IN TOUCH Motorsport news

Get ready for a sparkling year ahead with action on two and four wheels!

FOUR wheels Two wheels

AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES AMA hits Daytona

The ALMS kicked off in Sebring The famous race last weekend with the debut race traditionally opens the now for the Dunlop shod E92 M3 ‘all-Dunlop’ AMA road racing BMW team. season. > page 2 > page 3

Issue One – MARCH ‘09 Four wheel NEWS

LeIn MTouANSch ‘the dunlop car’ Welcome to ‘In Touch’! DUNLOP ART CAR COMPETITION

elcome to In Touch, the dealer network we share a strong WMotorsports newsletter that passion for racing. Not just for the endeavors to keep you informed speed and excitement, but also about our global partnerships in car because we realize that motorsport and racing. participation has made Dunlop what The 2009 season looks to be it is today, one of the world’s long a big year for Dunlop Motorsport established technology leaders in with an unprecedented number of performance tyres. manufacturers and world famous The March edition is the first of protagonists putting their trust in nine issues to be published this Dunlop to help them win races year and will be circulated internally and championships. In Touch and shared with our European will report on their fortunes and dealer network as a pdf document. how Dunlop contributed to the Additionally the contents can also success, disclosing to you the latest be read on the European Dunlop developments in tyre technology websites so that public and press coming from our racing ‘labs’. will also understand that there are Right down from management, few tyre manufacturers as successful engineers, factory workers to our in racing as Dunlop.

THE SEASON AHEAD Dunlop Motorsport lines up on the grid for 2009 he 2008 LMS GT2 Car Competition website. championship-winning Ferrari subsequently, winning national three-year contract for AMA is T F430 became an iconic car overnight designs from the participating already paying off for the riders when it appeared in a striking yellow markets enter into the European as exhilarating Sportbike and Dunlop livery at the first race of the semi-final, where an expert jury will Superbike action sees ’08 season in Catalunya. The impact once more select three designs and winning the Daytona 200 and was such that since then the Ferrari the public can vote for their favorite. and Tommy Hayden has been referred to as the ‘Dunlop These four semi-final winners will complete a one-two at the car’. For 2009 Dunlop wants build be Dunlop’s guests at the 2009 AMA Superbike races in Fontana on this success and take the 24 Hours of Le Mans to attend California. Teams from the national concept a step further. the press presentation of the next Superbike, Supersport and in a matter of weeks the ‘Dunlop Dunlop Art Car featuring the winning Superstock race series’ in Italy, Art Car Competition’ will be publically ‘European’ design from the contest. Germany, France and Spain have announced; a pan European contest the Ferrari F430 GT car of the is set to be an exciting been enjoying successful pre-season challenging talented amateurs and JMW Motorsports team will proudly year for the Dunlop testing in Albacete and Valencia and 2009 art school students to design the sport the winning livery during Motorsport brand on both two and Dunlop’s first national championship next ‘Dunlop Car’. National contests the Le Mans race as well as in four wheels with chequered flags win of the season is already under organized in countries across the remaining rounds of the 2009 and national championship wins the belt in New Zealand. Europe will result in three winners per LMS GT2 championship, hopefully already rolling in as a high octane the MotoGP teams are in Jerez country elected by an expert jury. A creating a pedigree of Dunlop Art season of success kicks off. this weekend for the official pre- fourth national winner will be chosen Cars that will appear on a yearly on four wheels 2009 promises season test, before heading to Qatar by the public who can vote for the basis for a long time to come! excitement across Europe with the for the first of the 17 races in the designs on the dedicated Dunlop Art Le Mans series, GT Open, DTM and 2009 World Championship on April BTCC as highlights. The famous 12. Marco Simoncelli is looking to Ferrari F430 ‘Dunlop car’ will be defend his 2008 250GP title on his competing both in the Le Mans Dunlop shod Gilera. series and the Le Mans 24H itself, the World Endurance and looking to retain its GT2 LMS Championship gets underway with title. The Mini Challenge adds Spain the Le Mans 24H on April 18/19. to Germany, UK and Australia (where Dunlop’s long time partner and it starts the season at this week’s F1 defending World Champion team race weekend). Suzuki will be out to defend their across the Atlantic the American position as the team to beat in Le Mans series kicked off in Sebring endurance racing. last weekend with the debut race April 19th also sees the first for the Dunlop shod E92 M3 BMW round of the World team. Championship which runs it’s business as usual on exclusively on Dunlop tyres. two-wheels, Dunlop’s exclusive

> page 1 For more Four wheel stories go to www.dunlop-tires.com Four wheel NEWS

LeAMIn MTERouANSICAchN Le Mans Series LMS TEAM INTRODUCTION BMW M3 GTR Introduction in the 2009 alms JMW Motorsport

he Le Mans Series features five T 1000 kilometre races on some of Europe’s historic race circuits, including Spa Francorchamps (BE), the Nürburgring (GER), and Silverstone (UK). The season starts in Barcelona on April 5, and Dunlop will be strongly represented in the 50-car field, including its partnership with JMW Motorsport, which will run a Ferrari 430 GT in the GT2 category. though the name is new, there is much similarity between the double champion Virgo Motorsport team, including the car’s owner, Jim McWhirter, and its drivers including unlop Dunlop returned to the great - the best all week,” said Dirk so far on the ALMS project. Dunlop British driver Rob Bell, and his DAmerican Le Mans Series Müller, “which is a big compliment to brings in great enthusiasm and Italian co-driver Gianmaria Bruni. with BMW at the opening round, the everyone’s efforts. We were running significant resources, and together McWhirter, a property developer Sebring 12 hours held in Florida on trouble-free in second place, no we have made big progress from Holywood, near Belfast, raced March 21. It was the first race of the incidents, no scratches, nothing. I already. We are looking forward to with Virgo Motorsport in the Ferrari new car, and the team was delighted made it from the back to fourth place the forthcoming season and will Challenge in 2003 to 2005. He with the initial performance. Drivers in two stints. Then we got a drive hopefully celebrate some successes then paired up with Virgo to run a Dirk Müller and Tom Milner ran as train issue that ultimately made us together.” Ferrari F430 GT2 for a three year high as second in class before a stop. It’s a new car and we need to testing with Dunlop began in the programme, and with Dunlop as a mechanical problem stopped the car investigate this problem, but I have second half of 2008 using BMW’s partner, the team finished fourth in before mid-distance. no doubt St. Pete will be a better factory drivers, including its multiple the GT2 category. Following that in high daytime temperatures, race for us.” touring car champion Andy Priaulx, achievement, the team went on to the Dunlop tyre engineers saw their The 57th edition of the race 2001 ALMS champion Dirk Müller win the Le Mans Series GT2 title in product, developed with BMW, marked the start of the 2009 and Brazilian Augusto Farfus. BMW 2007 and 2008 with Rob Bell as perform to expectations. At the American Le Mans Series season. Motorsport completed much of its main driver, sharing with Allan 10:30am start, track temperature The ALMS was the first to run to the the development work before the Simonsen for much of the 2007 was 26 degrees Centigrade, and rules and regulations of Le Mans. cars were handed, race ready and season, and with Gianmaria Bruni that rose during the day to over 36 In the past ten years it has grown developed on Dunlop tyres, to the and Tim Sugden in 2008. degrees. The team started on soft into one of the most popular racing Rahal Letterman team which will run after the contract with Virgo compound tyres in temperatures of championships held in the US and the cars in the ALMS this season. expired, McWhirter formed JMW 28 degrees on the 3.7 mile bumpy its reputation in Europe is equally “Dunlop came to the tests every Motorsport, managed by Steve airfield circuit in central Florida. highly regarded. time with a package which got Bunkhall, and the team made its as the temperatures rose, this year, BMW has returned to better and better,” says Priaulx. “I public debut in the pre-season test the team switched to a harder the GT2 category for the first time liked the way that they worked. Their at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test compound and found that the since it won the title in 2001, and has understanding of the tyres, and what Facility in March this year. “Dunlop balance of the car was improved. chosen Dunlop as its tyre partner. was needed, was very good and has some new tyres, and they The drivers were able to attack, The company has developed a four I was always very happy with the are always moving forward,” says setting competitive lap times as the litre, V8 version of its M3 model to progress that we made.” Bell. “Last year the tyres were very No. 92 car moved up to second compete against Ferrari, Porsche, Matthew Simpson, Dunlop’s consistent, and that was one of our position in class. After 27 laps the Aston Martin and Corvette in the Project Leader of BMW activity, great strengths, but we don’t know No. 90 car retired with an oil leak. series this season and has worked agreed. “At every point, whatever yet about consistency with the new The No. 92 car pitted just after the closely with Dunlop to develop a tyre the issues that arose at the previous aerodynamic package.” five-hour mark when Muller took to deliver success. test, we have undertaken to address the GT2 cars must run with over, but as he launched something “We talked to several potential them by the next test,” he said. “We five per cent smaller air restrictors broke and the car had to be partners and evaluated several are comfortable with the front tyres compared to last year, must race retired with transmission problems. options before deciding to go with having changed the construction, at a higher ride-height, carry 20kg Neither were running in the cool air Dunlop,” said BMW Motorsport and later the rear tyre requirement more weight, and the cars feature temperatures of the early evening Director Mario Theissen, who changed, so now we have a happy aerodynamic changes designed when the fastest lap times were set. attended the race for the first time. balance with the car. We know to slow them “The car was going well, and “We took all relevant factors that you that we have a consistent race down after it is the team’s first race, so we need for a successful partnership compound, and a softer one for super fast could not expect to win,” said team into consideration. In the past, cooler day or night running.” laps at Le manager Bobby Rahal. “Dunlop is BMW and Dunlop have worked the next AMLS race on the Mans last making a huge effort and we are so successfully on some projects: The agenda is the Acura Sport Car year. pleased with their efforts. The harder BMW M1 Procar Series in the 1980s Challenge of St. Petersburg -Florida compound was better and improved and, more recently, the BMW Z4 M on April 4th. the balance of the car.” Coupe, run by Schubert Motors. We “The M3 was running really are very happy with the co-operation

> page 2 www.dunlop-tires.com 2TWO wh eelwh eelNEWS NEWS

AMA DAYTONA 200 PRE-SEASon TESTing Dunlop rounds up pre-season tyre tests in Spain

ast week saw the Dunlop me this is the biggest advantage L Motorsport two-day test at the of working closely with a tyre Valencia circuit for the cream of manufacturer. If you work all the time mainland Europe’s national teams with the same people we know what from the Superbike, Supersport and they think and they know what we Superstock race championships. think.” AMA Hits Daytona Following a successful test the week ex-GP racer and Spanish before in Albacete with 60 riders, championship contender Jose Luis he famous Daytona 200 race kept his cool to take the chequered an incredible 80 riders took part in Cardoso was also keen to convey T traditionally opens the AMA flag. “We have been on the pole the Valencia test, spending the two his impressions on his experiences road racing season. 2008 AMA here twice now and I have lost the days testing not only the currently with Dunlop. “I want to say thank Pro SuperSport Champion Ben race here by two-thousandths of a available race tyres for the 2009 you to Dunlop,” he said. “They Bostrom finally fulfilled his Daytona second,” said Bostrom. “I know what season, but also putting some rather always pay attention and they want dreams, taking home his much it’s like in the heart when you take special development tyres through to know exactly how I feel about deserved maiden win. The Yamaha second at Daytona. It hurts. Now I their paces in the Spanish sunshine. the tyre and what feedback I have. R6 mounted rider made his fifth start know what it’s like to win.” Coordinated by a crack team of It’s crucial for improvement for the at the Daytona 200 –partly run under 2009 is the first year of Dunlop’s Dunlop fitters, engineers, product rider and team to have a trackside floodlights for the first time this year exclusive contract to supply tyres for managers and development experts, tyre representative who gives total – as the favourite for victory. With an the AMA Pro Series classes including the test proved a great success on attention and listens to the feedback average two strategic tyre changes American Superbike, Daytona several fronts. given. I have much experience in per rider in the race itself, Bostrom’s SportBike, SunTrust MOTO-GT and commercially the test was a big world championships, going back pit-stop timing for fresh Dunlop SuperSport. The contract expires at hit with the Dunlop team providing from 1994 to 2006 in GP so I’ve tyres were clearly perfect this year. the end of the 2011 race season. nearly 2,500 tyres to the teams known a lot of these guys for a few The Daytona 200 competitors had the AMA Pro American Superbike between Albacete and Valencia. years and the relationship continues, just one choice of multi-compound Championship got off to a start with Dunlop’s development team were that’s why I feel an emotional Dunlop D211GP tyres which were Australia’s Mat Mladin winning the also present and making use of attachment towards Dunlop. They specifically developed to cope with first three races held at Daytona some very talented test riders, are like a family, I trust them because Daytona International Speedway’s International Speedway and Auto including Heyden Motors Yamaha they always want to give me the 31 degree oval banking. Club Speedway in Fontana - Team rider Raymond Schouten and best, if I’m not so happy and have a despite Bostrom’s pole-position California. Mladin won his seventh Yamaha Team Germany rider Jörg problem they always come with help the fans were treated to breathtaking AMA Superbike race in Daytona, Teuchert. These riders were testing or another solution to make me more battles for the lead with the 2008 where he led 10 out of 15 laps from new compounds for Dunlop, it was comfortable.” AMA SuperSport champion fighting the pole, making it his 73rd overall clear the developments were taking new racing customers were also with Suzuki riders Jason Disalvo, AMA race win. In the second and up to half a second off lap-times, present and enjoying the service Martin Cardenas and also fellow third races of the season held at which in racing terms can be the of the Dunlop team as their riders Yamaha riders and Josh the Auto Club Speedway, six-time difference between the podium and began to understand the difference Herrin. A loss of lighting caused champion and 2008 runner-up finishing outside the top ten. The in the tyres from other brands. the first restart with further red flags Mladin battled it out with team data will now go back to Dunlop These teams were happy with coming out following crashes by mate Tommy Hayden in a Suzuki headquarters in Birmingham and the Dunlop service compared to Tommy Aquino and Kris Turner. dominated race for an eventual used to create racing tyres which previous relationships with other Despite all these incidents Bostrom double win. will see track action this year and will tyre manufacturers. One key point filter to the production tires for the raised repeatedly was the fact that public for street use. Dunlop engineers had much more away from the pressures of a presence at the racetrack and were race weekend, the test was the always available to discuss issues perfect opportunity to catch up with and developments. One Italian team some of Dunlop’s European racing noted that they had seen more of customers, both old and new, to find the Dunlop engineer trackside than out what makes the racing service their own tyre supplier when they provided so special and how they had been running top five in the view the Dunlop ‘family’. Italian national championship. This 2009 AMA Road Racing Schedule “We are working ever more had been a contributing factor in April 3-5 Road Atlanta closely with Dunlop Motorsport their decision to switch to Dunlop for May 1-3 Barber Motorsports Park headquarters in Birmingham,” 2009. May 15-17 Infineon Raceway commented Team Yamaha Motor May 29-31 Miller Motorsports Park Germany team manager Michael June 5-7 Road America Galinski. “We are really close July 3-5 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca together with Dunlop now, which July 17-19 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is what I like, our riders can tell the July 31-August 2 Heartland Park-Topeka* guys what they feel and they take August 14-16 Virginia International Raceway the information and come back with September 4-6 New Jersey Motorsports Park* even better tyres for the next races *Pending Rider Safety Committee evaluation which is unbelievable for us. For

> page 3 For more two wheel stories go to www.dunlopmotorcycle.eu 2TWO wh eelwh eelNEWS NEWS

Roadsmart Qualifier II Launch NEW ZEALAND SUPERBIKE GP250 Champion Marco Simoncelli full ONE DOWN... of praise on new Qualifier II DOWN UNDER

vindicating Dunlop’s top-level racing unlop look set to continue tyre test development programme Dtheir global racing domination with AMA Supercross and Motocross this year as their first national series riders such as Andrew Short, championship win of 2009 was David Millsaps and Kevin Windham. confirmed on Sunday 8th March in For the Qualifier II, the supersport New Zealand. Suzuki rider Robbie journalists’ comments included Bugden walked the 2009 New “we feel the grip immediately”, and Zealand Superbike Championship “we know where we go…it’s a very with ease, taking seven race wins good feeling.” Marco backed up the from 10 starts. This makes it positive press assessments. “Mireval Robbie’s third year in succession is really fun and I enjoyed the Qualifier taking the title. hat’s more exciting than the levels. II,” he said. “It has very good grip and Wpress launch of a new tyre? The Geomax MX51 motocross as expected it is a responsive tyre”. Answer: the press launch of two new tyre is Dunlop’s answer to demands “When it rains, it is so important to OE Equipment news tyres. And it’s particularly exciting for more performance on MX tracks feel right on the bike. The tyres have when those tyres are new Dunlops and intermediate terrain. Based to give you maximum confidence, you that have been specifically designed on the successful D756 that in need to be able to rely on your tyre OE Tire fitting to set new standards in performance. December 2008 was again voted to tell you exactly what is happening. Telex the two new Dunlops were the best motocross tyre by US magazine You really feel when the Qualifier II Qualifier II and the Geomax MX51, Motocross Action, the MX51 has a reaches its limits.” unlop Motorcycle has increased the time was mid-March and the patented Geomax Reinforced Pattern day two gave journalists the Dits share as the largest OE tyre venues were the Goodyear-Dunlop and special tie-bar design to inspire opportunity to test Qualifier II on fitted brand in the market with the Mireval proving ground and the confidence in any rider. the road in ‘real world’ conditions. following models now having Dunlop Saint Thibery motocross track near a big bonus for the roadbike Their feedback was again tyres fitted by the manufacturer as Montpellier in southern France. A total journalists at Mireval was the consistently positive, with significant standard: of sixty journalists came from all over presence of Marco Simoncelli, who improvements noticed in handling Harley-Davidson fits the Dunlop Europe to spend two days putting stormed to victory in the 2008 250GP and stability. D407 on all the following models; Dunlop’s newest products to the test. world championship on his Dunlop At the final night’s gala dinner, Softail Rocker (C)/ Road King/ after a presentation by Dunlop shod Gilera. He would be giving his journalists voiced their appreciation for Electra Glide Classic/ Ultra Classic ’s European Managing own unique insights on the Qualifier II, the professionalism of the event, with Electra Glide/ Electra Glide Standard/ Director Sanjay Khanna and Sales which for the press test sessions were educational R&D and manufacturing Street Glide/ Road Glide/ Police and Marketing Director Sharon fitted to mouthwatering superbikes workshops and presentations Road King/ Police Electra Glide/ SE Antonaros, and a good night’s sleep, like Suzuki’s GSXR 1000, Kawasaki’s provided both before and after test Ultra classic Electra Glide/ Road King the journalists were bused to the Z1000, Yamaha’s R1 and Triumph’s riding and lots of technology-driven Classic/ Streamin Eagle Road Glide/ tracks for testing. Each session was 675 Street Triple. Such was Dunlop’s information available. They also Streamin Eagle Softail Springer. accompanied by a very detailed confidence in the new product, appreciated the opportunity to make Yamaha has fitted the XJ6 Diversion/ briefing to ensure the journalists were journalists were given the opportunity open comparisons with competing FZ6R/ XJ6 with the Roadsmart CQ fully briefed on the tyres’ potential. to test the Qualifier II against products tyres in both dry and wet conditions. L and YZF-R1 with the Sportmax directly developed from the hugely from Bridgestone (BT016) and Pirelli Simoncelli had pronounced himself D210F. The new Gladius Suzuki is successful D211GP race tyre, the (Diablo Rosso). Over at Ste Thibery well satisfied by the day’s testing – fitted with the Sportmax Qualifier Multitread (MT) technology Qualifier motocross track, the MX51s were and Europe’s specialist journalists J and Kawasaki’s ER-6 gets the II has been designed to deliver fitted to ’s agile CRF250 and seemed to agree with him. Roadsmart CQ G. substantial dynamic improvements KTM’s challenging 450 SXF. over the Qualifier across the entire comments collected on evaluation Click on: performance range – handling, forms noted that the MX51 was www.dunlopmotorcycle.eu to view stability and mileage, and especially “surprisingly grippy… it helped Simoncelli’s interview at Mireval. CONTACTS wet grip – without compromising any me a lot… your slogan ‘Ride with of Qualifier’s rightly praised comfort confidence’ is somehow true”, fully Jeremy Ferguson, International Motorsport Manager, [email protected]

Dunlop Motorsport Division Dunlop Tyres Ltd Fort Dunlop Birmingham B24 9QT UK Tel: +44 121 306 6000 fax: +44 121 306 7000 e-mail: [email protected]

Produced by Tel: +31 20 625 6539

> page4 For more two wheel stories go to www.dunlopmotorcycle.eu