, MA
AMA Motocross #11–WMX
September 1
Steel City National
Delmont, PA
WORCS ATV #8
September 14-16
Honolulu Hills
Taft, CA
AMA Road Racing #10
September 7-9
New Jersey Motorsports Park
Millville, NJ
©2012 Dunlop • P. O. Box 1109, Buffalo, New York 14240-1109 • 1-800-845-8378 • dunlopmotorcycle.com
AMA Road Racing #11
September 21-23
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, FL
MotoGP–Moto2
September 30
Aragon Grand Prix