JANUARY 2010 - Dunlop Motorcycle Tires

JANUARY 2010
FOR DUNLOP VIDEOS PLEASE VISIT
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CONTENTS
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JCR SETS NEW BAJA 1000 RECORD
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WEIGAND WINS 2009 AMA WESTERN HARE SCRAMBLES
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
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ATTENTION ALL RACERS
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IVAN TEDESCO LEADS USA CHARGE AT MX OF NATIONS
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NEW RIDERS SWELL DUNLOP SX RANKS IN 2010
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FRENZIED SPORT, STILL IMAGES
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DUNLOP SWEEPS U.S. OPEN
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OVAL DUNLOPS
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BIKE OF THE MONTH: BEN BOSTROM’S 2009 YAMAHA YZF-R6
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BY THE NUMBERS: FAST TIMES WITH BEN BOSTROM
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UPCOMING EVENTS
ON THE COVER:
James Stewart finds himself on Dunlop tires
once again—and also finds himself a winner
again, sweeping both nights of the U.S. Open
of Motocross to collect a cool $100,000.
Dunlop Download magazine is published for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires by Vreeke & Associates. www.vreeke.com
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KENDALLNORMAN
WEIGAND WINS 2009 AMA WESTERN HARE
SCRAMBLES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
JCR Honda’s Tim Weigand has successfully clinched his first-
International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Portugal as a USA
ever major AMA national off-road title by winning the 2009
Trophy Team rider. On day five of the ISDE, Weigand was
AMA Western Hare Scrambles (WHS) National Championship
injured—severely lacerating his finger—but earned a gold
aboard his Dunlop-equipped CRF450R. Weigand kicked off his
medal before returning for the Western Hare Scrambles finale.
2009 campaign with a third-place finish at the opening round,
Attending the final WHS round but unable to compete in the
then took the victory at round two and backed up that success
final race, Weigand had enough points from victories earlier in
with podium finishes at rounds five and six.
the season to earn the 2009 title. Fellow Dunlop rider Valli
Motorsports’ Kyle Summers joined Weigand on the
JCR SETS NEW BAJA 1000 RECORD
Breaking from the crowd and extending his series points lead
championship podium, finishing the series third overall
by 25 by the end of round six, Weigand went to the FIM
in points.
The Johnny Campbell Racing (JCR) team
“The racers did a phenomenal job of pre-running and
of Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody and Tim
preparing their race,” said Johnny Campbell, team
Weigand recently rewrote Baja racing
owner and the winningest Baja racer in history.
history by winning the 42nd annual
“Kendall Norman did an excellent job leading this team
ATTENTION ALL RACERS
SCORE Baja 1000, which marks a record
to victory. What a tremendous team effort! The 1X plate
No matter which off-road racing venue you’ve chosen, Dunlop
13th consecutive Baja 1000 win for
is home where it belongs thanks to the entire team and
has the right tire and specific recommendations for you. From
Dunlop-equipped Hondas. The team
all the volunteers who made this possible.”
professional Supercross and Arenacross to Off-Road/Enduro
averaged 49.97 mph on a dust-laden run
and Amateur National MX, we have all the tire info you’ll want
over Baja’s legendary wilderness and
Dunlop congratulates the JCR team for conquering
finished the 673-mile-long endurance test
some of the most rugged terrain on the planet and
with a time of 13:27.50.
extending this legendary win streak in Baja.
to get ready to win!
CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE TIRE USAGE GUIDE
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IVAN TEDESCO
LEADS USA
CHARGE AT
MX OF NATIONS
Experience does count—just ask Ivan Tedesco. IT had
been a member of previous USA teams that brought
back gold medals from the Motocross of Nations, an
international event that draws together the top riders
worldwide. And in 2009 he helped lead the USA to
victory once again.
“I was a part of the winning team in 2005 and 2006, so I
understood what it would take as a whole to win,”
Tedesco said. “The knowledge and experience I brought
to the team this year was really important. It was both
my teammates’ first-ever time racing the Motocross of
Nations, so it was important that I was there to give them
advice—just like Ricky Carmichael did for me when I
raced my first-ever event. I’m really proud that I was
chosen to be a part of the team again.”
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NEW RIDERS SWELL
DUNLOP SX RANKS IN 2010
WITH THE NEW SUPERCROSS SEASON KICKING OFF, RACE FANS WILL
ENJOY SEEING THE DRAMATIC JUMP IN DUNLOP RIDERS FOR 2010. THIS
TALENT-LADEN ROSTER INCLUDES EVERY REIGNING CHAMPION IN AMA
SUPERCROSS AND MOTOCROSS, IN BOTH 450 AND LITES CLASSES.
Ho nd a
K a w as a k i
The Honda Red Bull Racing team remains in the
The Monster Energy Kawasaki team headlines 2009’s
Dunlop fold with Andrew Short and Davi Millsaps
Motocross champion Chad Reed along with Ryan Villopoto.
riding Honda’s CRF450R. Ashley Fiolek also returns
In addition, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team
to the team to compete in the Women’s Motocross
will field Josh Hansen in the 450 class along with a strong
Championship, where she is the reigning champion.
contingent of Lites riders: 2009 Supercross Lites East
The GEICO Powersports Honda squad also returns
champion Christophe Pourcel, Jake Weimer, Tyla Rattray and
with Kevin Windham contesting Supercross events
Dean Wilson.
this year and Trey Canard, Brett Metcalfe, Justin
Barcia and Blake Wharton riding in the Lites classes
S u z u ki
for SX and MX. Other Honda/Dunlop team riders
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki team features double-champion
include the Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda
Ryan Dungey, who collected the AMA 250 Motocross and
squad with Wil Hahn and Cole Seely in the Lites
Supercross Lites West titles in 2009. He will ride a RM-Z450
classes, and Ben Townley riding outdoor Motocross
in 2010 alongside Matt Moss, while Lites rider Austin
only. The Rockstar/Hart & Huntington Honda team
Stroupe fills out the roster. The Motosport Suzuki team sees
features Chris Blose and Matt Boni in SX and MX.
Tommy Hahn and Jake Moss contesting SX and MX, plus
Lites riders Blake Baggett, Ryan Morais and Hunter Hewitt.
Ya m aha
James Stewart, the 2009 Supercross champion,
KT M
headlines Team L&M San Manuel Yamaha, which
In 2010, the factory Jagermeister-sponsored KTM team
also features Josh Hill. Josh Grant and Justin
fields Mike Alessi in the 450 Motocross class, with Tommy
Brayton will ride 450 Yamahas for the Joe Gibbs
Searle in 250 Motocross. KTM will not contest the
Racing/Muscle Milk/Toyota Yamaha team, and DNA
Supercross series in 2010.
Shred Stix/Star Racing/Yamaha fields a Lites team
comprised of Martin Davalos, Broc Tickle, Nico Izzi
CHADREED
and Max Anstie. MotoConcepts Racing has Dan
Reardon racing a YZ450F plus Ryan Sipes, Jeff
Alessi, Travis Baker and Vince Friese in the Lites
classes, while Valli Motorsports features Ivan
CLICK HERE MORE SX IMAGES
Tedesco and Kyle Regal.
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JAMESSTEWART
RYANDUNGEY
CHRISTOPHEPOURCEL
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RYANVILLOPOTO
TOMMYHAHN
ASHLEYFIOLEK
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ANDREWSHORT
JOSHHILL
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2010 HONDA RED BULL RACING VIDEO
MARTINDAVALOS
KEVINWINDHAM
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FRENZIED SPORT,
STILL IMAGES
Not many sports begin to approach the level of
equipment and a very special eye for the racing action as
frenzied activity surrounding the world of
well as the artistic wherewithal to capture moments that
motorcycle racing. Whether we speak of the
define our sport, pure and simple. Indeed, we know two
heart-stopping lean angles found on paved
such individuals who happen to possess all of the foregoing
tracks or the high-flying exhibitions of grace
qualities and more, which places them at the forefront of
plus brute power found in Supercross and
motorcycle racing photography: Brian J. Nelson in road
Motocross, racing on two wheels creates visual
racing, Simon Cudby in motocross.
spectacles that truly bend the imagination.
Among the reams of outstanding work accomplished by
Now, choose your favorite flavor of two-
these two men, here you will see a compilation of some of
wheeled competition and visualize yourself in
the best moments of the 2009 racing season, frozen in time
possession of a season-long pass to every
by the cameras of Nelson and Cudby. So sit back and
race, access to those oh-so-special trackside
enjoy these moments of reflection upon our sport. We
spots, 100 pounds or so of photographic
know we did.
JOSH HERRIN
VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
ALTON, VA
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ANDREW SHORT
MOTO-X 338
SOUTHWICK, MA
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THUNDER VALLEY MOTOCROSS PARK
LAKEWOOD, CO
UNADILLA VALLEY SPORTS CENTER
NEW BERLIN, NY
WASHOUGAL MX PARK
WASHOUGAL, WA
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MAT MLADIN
ROAD AMERICA
ELKHART LAKE, WI
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IVAN TEDESCO
THUNDER VALLEY MOTOCROSS PARK
LAKEWOOD, CO
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE MOTOCROSS PHOTOS
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DANNY ESLICK
NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
MILLVILLE, NJ
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE ROAD RACING PHOTOS
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At the 2009 U.S. Open of Supercross held at the MGM Grand
Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, on October 9-10, Dunlop
racers arrived ready to dominate the competition—and
dominate they did. With most of the top Supercross teams
choosing to fit Dunlop tires to their 450 race machines, it’s no
wonder the top five racers on both Friday and Saturday night
and all of the top 10 overall finishers rode on Dunlops.
On night one, San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart grabbed
the early lead aboard his YZ450F over fellow Dunlop racer
Geico Powersports Honda’s Dan Reardon. Stewart went on
to win, and Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps passed
Reardon to finish second, with Reardon third. MotoConcepts
Racing Yamaha’s Matt Goerke nabbed fourth, and
completing the Dunlop sweep in fifth was JGR Yamaha’s
Christian Craig.
DUNLOP
SWEEPS U.S. OPEN
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JAMESSTEWART
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DAVIMILLSAPS
The Dunlop barrage up front continued on night two with Reardon heading the charge out of the gate. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto charged hard aboard his Dunlop-equipped KX450F, getting by
Reardon to take the lead. Stewart didn’t get the best of starts but quickly
worked his way through the pack to battle Villopoto and get out front.
Once there he was unstoppable, riding a strong race to secure night
two’s top prize. Villopoto crossed the finish line in second, while Millsaps
passed Reardon late in the race to finish third. Reardon settled in fourth,
followed by Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Michael Byrne in fifth. Combining
the scores from both nights, Dunlop made a clean sweep of the podium
with Stewart crowned 2009 U.S. Open Champion, followed by Millsaps
in second and Reardon in third. Overall, all of the top 10 finishers rode
on Dunlops.
Sharing the Las Vegas spotlight were America’s most talented 85cc amateur racers. 2009 Team Dunlop members Adam Cianciarulo and
Thomas Covington finished second and third, but it was Dunlop racer
and Team Dunlop alumnus Chris Alldredge who took top honors. Finishing second to Cianciarulo on the opening night of competition, Alldredge
DANREARDON
got the upper hand in points by beating Cianciarulo on night two. Covington’s five/three results allowed him to grab third on the podium.
CHRISALLDREDGE
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OVAL
DUNLOPS
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“Just gas it and turn left,” goes the old saw about dirt-track racing. But as any
AMA Grand National rider or tuner can tell you, there’s much more to the races
than merely getting around the track. The subtleties of Grand National racing
run the gamut from carburetion and air density to track surface and tire
pressure, and a pro tuner’s notebook typically bulges with such esoterica. One
major decision got a lot easier in 2009, however, with the selection of Dunlop
tires as the spec tire for the entire AMA Pro Grand National Championship
racing series.
The move to Dunlops not only simplifies the race tuner’s life, it also increases
potential competition. By placing all the bikes on the same tires, the change
eliminates any advantage a particular team might have had with the use of
limited-production, specially built tires. For 2009, the move likely played a role in
the most competitive series in Grand National history, as six riders arrived at the
final race in Pomona, CA, with a shot at the championship.
When the gates opened at the Fairplex stadium, Jared Mees came in as the
odds-on favorite, as anything above an eighth-place finish in the Half-Mile
would give him the top spot. If Mees stumbled, however, an outright win by any
of the five other riders would put one of them at the front, as a scant nine points
separated the next five riders. Those potential winners included current and
three-time GN champion Kenny Coolbeth, followed by Bryan Smith, Sammy
Halbert, seven-time GN champ Chris Carr and one-time GN champion Joe
Kopp. Ironically, the only rider in the group to not have won a race in the 2009
season came out on top, as Mees nailed down the crown with a fifth-place
finish at Pomona. His victory also represented the first time a rider has taken the
GN championship without scoring a single win in the season.
The Pomona pits also demonstrated that the AMA’s latest efforts to get more
manufacturers into dirt-track racing have begun to show results, as the infield
included examples from Aprilia, Buell, Ducati, Honda, Rotax, Suzuki and
Triumph in addition to the inevitable Harley-Davidson XR750s. The one
constant, however, was the Dunlop logo on the sidewalls, which no doubt made
the tuners heave a sigh of relief.
JAREDMEES
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BIKE OF THE MONTH:
BEN BOSTROM’S
2009 YAMAHA YZF-R6
Ben Bostrom focused on the American
Superbike series in 2009, but in between
his battles in the big-bike class, Bostrom
rode the “little bike,” as he calls it: a
Graves Motorsports–prepped YZF-R6
that took him to the Pro SuperSport
championship in 2008. In 2009, Bostrom
rode the R6 twice with the same results:
victory, at both the Daytona 200 and the
USGP in Laguna Seca. Here’s an inside
look at BB’s favorite ride.
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CLICK HERE TO SEE BOSTROM IN ACTION
Ohlins steering damper on Graves Motorsports mount
Graves Motorsports clip-ons with Renthal
grips and folding brake and clutch levers
Zero Gravity windscreen
Yamaha 4.6-gallon fuel
tank/Sunoco 260 GTX race fuel
Sharkskinz seat and bodywork
Yamaha swingarm/Ohlins Racing Service
Centre/Graves Works Spec shock
Yamaha 5.5x17 wheel/Dunlop Sportmax GP-A 190/55ZR17 tire
Yamaha 3.5x17 wheel/Dunlop
Sportmax GP-A 120/70ZR17 tire
Yamaha 220mm disc;
single-piston caliper
Graves Motorsports rearsets
Graves Motorsports titanium exhaust
Vortex sprockets/DID 520 chain
599cc DOHC engine with 13.1:1 compression/Dynojet
ignition module/Graves Motorsports billet engine covers
Ohlins Racing Service Centre/Graves Works Spec forks
Yamaha dual 310mm floating discs;
radial-mount four-piston calipers
DRY WEIGHT: 366 POUNDS
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BY THE NUMBERS:
FAST TIMES WITH
BEN BOSTROM
Ben Bostrom is the kind of guy who is nothing but fast on anything with two wheels. As a teenager
he started racing on dirt flat tracks, switched to road racing a few years later and hasn’t slowed
since. In 1998 he was Superbike champion on a Honda; in 2008 he brought home the SuperSport
championship aboard his R6. In between he proved he hadn’t lost his dirt skills by capturing a
Supermoto championship and a Supermoto gold medal at the X Games. In 2009 he added Daytona
200 winner to his accomplishments, and he was a regular podium visitor in the Superbike class.
Early Career: Raced AMA Flat Track as a teenager; turned pro in 1991.
1993: AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year.
1995: First AMA National road race win at Firebird with Bartels’ Harley-Davidson.
1996: Won five SuperTwins finals, barely missed the championship for Bartels’ Harley-Davidson;
earned three podium finishes in 600 SuperSport with Zero Gravity Racing.
1998: Won Pro Superbike championship with American Honda.
1999: Collected a World Superbike win at Laguna Seca, a Pro Superbike win at Brainerd and six more
podium finishes with Vance & Hines Ducati.
2000: First full World Superbike season; finished seventh.
2001: Finished third in World Superbike series.
2003: Returned to AMA racing with American Honda and finished fourth in Superbike series; won the
Pro Supermoto championship.
2004: Contested both Pro Superbike and Formula Xtreme; finished fourth in Superbike season; won a
gold medal in the inaugural Supermoto at the X-Games.
2007: Joined Yamaha/Graves Motorsports race team; finished second in the Superstock championship.
2008: Captured the Pro SuperSport championship by winning six of 11 races and finishing off the
podium only once.
2009: Daytona 200 winner, fifth overall in American Superbike class.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
AMA Supercross #1
January 9
Angel Stadium
Anaheim, CA
AMA Supercross #3
January 23
Angel Stadium
Anaheim, CA
AMA Supercross #5
February 6
Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego, CA
AMA Supercross #2
January 16
Chase Field
Phoenix, AZ
AMA Supercross #4
January 30
AT&T Park
San Francisco, CA
AMA Supercross #6
February 13
Angel Stadium
Anaheim, CA
AMA Supercross #7
February 20
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
AMA Supercross #8
February 27
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
©2009 Dunlop Tires • P. O. Box 1109, Buffalo, New York 14240-1109 • 1-800-845-8378 • dunlopmotorcycle.com