| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
I remember some years ago the Japanese buying Dunlop, and the boo ha it caused in the British press back then. So it was a surprise hearing Goodyear own Dunlop, which prompted a little digging around. Sumitomo own the Dunlop brand, but from what I've read on the web because of this conversation, it seems Goodyear have a 10% stake in Sumitomo, but they don't own them. Such makes Dunlop a Japanese owned company still. Hope this helps. Either way I've not enjoyed the Dunlop's I put on the Buell. Not only that but they are a very heavy tyre when weighed against a Pirelli Dragon Evo Corsa etc. Rocket | ||
| Mcgiver |
After the crap Dunlop caused in AMA superbike racing a few years ago, Buying up all the available track time so Ducati (then on Michelin) could not have any test sessions.I then swore I would never buy Dunlops again, and never looked back. Now to hear, "the japanese own Dunlop" , it all makes sence.I also swore 36 years ago i'd never ride another jap bike. Couldn't be happier. Brian | ||
| Trojan |
Dunlop is Japanese owned, but a lot of the race tyres are still made in good old Britain in and around Birmingham. There is a difference between UK made Dunlops and what were referred to for years as 'Japlops', in the same way that a Japanese made Stratocaster is not the same or as sought after as a US made original  The latest generation of Dunlop supersport tyres are as good as anything else on the market, and their race tyres available to 'normal' racers are better than most available in the retail market (although more expensive than Pirelli/Metzeler). It is only in MotoGP that Dunlop falls behind Michelin & Bridgestone. Their record in 125GP, 250GP and Superbikes is excellent. | ||
| Jaimec |
My VISA was just charged for my tickets to the MotoGP round at Indianapolis next year! Everyone else check their credit card accounts? | ||
| Smoke |
mine too, checked saturday. we'll have to meet up. i'll be camping out. tim | ||
| Jaimec |
So am I! I have no idea WHICH tickets I got yet. From what I was charged, though, I know I didn't end up with the General Admission tickets. Time will tell... | ||
| Jaimec |
Based on today's practice times, we're looking at another Stoner dominated cake walk this Sunday. Wonder what else is on television? | ||
| Rocketman |
Crown green bowling in the UK! Rocket | ||
| Vagelis46 |
It was very bad that Rossi crashed. I hope he gets well soon, very soon. Other than that, today's QP was excellent and great to watch. Pole position changed 10 times. Dunlop seems that are getting there, but they will not compete in 2008. That is not good for them and their efford. Lets hope that Pedrosa and Stoner will give us a race to remember. | ||
| Rocketman |
Burgess said the crash was caused by a rear tyre slide, which then caught a bump and sent Rossi and his M1 into a violent bucking movement before he was thrown over the handlebars. Burgess admitted data showed Rossi was on the throttle fractionally more than previous laps and added: “He just said the rear slid and there is a little bit of a bump there. “He was on the gas a bit more than he was on the other laps and the initial slide wasn’t anything. It was just the return of the slide after it went over the bump. It’s only a small bump but just one of those things that could happen to anybody. There’s no real sort of issues and it was one of those crashes that really just caught him out. The bike was working well and he’d done a 33.2, which was his best lap and he was pushing on and evaluating the tyre for the race. Talking to him now he is happy with the setting of the bike and he seems pretty good.” Burgess believes that Rossi’s hand was broken not by hitting the tarmac or him rolling down the track, but by the violent shaking of the handlebars as he frantically fought to regain control. Burgess said Rossi’s gloves were completely unmarked, and there was no damage to the handlebars. “There is no skin off his hand at all but I could see a bit of bruising. The handlebar didn’t touch the ground at all because the bike went end over end. And his gloves didn’t touch the ground. The damage that he did was with the handlebars going from lock-to-lock quite quickly and violently, “said Burgess. Unreal. That's what makes Rossi the greatest. Fighting for control. Love it! He'll race tomoz. Trust me. Rocket | ||
| Trojan |
Unfortunately the warm up time sseem top suggest that this will be another Bridgestone whitewash event. On race tyres the first 5 places were Bridgestone runners: Stoner Capirossi De Puniet Melandri Barros Then Pedrosa (Michelin) Rossi was the slowest of all the riders taking part in this mornings warm up, with Carlos Checa sitting out the session with 'intestinal' problems and Chaz Davies already on his way home after two massive high sides in practice ruled him out of the race through injury. Chaz hasn't exactly made the most of the chance given to him in the last three races of the season, having crashed in every session I think. The fact that Rossi is willing to race today when the title is already decided, and despite 3 broken bones adn some severe bruising, is testament to just how competitive he is and how much he really enjoys riding. I doubt if any other rider today would even consider riding given the circumstances. I hope he manages to salvage at least one point to finish the season as the top Michelin rider in 2nd place. | ||
| Rocketman |
I'm no racing pundit or tyre expert but for me there was a very telling side to the whole season judged by who won today. THAT WAS A BRIDGESTONE WHITEWASH SAVE FOR THE EFFORTS OF A GREAT RACER AND MULTI WORLD CHAMPION ON A HOME CIRCUIT I hope next year we see fighting, but even Rossi's doubtful of that. Rocket | ||
| Jaimec |
I'm beginning to suspect Valencia is NOT one of Rossi's favorite tracks. The man has had more bad luck at this track than at any other over the past two years. The final insult is to finish in third, by a single point. I'm sure he was in the unfamiliar position of rooting for Casey Stoner in this race. Oh well. I wouldn't be surprised if Michelin kicks up their game during the off season and Rossi finds himself regretting forcing Yamaha to strong arm Bridgestone into providing tires for him next season... | ||
| Trojan |
Anyone who thinks that the performance of Dani Pedrosa signifies a Michelin revival needs to look at the results in depth. Dani is incredibly easy on his tyres compared to most riders, simply because he weighs nothing and has a very smooth riding style. You rarely see him spinning up the back tyre or sideways into corners. Even then, he was on the hardest available Michelin compound compared to Stoner who elected to opt for the softest Bridgestone compound. I also don't believe that Stoner fought that hard for the race win in Valencia, and was happy to finish second to finish his season without mishap. The next Michelin rider to finish was Hayden, way back in 8th place and he looked decidely second rate in the second half of the race (although his fight with Melandri was the only redeeming feature of the whole race!). I don't think that Rossi has made a mistake in ditching Michelin,for Bridgestone. It is certainly a risk but as Jeremy Burgess says, you don't get to be a 7 times world champion by making bad decisions. Rossi has shouldered pretty much all of the development of the M1 anyway, so developing the bike to suit the new tyres won't hamper him, and will mean that he effectively has a completely separate team from his new 'team mate' Lorenzo. Rossi's biggest problem right now is geting Yamaha to build a bike he feels he can compete with and remains reliable. Michelin appear to have a bad case of sour grapes and have refused to release Rossi early from his contract, meaning that he cannot start testing Bridgestone tyres until December at the earliest. Gives him time to recover at least | ||
| Blake |
It was good to see Michelin knocked off their perch where they had been ruling over MotoGP with relative impunity for so long. Kudos to Bridgestone, who had to play by the exact same rules as Michelin and beat them soundly. That said, my view is that spec tires would be a very good thing for the series. I just don't think that many folks, me included, care much about having tire brand become the determining factor in a race. Motorcycle? Yes! Rider? Yes! Tire brand? No way! That said, my view is also that Stoner and Ducati won the championship and likely would have even on spec tires. Not sure about traction control. I respect the technology and innovation in tires, but they are such a HUGE factor in racing, it's no wonder why F1, NASCAR, WSBK, and other top flight racing series have gone to spec tires. It makes complete sense from a spectator perspective. | ||
| Rocketman |
It was good to see Michelin knocked off their perch where they had been ruling over MotoGP with relative impunity for so long. Kudos to Bridgestone, who had to play by the exact same rules as Michelin and beat them soundly. Except when Michelin were dominating in seasons past, damn near everyone was on them, which allowed for competitive racing. All that's happened this season is the top Yamaha and top Honda teams, which include at least two if not four of the best riders in the world, were unable to challenge the championship. Frankly I don't rate Stoner as much as I do Pedrosa, Melandri, De Puniet, Hopkins. It seemed to me everyone started to hail Stoner as the next great when his package started dominating consistently, just in case they looked and sounded stupid by continuing to point out the obvious, which damn near everyone was at the seasons start - those Bridgestones are what's winning this championship. Next season Stoner will at least be taught a lesson by a grand master if they're both on Bridgestones. Let's face it, despite the new blood coming in and the musical chairs going on, I doubt there'll be much to write home about. Sadly the new 800's and the electronics packages have made this seasons Moto GP nearly as boring as Formula 1. What's more annoying is the jump to smaller bikes was done as usual for safety reasons in an attempt to slow the bikes down. What do we see instead. The lap record broken on lap 3, and again later, at yesterdays twisty track with hardly a straight on it. Wasn't in the least bit spectacular though. If it were not for a stop watch we'd hardly have ever guessed the pace was so fast. I mean it's not like these bikes are spectacular to watch at all. Yawn. Rocket | ||
| Jaimec |
Both Kurtis Roberts and Nicky Hayden were able to go faster by essentially turning OFF the traction control on their bikes. Traction control seems to help the Europeans and hurt the Americans (who learned racing on dirt tracks). As much as I like Rossi, I'm afraid I'm a little bummed at his behavior as reported by the European press. He is starting to sound like Max Biaggi blaming the bikes, blaming the tires, etc. Remember, this is a man who won two world championships on the 990cc Yamaha YZF-M1 when (even then) it was down on power compared to the Honda RCVs. Maybe his time is over and it is time for the younger riders to take over. It'll STILL be a long time before we see his like again, though. Stoner has to win more than one season to be even considered to be in the same category as Rossi. | ||
| Trojan |
As much as I like Rossi, I'm afraid I'm a little bummed at his behavior as reported by the European press. He is starting to sound like Max Biaggi blaming the bikes, blaming the tires, etc. I think Rossi has been incredibly patient with both Yamaha & Michelin. The only reason that Yamaha has been competitive at all is because Rossi has ridden the wheels off it since he got there. Nobody else has even come close except Edwards at Assen last year, and he threw it up the road. Rossi has said that they have suffered from tyre issues for two years, and despite warnings and pleading with both Yamaha & Michelin to improve they have sat on their laurels and ignored the growing threat coming from Bridgestone & Ducati. Rossi risked riding with a broken hand when most riders would have gone home, just to secure second spot in the championship (a position most riders refer to as 'first loser'). Yet despite all his considerable efforts he was let down once again by unreliable machinery, so I can fully sympathise with his post race outburst. Despite coming only third in this years series he is still the hottest property in motorcycle racing and certainly still the best rider in the world by far, so if Yamaha don't improve of course he will look for a more competitive ride in 2009. Yamaha, Honda & Michelin deserve all of the bad press and negative comments they have received this year from the riders, fans and officials. Next year they should get their acts together to make the series enjoyable again. In the meantime I hope Rossi & co continue to tell it like it is. | ||
| Rocketman |
I don't get why some people think Rossi's days are numbered as a talent. The guy is still leagues ahead of anyone else. That's still the most obvious thing about him, and even more so when he isn't winning. I like the guy. I too believe he tells it like it is. His BBC pre race interview is to be loaded onto the website sometime this week in its 15 minute entirety. I'll link it when it happens. Rocket | ||
| Jaimec |
Thanks, Rocket. Although I understand Vale's frustration, I can't help but compare him to Nicky Hayden who was battling under worse conditions. He was riding a bike that was obviously NOT built with him in mind. He had the same miserable tires Rossi had, and had even worse results this year. All this, and yet the only people you heard from the Honda camp complaining were his teammate Pedrosa, and Kenny Roberts (running with a Honda engine with apparently little to no support). Don't get me wrong... I LIKE Rossi! I had lost interest in GP racing until he came along and shook things up by switching to Yamaha from the dominant Honda team. I just don't like what I've been reading about him lately. | ||
| Blake |
Pedro will never win a MotoGP championship. He's too little. Stoner is the real deal. Bad form to not recognize so. Apparently if anyone but Rossi wins, some folks will find all the excuses to justify that he is still the superior racer. It ain't true. Like I said, spec tires would be good. But I'm still very happy to see Michelin knocked off their haughty perch. And all the Japan Inc teams too. GOOOO Ducati!  | ||
| Trojan |
Pedro will never win a MotoGP championship. He's too little. They said he would never win a MotoGP race because he was too litle. If he had a decent bike and some half decent tyres he would have cleared off and won a lot more before now. I would certainly not rule him out of winning a championship very soon provided that Honda & Michelin can give him the tools. Remember he kicked Stoners arse in 125 & 250. Stoner is the real deal. Bad form to not recognize so. Stoner is good, no doubt, but he has gone from 'Bin it' to 'win it' in just one season so you cannot help but be suspicious where the true genius lays. In every other series he has ridden in so far he has been beaten by other riders on equal machinery. Ducati have built a bike this year that has the legs on everything else and much more advanced electronics that suit Stoner better than Capirossi. Lets see how they fare in year 2 as champions, and when the rest have narrowd their advantage, before we decide that Stoner is the real deal or just another one year flash in the pan. Apparently if anyone but Rossi wins, some folks will find all the excuses to justify that he is still the superior racer No excuses needed to justify that position. Rossi is still the best rider in the paddock by a long way. Who else could have got that Yamaha to third in the championship? Certainly none of the curent crop of MotoGP riders. I think we will only realise just how good he is when he retires and leaves a vacuum behind. | ||
| Rocketman |
Blake, I think what's bothering Rossi fans, or just those who recognise his great talent as the best, is the past two seasons we've seen relative outsiders win the title through means beyond their own riding ability. Rossi's run of bad luck last season had Hayden, a consistent points scorer rather than run at the front racer, snatch the title. This season we all know what happened, enough said. You can't tell me Stoner's 10 wins this season are the result of his genius? Rocket | ||
| Bads1 |
Rossi's bad luck,Haydens luck,Stoner's winning combination ??? I chalk it up to "Its Racing". You gotta have it all sometimes to win. The talent is getting better and Rossi I think knows that so he'll need a good bike,crew and health to win now.   | ||
| Benm2 |
Just from watching the racing, the Duc seems to move about alot more on corner exit than the Honda (or Yamaha, or Suzuki). Maybe Ducati have a "better grip" on the traction control settings & frame flex, allowing the bike (and rider) to absorb a little rock-n-roll BUT accelerate harder out of the turns. The shake never seemed to bother Bayliss or Caprossi. Capirossi's corner exits on the early 990 bike looked like they had break-dancing moves incorporated. It looks like the other bikes, while stiffer, either just slide or highside. The brief sequence during the Valencia race when Nicky was moving rapidly backwards was interesting, it looked like the bike went into full-on flattrack mode as soon as Nicky got on the gas. Frankly I'm surprised he kept it up! I'm sure the press releases don't tell the real story, but its clear that Yamaha & Honda will have their hands full next year. | ||
| Trojan |
Part of the problem these days is that all of the top riders get their own compounds from Michelin or Bridgestone, so that development becomes a one man effort rather than a team effort. Nicky seems to suffer most because, with all due respect, he isn't a great development rider and has had to deal with a bike designed around his diminutive team mate into the bargain. Nicky has gone down his own tyre route this year and is the only rider using Michelins 16" rear tyre (everyone else uses a 16.5"), so he is at best guessing what will work with no other data to help him. Hence we see him see-sawing between doing well or terribly from week to week, or fade completely mid race like last weekend, but with no middle ground. Michelin need to get all of their riders back onto a base setting so that they can move forwards faster. Bridgestone have developed tyres that last longer in a wider variety of conditions and suit a wider group of riders, simply because they had to in order to combat Michelins 'overnight delivery' of tyres at European rounds up till this year. This has taken Bridgestone 4 years to develop and is not just a result of this season. I think Michelin will take more than this winter to catch up. Ducati also have a much more advanced engine management system than any other team, which allows Stoner to be on full throtle immediately at the apex of the corner without losing traction or drive. This is one reason why the Ducati seems to jump ahead out of corners compared to the others. Meanwhile I'm already looking forward to next year, when we will see the new MotoGP champion take on the reigning 250GP champion and current WSB champion as well as all the usual suspects | ||
| Benm2 |
I don't believe that Michelin should have been penalized for their ability to produce the "overnight tire". That sort of rapid response wasn't done without some effort on their part, and Bridgestone should be capable of the same. It was just another method that they used to maintain their competetive edge. | ||
| Jaimec |
Michelin had the advantage at most of the tracks in the circuit because their factory was local (in France). Bridgestone, with their factory in Japan, had an impossible task of overnighting tires except for the single event in Japan. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Interesting discussion people! 08 will be very interesting! It is now clear that once again, the "Rossi fans hate everybody that beats our God" disease is in full spread! It has happened to : Gibernau Hayden Elias Now it has happened to Stoner. No matter what Stoner does, everything is taken away from him. I have to agree to Benm2......The Michelins looked better at Valencia. The RCV was on rails while the GP7 was sliding at corner exit. This situation reminded me of last year's Capirrosi vs Rossi fights James Toseland asked..."What would Casey manage to do with Michelin ?" For me the answer would be : "win every sinle race" It is good that Rossi is switching to Bridges. It will give him an extra motivation, and will give an indication on the Michelin vs Bridges . | ||
| Jaimec |
Vagelis: Casey HAD Michelins last year. He crashed. A LOT. Amnesia? |
