Issuu

SPECIAL AMA PRO ROAD RACE ISSUE

DECEMBER 2012

FOR DUNLOP VIDEOS, PLEASE VISIT YOUTUBE.COM/DUNLOPTIRESCHANNEL

CONTENTS

DUNLOP AWARDS GUITARS TO HAYES AND CARDENAS

BY THE NUMBERS

2012 SEASON IN REVIEW

JOSH HAYES

JAKE LEWIS

JAMES RISPOLI

MIKE BARNES

2012 RACE TIRE DEVELOPMENT

THE MACHINES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

HOW MANY SUPERBIKE RACERS FLY COMMERCIAL JETS?

BLINK OF AN EYE

Special thanks to Brian J. Nelson, whose amazing photography graces virtually every page of this magazine.

ON THE COVER: In a season filled with incredible battles, one man in particular stood tall in the SuperBike class: Yamaha’s Josh Hayes, who made it three championships in a row. Photo by Brian J. Nelson Dunlop Download magazine is published for Dunlop by Vreeke & Associates. www.vreeke.com

DUNLOP AWARDS GUITARS TO HAYES AND CARDENAS With the conclusion of the 2012 AMA Pro Road Racing season, Dunlop proudly awarded Dunlopsponsored SuperBike champion Josh Hayes and Daytona SportBike Champion Martin Cardenas some unusual trophies—ESP LTD V-50 guitars specially decorated in recognition of their achievement. Hayes and Cardenas received the guitars at the recent road racing awards banquet and both were delighted to receive them. “Presenting this year’s champions with guitars that resemble our iconic flying D logo was a fun way to acknowledge their accomplishments,” said Mike Buckley, Dunlop vice president of sales, marketing, research and development. “ESP guitars are made in the USA and are an icon in the music world. The Dunlop KR448™ and KR449™ SuperBike slicks and Sportmax® D211™ GP-A DOT treaded tires used in Daytona SportBike and the other classes in 2012 are also made in the USA, in the Dunlop plant in Buffalo. This is the fourth year that Dunlop has served as the official tire of AMA Pro Road Racing, but this is the first time in history that the major domestic road racing series in the United States have been won on domestically made tires. We are proud to honor Josh and Martin for their success this year, and we are also proud that Dunlop could play a part in helping them earn their success all season long. We look forward to more success as we continue as the official series tire through 2014.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A VIDEO ON DUNLOP TIRES AND AMA PRO ROAD RACING

BY THE NUMBERS Teamwork is the ability to work as a group toward a common vision, and in the case of the Dunlop crew their common vision is supplying tires to the entire GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing paddock all season long. As you can imagine it takes a lot of stuff to provide support throughout the entire 12-round series, which kicks off in March and doesn’t conclude until October. We went straight to the source and asked the Dunlop road race tire crew exactly what kind of stuff and how much of it they use. Here is what we uncovered.

•

During the 2012 season, the Dunlop road racing crew performed approximately 14,000 tire changes.

•

Depending on weather conditions, the Dunlop crew can change around 1200 tires a weekend, with each person changing approximately 130 tires each day.

• •

Each weekend, Dunlop can be expected to pack 3500 tires. Depending on a racer’s class and tire allocation, they can go through anywhere from two to seven fronts and nine rears on a given weekend.

•

Each crew member spends between 85 to 110 days and nights away from home; more if you are one of the transportation drivers.

•

The transportation drivers are dedicated to ensuring that Dunlop’s three trucks make it to each race, traveling between 35,000 to 50,000 miles each year.

•

In order to guarantee each member is working at top efficiency it takes a lot of fluids to keep everyone hydrated. The crew can typically drink about 100 liters of fluids each race weekend, including water, Gatorade, soda and a lot of coffee.

•

In 2012 Dunlop tires broke the following lap records: Six in American SuperBike, six in Daytona SportBike, seven in SuperSport and eight in the Harley-Davidson XR1200 class.

SEASON IN REVIEW

2012

GEICO MOTORCYCLE AMA ROAD RACING

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2012 CHAMPS IN ACTION

AMA PRO NATIONAL GUARD SUPERBIKE

JOSHHAYES 10

AMA PRO NATIONAL GUARD SUPERBIKE

ROGERLEEHAYDEN

Just how dominant of a season did Josh Hayes have in

much anytime he was out on the track aboard his number

AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike in 2012? Well, let’s

1 Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R1. In fact, he had

take a look at the statistics.

seven “perfect” race weekends this past season. At seven of the 11 AMA Pro Road Racing rounds, Josh earned the

In 2012, Josh Hayes captured his third SuperBike

pole, led the most laps in both of the races, and scored

Championship in a row. And he joined SuperBike legends

victories in both of the races. 2012 will undoubtedly go

Ben Spies, Doug Chandler, Fred Merkel, and Reg

down in AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike history as the

Pridmore in winning three consecutive SuperBike titles. He

single greatest statistical effort by any rider. Unless, of

also now shares second place in all-time career SuperBike

course, Josh one-ups himself in 2013. Don’t bet against it.

Championships with those other four riders. Only Mat Mladin has won more SuperBike titles than Hayes.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Young finished second in the 2012 SuperBike season points standings, and the

Josh passed the great Miguel DuHamel for second place in

Wisconsinite managed three wins in the season, directly in

SuperBike wins category, again with only Mat Mladin still

the face of the Hayes hurricane of victories. Blake earned

above him. As if that wasn’t enough, Hayes set a slew of

a podium spot in 16 of the 20 SuperBike races that were

single-season records in 2012. He now has the most

run in 2012. He had some memorable rides during the

SuperBike wins in a season, with 16; the most consecutive

season, but perhaps none were more epic than his last-to-

SuperBike wins in a season, with 10; and the most

first ride at Road Atlanta in April after he and Josh Hayes

consecutive SuperBike pole positions, with 11 that includes

came together, crashed, and the race was red-flagged.

the 10 in a row he had this season, along with the pole he earned in the final round at the end of the 2011 season.

Third place in the season went to National Guard Jordan Suzuki rider Roger Lee Hayden. The youngest Hayden

In his racing career thus far, Josh has moved into fourth

came on strong during the second half of the 2012

place in all-time rider wins (all AMA classes), with 55; and

campaign. He earned his first SuperBike pole position and

he’s now in third place in all-time SuperBike poles, with 23

notched the first SuperBike victory of his career in Race

(just one pole out of a tie for second place).

One of the penultimate round at Homestead-Miami Speedway in September. It was an emotional win for Rog,

BLAKEYOUNG

The three-time and defending SuperBike Champ was also

who has certainly put in more than his fair share of hard

dominant not just in races, but also in qualifying and pretty

work in GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing.

AMA PRO GOPRO DAYTONA SPORTBIKE

MARTINCARDENAS 14

AMA PRO GOPRO DAYTONA SPORTBIKE

CAMERONBEAUBIER

The AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike series was won

Oklahoman Dane Westby finished in second place in the

by Martin Cardenas, a wily and experienced veteran from

championship aboard his number 5 M4 Suzuki GSX-R600.

Medellin, Colombia, who won a total of eight races during

And, even though he only had one win in 2012—Race One

the season and, with the exception of just two contests,

at Mid-Ohio in July—he had a very consistent season

never finished lower than fifth in any race that he

where, except for one race, he finished no lower than

ultimately didn’t win.

seventh place, and he earned a total of 10 podiums.

It was a remarkable season for Martin, aboard his number

Finishing third in the DSB Championship, and a rider to

36 GEICO Suzuki GSX-R600, as he earned 14 podiums

watch closely in 2013, was Cameron Beaubier, the 19-

out of a total of 19 races. He’s a smooth rider and a very

year-old sensation with talent and racecraft well beyond

likeable individual who looks to be headed to the AMA

his years.

National Guard SuperBike series for 2013. Cameron won a lot of races in 2012—seven, in fact, and just one less than DSB Champ Martin Cardenas—but an off-season broken leg suffered while training on a dirt bike, an early season accident that left him with a broken knee and a tweaked wrist, and a late-season race crash at New Jersey Motorsports Park that re-broke his knee and banged up his shoulder all conspired against the Northern Californian’s winning season. It was a lot of adversity for one rider to have to deal with and, with luck, he’ll be dealt a better hand as he competes in DSB once again next year aboard his number 6 Yamaha Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha YZF-R6. 16

DANEWESTBY 17

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM SUPERSPORT

JAMESRISPOLI 18

AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM SUPERSPORT James Rispoli, who won both the 2011 AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport East and National Championships, stayed in the SuperSport series for 2012 instead of moving up to AMA GoPro Daytona SportBike because he set a personal goal to win the SuperSport West Championship, along with winning the National title for the second year in a row. It was a lofty goal, especially considering the intense level of competition and young talent in the SuperSport class, not to mention the sheer number of bikes and riders competing in the series, but James achieved his goal. Hats off to him for reaching for the stars and attaining them. Meanwhile, in AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport East, Riders Discount Vesrah Suzuki rookie rider Jake Lewis and Latus Motors Racing Triumph’s Dustin Dominguez both came into the final round at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans with plans to secure the number 1 plate as the East Champion. Jake, a protégé of Earl Hayden, made 20 SuperSport starts in 2012 and earned 14 top-five finishes and three wins to help him finish first in the standings. He capped off his late-season resurgence by finishing second in Saturday’s Race One at NOLA, and that gave him a big advantage going in Sunday’s Race Two where he was able to lock up the East title with an 11-point gap over Dustin.

JAKELEWIS 20

AMA PRO VANCE & HINES XR1200 SERIES

MICHAELBARNES 22

AMA PRO VANCE & HINES XR1200 SERIES

TYLERO’HARA

BENNYCARLSON

Similar to how the 2011 AMA Pro National Guard

As Barney and Tyler came onto the front straight after

During the 2012 season, Barney actually raced for three different teams as he struggled to

SuperBike season was decided in the last corner on the

completing the final turn in the final race, veteran rider

secure enough funding to keep his racing aspirations going. A journeyman rider in every

last lap of the last race of the season, the 2012 AMA Pro

Barney had a slight lead over his much-younger

sense of the word, it’s arguable that no one has ever put in more effort or put up a tougher

Vance & Hines XR1200 Championship gave race fans a

challenger. Suddenly, Tyler reached out with his left hand

fight to win a motorcycle road racing championship than Michael Barnes did in 2012.

feeling of déjà vu ... but with an important difference.

and grabbed onto Barney’s right shoulder, at which point,

KLR Group/Spyke’s/Vesrah rider Michael Barnes and

Tyler literally pulled himself and his XR1200 into the lead

Due to a racing incident farther back in the field on the final lap of the final race at NOLA,

and, ultimately, across the finish line first.

a red flag was shown at the same time that the checkered flag flew. The situation moved Tyler back in the field, and down to third in the final points standings. Suburban

Bartel’s Harley-Davidson’s Tyler O’Hara were the

protagonists in a dramatic fight to the finish. Just two

It was a desperate move by Tyler, and one that was

Harley-Davidson’s Benny Carlson was elevated from fourth place to third in the race,

championship points separated the two riders—who were

ultimately disallowed by AMA Pro Road Racing officials.

and that earned him enough points to move from third to second place in the final

actually teammates at one point earlier in the season—and

Barney was credited with the race win instead of Tyler,

points standings.

the winner of Race Two at NOLA Motorsports Park (final

which earned Barney his first-ever individual AMA Pro

race of the 2012 season) would also win the season title.

Road Racing Championship in 20 years of trying.

It was one of the craziest endings to a season that anyone had ever witnessed. 25

JOSH HAYES

2012 AMA PRO NATIONAL GUARD SUPERBIKE CHAMPION A man who once described himself as a “student in the

In racing it’s usually not the successes that mold a rider,

school of motorcycle racing” has progressed to a point in

but the ability to get back up, dust his battle-scarred

his career where he is doing a great deal more teaching

leathers off and get back on the bike even when those

than learning.

around you are suggesting a job in a shoe store or an engineering office back home. Hayes drove home

Of the 20 AMA Pro SuperBike races this year, he won 16.

bloodied, with his head throbbing from big crashes more

It has been a very long time since we have witnessed this

than once, but instead of finding a real job he rebuilt

kind of devastation in the SuperBike class, but Mississippi

smashed bikes and sent in entry fees for upcoming races.

native turned Southern Californian Josh Hayes made it look relatively easy to grab his third AMA Pro SuperBike

Calling him one-dimensional is unfair, but Hayes is a

title in a row in 2012. When it began, some suggested he

difficult rider to classify in terms of an easily identifiable

might be more vulnerable.

personality trait. Has his confidence, bolstered by dominating a championship for three years, grown to

Hayes’ ascension through the AMA Pro Racing lower

monolithic proportions like it did with previous champion

ranks was occasionally not pretty and certainly not easy.

Mat Mladin? Not really. Hayes is certainly more confident

Hayes raced—and crashed—a variety of his own bikes

than he once was, but there’s still an occasional glimpse

and those of other teams all over the United States from

of the kid in him, amazed that all this championship

his rookie days through the mid-level classes and

success is happening. Is he, then, a gregarious jokester

alternative series championships. Many times he won,

like Miguel DuHamel was? Not really. Hayes has a wicked

showing a prowess on a road race machine that he would

sense of humor, but it’s more under the radar and only

become well known for. But there were nasty, infamous

gets a work-out when he’s around friends. When World

crashes leaving Hayes bloody and demoralized at times.

Superbike rider Chaz Davies lived and trained with Hayes 27

IF YOU HAD TO GRAB TWO WORDS TO DESCRIBE JOSH HAYES OUT OF THE DICTIONARY THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE “MODEST” AND “CLASSY.” for an off-season a few years ago, one person who rode

departure from our 2011 season, but to come out

bicycles with the pair called them “the mutterers” because

champion and win it the way that we did makes me proud

they were usually talking under their breath to one

of the way I handled things and the way that I rode. I’m

another, trading insults and jibes that no one else could

really proud of my crew and how they supported me and

quite make out.

gave me a bike that could win every single time. Winning championships never gets boring. It’s the payoff of all the

If you had to grab two words to describe Josh Hayes out

hard work that you’ve done for so many years. Having a

of the dictionary they would probably be “modest” and

team that believes in you is amazing.

“classy.” He appreciates fans, thanks his mechanics and has never given any kind of indication that he isn’t

“The success that I have had in the last few years has

eternally grateful for all the support and success that he

happened so quickly. I went from being an underdog to an

has been a part of since he signed with Yamaha to race

overdog basically overnight. It’s been pretty

Superbikes.

overwhelming. This success does not tell the whole story. There were a couple of years in a row that I had these just

Just the fact that Josh Hayes is a SuperBike rider and a

huge injuries that really backed things off for me. I was

three-time class champion remains a remarkable twist of

afraid that I would not be able to race a motorcycle any

fate. Hayes was never really on the fast track to a factory-

more at times. So I am really glad for the amazing success

supported SuperBike ride when he raced for other

we are having now.”

manufacturers. He frequently found himself on the outside when his results should have earned him a

“I feel very fortunate that we have Dunlop tires on my

SuperBike ride.

Yamaha. When Dunlop signed on to become the spec tire partner for the AMA Pro Racing series it worked great for

For many seasons he seemed resigned to the idea that he

me because I have been racing with Dunlops since 2000

would never be a factory SuperBike rider, that he’d be

and I really love the feel that they give me. I’m a Dunlop

racing for some scrappy team in World Supersport or a B-

man through and through. I recommend them to

level World Superbike team. That all changed when he

everybody because they are so consistent.”

was approached by Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha with a unique—or obvious, depending on your perspective—

For Hayes, 2012 largely went to plan. The assault that

opportunity. They presented to him a chance to become

some expected from his competitors never materialized

their focal point in US road racing. The rest, as the saying

and Hayes won his third SuperBike championship by

goes, is history. Josh Hayes won his third AMA Pro

scoring 16 wins, taking 10 wins in a row, putting him

SuperBike title in 2012.

second on the all-time AMA Pro SuperBike win list. He is fourth on the all-time AMA Pro Road Racing win list for

“The 2012 championship is awesome,” Hayes said at the

all classes.

AMA Pro Racing awards banquet. “It’s my third one and

an amazing year with so many race wins and the

Pretty good stats for a guy who once feared he may never

consecutive run, all kinds of cool stuff. It was a huge

get a SuperBike ride. 29

JAKE LEWIS

TOP STUDENT AT THE EARL HAYDEN SCHOOL FOR POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS Former MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden is a notoriously

essentially ride just short of every moment they are

difficult man to impress. Oh, if you ask him about another

awake, thus Lewis has been on a bike full-time since he

rider he’ll give a polite answer and possibly mention a

was a toddler. Later, Earl advised that Lewis, after several

positive attribute. Is he being sincere or just playing along?

seasons of Pee Wee dirt track, should graduate into road

There are opinions on that, but there is no interpretation

racing, which he did, at the ripe age of 8 years old. At the

needed when Hayden talks about Kentucky rider Jake

same time he continued his visits to Owensboro.

Lewis. Hayden says of Lewis, “He’s the real deal.” The first thing a learned eye notices about Lewis is that Jake Lewis is 16 years old, and he’s from Princeton,

he’s a tall drink of water, definitely taller than your average

Kentucky. In his rookie season this 2012, he won the AMA

road racer, and taller than the Hayden brothers. But,

Pro Motorcycle-Superstore SuperSport East

Lewis, somehow, does not appear that tall on a

championship. And Nicky Hayden is not the only one

motorcycle, his lanky frame somehow compresses once

predicting that he could be the next big American road

he’s behind the windscreen. Lewis is known for his

racing star.

cheery, optimistic attitude and doesn’t see his 6-foot height as a hindrance, even though he towers over

Lewis grew up in the shadow of the three Hayden

his rivals.

brothers, trailing them on the family dirt track and the

narrow strips of asphalt in Kentucky where the quartet

“I think there are more advantages to being tall. You can

train on their bicycles. Lewis basically followed the

hang off the bike further and move the bike around more

informal syllabus offered by the Earl Hayden School for

because you have longer legs to allow it. On long, fast

Potential Champions: born of an ex-racer father, he began

tracks, it sort of affects you with aerodynamics and

riding motorcycles at 3 years old, racing shortly after that.

tucking in, but I’ve adapted pretty well.” Lewis calls the

Earl suggests that riders he takes under his wing

tiny and jewel-like Aprilia 125 his favorite motorcycle. 31

When you’re lapping against Tommy, Nick or Roger Lee Hayden for hours at a time on a dirt oval, road racing in a sprint race at Daytona or Laguna Seca must almost seem like a day at the beach in comparison. Regardless, Lewis did well in his rookie season in the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore SuperSport East championship, claiming three wins in 20 starts, in what most feel is the most competitive roster that the class has ever offered. 2013 will see Lewis with a new squad. Meen Motorsports, formerly GP Bike Parts, signed Lewis to a two-year deal in late 2012, and he will step up to the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class on a Yamaha YZF-R6. “I am really excited to join the Meen Motorsports team for the 2013 season, contending on one of the best teams in the AMA Pro paddock. I am also very happy to be back on a Yamaha as I move forward to the Daytona SportBike class and welcome the challenges it will have for me. I will be training really hard during the off-season and will come ready to race at the Daytona 200 in March. Together, I believe the Meen Motorsports team and I will be a top competitor every weekend and I can’t wait to start testing,” Lewis said in the team announcement. Until Daytona, Lewis will be signed up for roughly the same class schedule that he’s enjoyed since he came under the wing of Earl Hayden, meaning laps upon laps on the ovals, and bicycling with his friends. The Hayden family figures prominently in Lewis’ past, present and future. Thus, can it be any more poetic that when Lewis travels from Princeton to Owensboro, the route he takes is I-69?

JAMES RISPOLI

BY THE ROCKET’S RED GLARE In 2012, James Rispoli accomplished something that had

For James, it all started when he and his family moved

never been done before in GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro

from southern New Hampshire where he was born to

Road Racing competition. By winning the AMA Pro

western New York State, a mecca of dirt track racing that

SuperSport West Division he made history by being the

has produced road racers such as Jason DiSalvo, Kyle

first-ever AMA Pro SuperSport rider to win both the East

Wyman, and Kyle’s brothers Travis and Cody.

and West Division Championships, as well as two consecutive SuperSport National titles.

When James was only 6, he finished dead-last in his very first flat track race, but being last still made motorcycle

And, as if that wasn’t enough of an accomplishment,

racing Rispoli’s first love. He was hooked, and he instantly

Rispoli also won the Daytona SuperSport race at Daytona

became a faithful disciple of the sport, soaking up the tips

International Speedway this past March, which made him

and techniques of the fast riders who competed on the

the only rider to win both the Flat Track and SuperSport

dirt tracks near his home.

races at Daytona. Rispoli spent his early years riding and racing dirt track And, speaking of Flat Track, like many historic motorcycle

motorcycles of every description. He worked tirelessly on

road racing icons, the blue groove is the path that James

honing his riding skills, and perfecting such intricacies as

took to asphalt-racing stardom. Kenny Roberts, Wayne

throttle control and body position.

Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer, Doug Chandler, the Haydens, the Bostroms—they all cut their teeth on dirt

When he turned 16, Rispoli started racing in AMA Pro Flat

before hitting the pavement.

Track aboard a bone-stock Aprilia 550 twin. It was an odd racing machine to be sure—the only one on the grid, in fact—yet James finished second on that Aprilia at the famed Indy Mile against the factory-backed HarleyDavidson team managed by the legendary Bill Werner.

Also, while still only 16, Rispoli competed in the AMA Pro MotoST endurance series, and he was the youngest rider to win at Daytona International Speedway, competing against the Pair O’ Nines team that was made up of Hall of Fame racers Jay Springsteen and Jimmy Filice, and run by the late, great Gary Nixon. After earning second place in the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles season standings, James made the switch from flat track to road racing. However, due to a lack of sponsors, he was only able to race in selected AMA Pro Road Racing events during his first two seasons. Then, in 2011, despite still racing on a partial budget, Rispoli won the AMA Pro SuperSport East Championship, along with the AMA Pro SuperSport National Title. That finally got Rispoli noticed. For 2012, James joined Barry Gilsenan’s Celtic Racing/Orient Express team where he finally had the financial backing to compete in both the East and West rounds, enabling him to gain valuable experience by racing on all the AMA Pro Road Racing tracks. It’s been a remarkable career for Rispoli so far, and he’s already accomplished so much ... yet he’s still just 21 years old. That’s why he remains hard at work trying to make himself a better road racer. He takes his fitness seriously, and he’s an avid cyclist, pounding the pedals for thousands of miles each year. He currently lives with his trainer Richie, who is a pro cyclist helping James with his training, diet, and mental attitude. Rispoli also works as one of the coaching riders at Jason Pridmore’s STAR School, which provides Rispoli with valuable seat time. Jason has also taken Rispoli under his wing, and he’s been a big supporter of Rispoli for the past couple of years. When not training, working with Pridmore, or attending to sponsor activities, Rispoli likes to play golf, go cycling just for fun, do a little bit of dirt bike riding and surfing. For 2013, Rispoli is still unsure of his exact plans, but one thing’s for sure. He’ll be competing on a road racing motorcycle and, undoubtedly, winning.

MICHAEL BARNES

ALL DUE RESPECT More often than not, 44-year-old riders are usually looking

title. “OK, maybe after a crash I might, when I’m in the

for an exit plan from racing. For Mike Barnes his 44th year

hospital, for like 15 minutes but then it passes and I think,

on this planet will go down as one of the most enjoyable

‘Next race, gotta get ready.’”

on the racetrack and also his most successful. Barnes, a veteran rider who has raced motorcycles all over the

It’s fitting that Barnes races an XR1200 Harley-Davidson,

world in championships as varied as tiny 125s and electric

because if anyone looks like a vintage Harley Davidson

bikes, persevered to win the AMA Pro Vance & Hines

racer it is the Floridian. You could easily superimpose his

XR1200 Series Championship in 2012. His exit plan? To

image into an old photo of 1970s Harley racers such as

run the number 1 plate in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines

Mert Lawwill, Cal Rayborn and Roger Reiman. He’d slip

XR1200 class in 2013. Remarkably, it’ll be his 26th season

easily into the scene. Colorful and always quotable, Barnes

of racing.

isn’t a sponsor-thanking robot. Vices? He probably has a few. Does he know how to have a good time? Definitely.

Admired and appreciated in paddocks all over the US, “Barney” as he is universally known, says he has never

Barnes’ face tells a story, with age lines that trace a

considered retiring from racing, even though he knows

record of races won and lost, and championships that

first hand the hard life a racer must endure. “Quit? Nah, I

slipped from his grasp at the last moment. But all that ex-

never really think about quitting,” he said after winning the

perience helped him more than he might have expected when the title chase for the 2012 AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 came down to the final round at New Orleans. This was not Michael Barnes’ first rodeo, as the popular phrase goes.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, 44-YEAR-OLD RIDERS ARE USUALLY LOOKING FOR AN EXIT PLAN FROM RACING. FOR MICHAEL BARNES, HIS 44TH YEAR ON THIS PLANET WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE ON THE RACETRACK AND ALSO HIS MOST SUCCESSFUL. “I just tried to stay calm,” said the former 750 Supersport

and I gapped him.” Barnes’ boots, after winning the title,

race winner. “That was the biggest thing that experience

were worn through in the toe-skid area.

taught me, that I needed to stay calm and grounded and just keep putting in the laps. I didn’t allow myself to think

Barnes faced a trying 2012 season in the AMA Pro Vance

about the championship, or even winning the race. I just

& Hines XR1200 class with multiple sponsors and partners

took each lap as it came, counted them down.”

early in the season. Tumultuous circumstances are nothing new for a rider who thinks nothing of racing for half a

Barnes attributes much of his success to the Dunlop tires

dozen different teams over a few seasons. He finished the

that were under him for the 2012 season. “They’re what I

series with a KLR Group-sponsored machine, which he

like to call a confidence tire,” he said. “They instill confi-

says was a crucial factor for him to win the title.

dence in a racer. For instance, I needed a gap over another rider and I knew that one way to get it was to just stick

Close up. “It’s been a long time coming. My thanks to

that front Dunlop into a corner and lean that bike over

[racer] Kyle Wyman for giving me a bike that was equal to

more than I had previously. Tire worked beautifully, it stuck

his and offering this chance to live my dream. Also to Gaston Kearby and the KLR Group for their financial support. To finally have a championship after all these years just reenergizes me. I love this sport and I can’t wait to run with the Number 1 plate next year.”

Question: Can you give us an overall view of how

What kinds of advances in race tire performance have

the 2012 season went with the newest generation of

you developed since the end of the 2011 season?

Dunlop race tires?

SM: In 2012 we introduced a new size/profile, the

Sabastian Mincone: The 2012 season went very well for

190/60ZR17 Sportmax D211GP-A. At the start of the

us; it was another exciting season with great racing in all

season it was available in two compounds, but by the

five classes of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing.

second part of the season we introduced two more new

Daytona 2012 was an especially great moment for us

compounds. We have also worked on development of

because it was the first time that a U.S.-made race tire,

the new, Buffalo-made KR451, which is an asymmetric,

the Sportmax® D211™ GP-A in 190/60ZR17, won the

bi-directional multi-compound rear slick. This innovative

prestigious 200-mile race. The same tire in different

rear tire differs from other slicks in its use of a biased

compounds went on to break 21 lap records for the AMA

combination of tire compounds, with a grippier

Pro DOT tires classes in 2012—Daytona SportBike,

compound on the side that will encounter fewer turns per

SuperSport and XR1200. Another great moment for us

lap. This design also allows the tire to be fitted for

was the Mid-Ohio race where in both days of racing, all of

rotation in either direction, so the tire can deliver

the top-five SuperBike finishers were on the U.S.-made

maximum performance regardless of the track’s

KR449 slick tires.

directional flow.

Where did Dunlop conduct tire testing for AMA racing

What kinds of improvements were gained in lap times

in 2012 and why did you choose these tracks?

in 2012?

SM: In 2012 we tested various tire specifications at the

SM: in 2012 we managed to break 27 lap records, six in

AMA Pro Racing tests at Homestead and NOLA

American SuperBike, six in Daytona SportBike, seven in

Motorsports Park. Homestead and NOLA were new

SuperSport and eight in the Harley-Davidson XR1200

racetracks for the 2012 race schedule and it was

class. We saw improvements of 0.5 second to more

important for us to evaluate the performance and

than 1.0 second per lap, depending on the track and

For the past four years, Dunlop has served as the official tire of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road

durability of our tires on both tracks, and also to test

the weather conditions. So you can see we’re achieving

Racing, a relationship that continues through 2014. This responsibility demands that development

some new specifications. We also tested at Daytona and

very significant gains all across the board in the pro

work continue at a rapid pace with clear expectations of ever-higher levels of performance. So here’s

at other tracks in the USA and Australia. More recently, we

racing scene.

a peek behind the scenes as the Dunlop crew and top riders develop the next generation of race

also tested a few more development tires and innovations

2012 RACE TIRE

DEVELOPMENT tires, seen through the eyes of Sabastian Mincone, Dunlop senior manager, motorcycle road racing.

that we will introduce in 2013 in Daytona.

What kinds of subjective comments did the riders give you, specifically about the Buffalo tires?

How many prototype tires did you test in 2012?

SM: Their comments have become very important for us,

SM: At Homestead we tested four fronts and four rears for

especially that now both tires (KR108 and KR449/KR451)

both the D211 GP-A treaded tires and the slick race tires.

are performing and behaving the same way. Every

At NOLA we tested three fronts and five rears for the D211

small detail is very important for us, as they give us

GP-A tires and the slicks. At Daytona we did five new

new insights. Some of the various aspects that the

fronts and three new rears in D211 GP-As, two new front

riders’ comments focused on include side grip

and four new rear slicks.

performance and feel, drive grip, qualities during change of direction and more. This kind of feedback that we

CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO ON DUNLOP RACE TIRE DEVELOPMENT

What kinds of variations were tested in these

get from top racers is absolutely crucial to our

prototypes?

development process because this is the kind of

SM: We have been working on different projects, from

information you can’t get in a test lab; it comes only from

new tire compounding to different construction and also

the best racers in the paddock, while riding at a very

different tire profiles.

high level.

THE BEST EXAMPLE WAS NOLA RACE ONE, WHERE WE HAD THE KR108, KR449 AND KR451 ON THE PODIUM. THAT WAS A GREAT RESULT AND A HUGE SUCCESS FOR ALL OF US AT DUNLOP. What new tires have been developed using this

NOLA Race One where we had the KR108, KR449 and

process?

KR451 on the podium. That was a great result and a huge

SM: All our D211GP-A and KR448/KR449/KR451 tires

success for all of us at Dunlop.

share the same philosophy, technology and processes. If the KR449 and KR451 are winning tires for AMA What kinds of additional development work was done

Expert racers, are they also a good choice for club

specifically with the U.S.-made tires?

racers?

SM: Last winter we worked on three new compounds for

SM: Yes, club racers are able to gain equal advantage

the KR449, and we also developed the KR451 project—

from these new tires and put them to good use. Right

the asymmetric Jointless tread compound tire project.

after we first released the KR449 and KR451 to club racers they began to win on these tires, and these tires

How many kinds of compound variants are there for

have gone on to win many different club series

the KR449 and the KR451?

championships in 2011 and 2012.

SM: The KR449 is available in three compounds: 2662 Soft, 7455 Medium and 8477 Medium Plus. The

What other advantages might club racers realize by

asymmetric, bi-directional multi-compound KR451 is

using the KR449 and KR451?

available in two configurations, 2662/7455 and 7455/8477.

SM: These tires are available at a great price, and all the U.S.-made race tires are developed, tested and raced at

The KR449 slick rear tire, which was developed in the

most of the racetracks in the U.S. Club racing is very

USA and is built in Buffalo, New York, achieved a

important to Dunlop. We attend various club races during

number of milestones in 2012. Tell us about the

the season where we interact as much as possible with

progression of use and how it came to be the tire of

most of our club-support Dunlop riders. It is very

choice among many top racers.

important for us to have a direct line of contact with them,

SM: Barber was the first weekend where we had the

as they too supply feedback that is very important to the

KR449 available to the AMA Pro SuperBike riders. All the

development process. As we have said repeatedly, every

data that we had collected during the winter and at the

rider is important for us, and that’s not a sales pitch; it’s

Homestead test proved to us that the KR449 was very

an actual step we maintain in the development protocols.

competitive. The NOLA test went even better for the

KR449 and KR451 as both specs were the ones that the

You’ve already begun testing for the 2013 season;

riders preferred. At Mid-Ohio, out of the three rear specs

what kinds of things are you working on?

that we had available, the KR449 in 7455 compound was

SM: As always, we continue to work on various projects

the best one in lap times and durability and it swept both

that we will try to introduce in the next few months.

SuperBike podiums. The KR449 and KR451 were

Daytona and the rest of the 2013 season is just around

competitive at other racetracks too; the best example was

the corner, you know!

THE MACHINES

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Fans of motorcycle racing in the USA are a lucky bunch. Whether you favor road racing, motocross competition or an off-road series—or all of them—the majority of great racing happens on production-based machinery. And that makes us all double lucky, because we can not only root for a favorite rider, but we can also root for a favorite racing machine—one that maybe started out as the same bike sitting in your garage. Even by the furthest stretches of the imagination there’s no way that’s going to happen with NASCAR or Formula 1 auto racing hardware. So motorcycle race fans get to watch both a favorite rider and a favorite bike get tested through the heat of competition. In 2012, the two champions at the highest levels of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road

Racing competition were Josh Hayes aboard his Monster Energy Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 in the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike series, and Martin Cardenas and his GEICO Suzuki GSX-R600 in the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class. Here we give you a good look at these machines, up close and personal, along with an accounting of the parts used to modify these bikes and transform them into championship-winning racers. The fact that these parts are largely available to the average consumer via aftermarket sources only sweetens the deal.

MONSTER ENERGY GRAVES YAMAHA YZF-R1 SUPERBIKE To build Josh’s Monster Energy Graves SuperBike, the team began with a stock 2012 Yamaha YZF-R1, just like the ones available at your local Yamaha dealership. Chassis modifications include an inverted Öhlins racing fork up front and an Öhlins race-spec rear shock, OZ magnesium racing wheels, Braking USA wave rotors, Brembo racing calipers and brake pads, plus other competition parts used to increase performance and reduce weight for closed-course competition. Sharkskinz lightweight bodywork and Zero Gravity windscreen adorn the bike, and there’s also Graves Motorsports rearset controls and handlebars, plus a Dynojet quick shifter with a reversed, racing system. The engine is fully modified within the established SuperBike class guidelines, including the use of Magneti Marelli ECU and engine management components, STM clutch components, and a Graves Motorsports underseat titanium twin exhaust system. Other racing touches includthe use of a lightweight Speedcell battery, Vortex sprockets and D.I.D ERV3 drive chain, Yamalube performance lubricants and, of course, Dunlop’s made-in-America KR449 rear and KR448F front racing slicks.

GEICO SUZUKI GSX-R600 DAYTONA SPORTBIKE The GEICO Suzuki team started with a showroom-stock bike for Martin, a 2012 Suzuki GSX-R600. AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class rules mandate primarily stock parts with minimal modifications and engine tuning, yet these bikes can reach speeds in excess of 175 mph. Chassis adaptations include a racing rear shock, while the front suspension consists of a stock inverted forks re-valved with internal racing cartridges. The team prefers Hotbodies Racing’s windscreen and lightweight fiberglass bodywork, Vortex aluminum-alloy sprockets plus Vortex hand and foot controls, and D.I.D 520 ERV3 X-Ring chain. Galfer USA carbon-compound brake pads, braided stainless-steel brake lines and wave-style brake rotors both front and rear add racequality stopping power. M4 Performance exhaust systems, Lucas high-performance motorcycle oils, Speedcell batteries and Dunlop’s made-in-USA Sportmax® D211™ GP-A tires round out the package. 50

HOW MANY

SUPERBIKE RACERS

FLY COMMERCIAL JETS? ONE THAT WE KNOW OF: STEVE RAPP. Attack Performance Kawasakiâ€™s Steve Rapp enjoyed an interesting 2012 season, but if you think you know Rapp you may be surprised to learn about his new day job off-season.

I WAS RECENTLY HIRED BY GO-JET TO BE A PILOT AND I WILL START FLYING FOR THEM NEXT WEEK. Question: 2012 almost didn’t look like it was going to happen for Steve Rapp. Steve Rapp: Right. I think everybody is pretty familiar with the situation that we had at the beginning of the season. On March first, days before Daytona, Attack Performance’s Richard Stanboli contacted me and said that he’d decided to race SuperBike at Daytona. The motorcycle-superstore.com people were interested in sponsoring the effort for Daytona and perhaps after that, so we went to Daytona. Richard literally prepped the bikes and then drove from California to Florida. I think, given the lack of testing and lead-time, we did really well. I finished fifth and sixth in the SuperBike races at Daytona, which we were, frankly, ecstatic with. It was a great finish for a team that literally just showed up before practice began. After that, Richard and the motorcycle-superstore.com folks came to an agreement for the rest of the season. We had to run a tight ship in order to do the entire season, but I think given all of that it went really well. We did all of the races, but I crashed an electric bike at Infineon and broke my wrist, which put a temporary damper on things. Thankfully, a few weeks later I was back at Miller. From there, we had some up and down results in the middle of the season, but I finished second in one of the SuperBike races at Miami and that was a nice way to cap off the season. Q: Dunlop made some major improvements to the tires used in the AMA Pro Racing series this year. They make the tires at their facility in Buffalo, New York, and those tires broke some very fast track records. SR: Absolutely. In addition to making the tires here and that their performance was so incredible, the consistency has never wavered. I’ve ridden for, I think, every tire manufacturer that has raced the SuperBike class in my career and I can tell you that consistency is one of the hardest things for the others to accomplish. With some other tire brands you get a tire one day that seems to be the best tire in the world and then you go to the grid the next day with the same specification of tire and guess what? It’s not even close. Dunlop’s tires have improved and retained that consistency. Maybe they don’t get enough credit for that sometimes. Q: What’s happening with you for the off-season? You’ve been a hobby pilot for many years. Do you plan to do a lot of flying? SR: I do. In fact, I was recently hired by Go-Jet to be a pilot and I will start flying for them next week. This season we were slightly hampered with me taking classes and testing for this position with Go-Jet as well, and I want to thank everybody on the team for putting up with it. I’ll be a co-pilot on the smaller commuter jets, 70-100 passengers, and am really looking forward to it. 54

BLINK OF AN EYE There are plenty of reasons we love to attend AMA Pro Road Race events. Standing by the racetrack’s edge, you absorb the full sound and fury of the sport: smells of race gas and oil transformed into pure speed, thundering exhaust notes rumbling through your chest, the sheer electricity of high-speed battles filling the air. However, there is one thing you can’t get at the track: a second look. With bikes screaming past at nigh-on impossible speeds, your eyeballs can hardly hang on for the briefest of glimpses before they’re gone in the blink of an eye. Did I just see that? What happened? Did he make that pass? And that’s precisely why, after the exhaust fumes and rubber dust have settled, we all enjoy images captured at the track. Here, in calm and quiet, we can take the time to carefully study the art and poetry in motion of race bikes at speed, sights that we could not possibly take in at the track. Moreover, through the all-seeing lenses of a true artist such as photographer Brian J. Nelson, we gain access to bikes, places, moments and details that we would have likely missed even if we were lucky enough to be standing by his side. So now, enjoy another dimension of our sport. Take that time to carefully inspect furious moments frozen in time. And best of all, you’re now free to blink all you want, without missing a thing. BLAKE YOUNG 56

JOSH HAYES BOWS IN PRAYER AT THE TEMPLE OF SPEED. 58

JASON DISALVO PAYS HOMAGE TO THE LATE GARY NIXON.

CAMERON BEAUBIER, RIDER ON FIRE.

MICHAEL BARNES: GOOD TO THE LAST DROP. 60

MARTIN CARDENAS RACES THROUGH THE 59-FOOT DROP INTO THE CORKSCREW AT LAGUNA SECA.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE SOUL OF JOSH HAYES’ CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING YAMAHA YZF-R1 SUPERBIKE. 64

BEN BOSTROM LOOKS THROUGH THE TURN.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE IMAGES

A BLUR AT SPEED, ROGER HAYDEN IS CAPTURED IN A DEFINING MOMENT.