AUGUST 2011

32

CONTENTS

Dunlop Download magazine is published for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires by Vreeke & Associates. www.vreeke.com

4 DEFENDING CHAMPION JOSH STRANG LEADS GNCC SERIES

6 CASELLI CONTINUES WORCS REIGN

8 2011 ISLE OF MAN TT EXPANDS DUNLOP WIN RECORD

10 TEAM DUNLOP UPDATE

18 ROLAND SANDS OPENS NEW DESIGN CENTER

22 MISSION MOTORS WINS 2011 USGP TTXGP/FIM E-POWER CHAMPIONSHIP

28 HONDA MOTO3 RACER DEBUTS

34 DUNLOPS, DIESELS AND THE U.S. MARINES

36 DUNLOP RELEASES USA-MADE RACING SLICKS

40 X GAMES 17

46 LAGUNA SECA ROAD RACE ACTION

54 MX UPDATE: BATTLE TO THE FINISH LINE

68 MIKE GOSSELAAR TUNER TO THE STARS

74 CHRIS FILLMORE LIKES RACES THAT START WITH SUPER

78 RICKY DIETRICH WORCS CHAMPION TURNED MOTOCROSS ROOKIE

84 UPCOMING EVENTS

FOR DUNLOP VIDEOS PLEASE VISITYOUTUBE.COM/DUNLOPTIRESCHANNEL

CLICK HERE TO ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO HAVEDUNLOP DOWNLOAD SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU EVERY MONTH

ON THE COVER:Blake Young has dominated the AMA Superbikeseries, finishing on the podium in every race butone, and scoring six wins to grab the points leadheading into the final rounds.

4 5

DEFENDING CHAMPION

JOSHLEADS GNCC SERIES

JOSHSTRANG

CHARLIEMULLINS

FMF/Makita Suzuki’s Josh Strang set an incredibly high

standard at the start of the 2010 Can-Am Grand National

Cross Country (GNCC) series—he won the first four races. The

Dunlop-sponsored Aussie captured a total of five first-place

finishes that season to win the GNCC Championship.

And in 2011 he looks ready for a repeat. He currently holds a

14-point lead in the series. He has recorded two wins and

stood on the podium at six of the seven races held so far. (Two

races were cancelled because of rain.) One of his wins came

at what is dubbed “America’s Toughest Race” in Snowshoe,

WV. After having raced at Snowshoe for three years, Strang

came in with a plan and executed it—at this track it’s better to

follow than to lead. That way “if a rider in front of you gets

stuck, you can see where not to go and choose a different

line,” Strang said.

At the last round in Millfield, OH, he charged through the field

to claim third place after getting knocked down near the start.

“The first lap was decent, I think I was close to the front,”

Strang said. “On the second lap, I lost a little ground in a really

tight section, but after that, I started picking guys off, and on

the last lap I caught Cory Buttrick and passed him for third.

The RM-Z450 was perfect and pulled really strong on these

tough hills.”

When he’s not racing the GNCC series in the East, the

Southern California resident likes to mix it up in the SoCal

motocross series. Strang also likes to train with his “mates” by

riding bicycles. The versatile 23-year-old also rode at A Day in

the Dirt Motocross Grand Prix at Pala Raceway in California

during Thanksgiving weekend in 2010, and he and Jeremy

McGrath engaged in a spectacular bout in the Open GP.

Strang started riding at age four on a Suzuki JR50. And he’s

been a fan of the brand since. “I've been with the team since

2007 when I came over [from Australia],” he said. “It's been

good, I mean, the bikes are really good and they're behind me

100 percent. I couldn't ask for anything more.”

This season Strang and FMF/KTM’s Charlie Mullins have been

battling for the lead. Mullins currently holds second place in

the series, having taken two first-place finishes and a total of

five podiums.

The GNCC series now takes a break for the summer, with the

next round scheduled for September 11-12 at Unadilla in

New York. “We've got two months off,” Strang said. “I'll spend

a bit of time with my parents, who are coming in from

Australia. But then, we'll get back down to work and get ready

for Unadilla.”

GNCC SERIES STANDINGS XC1

1. Josh Strang 174 (Dunlop)

2. Charlie Mullins 160 (Dunlop)

3. Paul Whibley 149

4. Nate Kanney 111

5. Cory Buttrick 110 (Dunlop)

6. Kailub Russell 109 (Dunlop)

8. Chris Bach 80

7. Mike Lafferty 64 (Dunlop)

9. Jimmy Jarrett 43

10. Thaddeus Duvall 58

6 7

At the sixth round of the World Off Road Championship

Series (WORCS) at Honey Lake MX Park in Milford, CA,

Dunlop-sponsored riders continued their reign atop the

podium. FMF/KTM’s Kurt Caselli and Mike Brown

finished one-two, with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s

Justin Soule in third. This is the fourth time this season

that Dunlop-sponsored riders have claimed the top

three spots on the podium. Dunlop-sponsored riders

currently hold eight of the top 10 spots in the series.

In moto one, FMF/KTM’s Taylor Robert grabbed the

holeshot, but Caselli passed him on the first lap. Robert

stayed close until he crashed. Their teammate Brown

damaged the radiator on his bike during a crash on the

rocky course, but still managed to come in sixth.

In the second moto, Brown sped off with the holeshot.

He was pursued by Robert, who then crashed, forcing

him to DNF. Caselli started off eighth and persistently

picked off riders to finish second behind Brown.

Caselli’s 1-2 earned first overall, with Brown’s 6-1 giving

him second. Soule’s consistent 3-3 put him third. Soule

and Brown were tied in points, but Brown’s better finish

in the tie-breaking second moto gave him second for

the day.

With his win at Honey Lake, Caselli extended his points

lead to 26. The seventh WORCS round takes place at

Washougal in Washington.

CASELLICONTINUES WORCS REIGN

WORCS POINTS STANDINGS

1. Kurt Caselli 264 (Dunlop)

2. Taylor Robert 238 (Dunlop)

3. Bobby Garrison 237

4. Mike Brown 216 (Dunlop)

5. Justin Soule 192 (Dunlop)

6. Robby Bell 178 (Dunlop)

7. Destry Abbott 140 (Dunlop)

8. Ryan Abbatoye 132

9. Gary Sutherlin 116 (Dunlop)

10. Kyle Summers 108 (Dunlop)

KURTCASELLI

MIKEBROWN

JUSTINSOULE

8 9

EXPANDS DUNLOP WIN RECORDDunlop increased its total race wins at the famed Isle of

Man TT to 17 victories over the last four years as riders

using Dunlop tires took wins in the Superbike, Supersport

1, Superstock and Senior TT races in 2011. The 92nd

running of the Isle of Man TT race saw yet another victory

for Honda TT Legends rider John McGuiness in the final

TT race, completing the 37.73-mile Mountain Course.

“This was an excellent performance from Dunlop-shod

teams and riders,” said Pat Walsh, Dunlop Motorsport

Sales Manager Motorcycle Race. “The Dunlop service

team worked extremely hard to achieve these results, so

many thanks to the design team, service engineers and

the Birmingham factory for providing us with the product

to make this happen. The tire fitters at the event were a

crucial part of our success.”

The Supersport and Superstock victories were achieved

using Dunlop’s D211 GP tire with the addition of a road-

legal tread pattern, tires that were homologated for race

use and built at Dunlop’s Motorsport Department in

Birmingham. The technology developed for this tire is

applied to Dunlop’s D211 GP-A tires, which are available to

track-day enthusiasts.

“Dunlop has a long history of success at the Isle of Man

TT, which stretches back to the very first race win there in

1907,” said Dunlop Motorsport Manager, Motorcycle EU,

Steve Male. “The Mountain Course is a closed public road,

so this gives us the best test possible of our products, and

the lessons learned at the TT are directly applicable to our

commercially available products.

“The D211 GP is a tremendous tire, and this was illustrated

once more by our two TT wins this year in the Supersport

and Superstock categories. The technology developed for

this tire was initially used on the GP Racer D211 and is

now being applied in the Sportmax Q2 and Roadsmart,

which is a testament to the effectiveness of Dunlop’s

commitment to race-to-road technology transfer.

“Our Multi-Tread compound and N-Tec technologies

give superb dry grip with fast warm-up times and great

handling, which are good for the road and also in

competition, as highlighted by our further TT wins

in 2011.”

In addition to McGuiness’ victories on Dunlop’s racing

slicks in the Senior TT and Superbike TT, Bruce Anstey

took the victory for Padgett’s Motorcycles Honda in the

Supersport Race 1 and Michael Dunlop won the

Superstock Race for Street Sweep Kawasaki. Both riders

used the Birmingham manufactured D211 GP-A.

2011ISLE OF MAN TT

1110

TEAM DUNLOP UPDATE

ADAMCIANCIARULO

Dunlop congratulates the Team Dunlop members and other Dunlop-sponsored riders who

turned in championship-winning performances at the 30th running of the prestigious AMA

Amateur National Motocross Championship taking place August 1-8, at Loretta Lynn

Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. Team Dunlop’s Stilez Robertson, Garrett Marchbanks, Sean

Cantrell, Chase Sexton and Austin Forkner each won championships, while Adam

Cianciarulo garnered two titles. Combining the seven Team Dunlop wins with the 26

championship victories earned by Dunlop-equipped racers, Dunlop won 33

championships over the seven days of competition.

Putting in commanding performances aboard his Geomax-fitted Kawasakis, Cianciarulo

won four of six motos en route to capturing both the Supermini 1 (12-15) and Supermini 2

(13-16) championships. Robertson rode impeccably, completing a sweep of the 51cc (7-8)

AMA 2 Stock motos for the title win, while Marchbanks went 2-1-1 for the 65cc (7-9)

Stock Championship. Sexton’s moto win and two runner up finishes in the 85cc (9-11)

Stock Championship earned him the overall, while Cantrell went 1-4-1 for the 85cc (9-11)

Stock Championship and Forkner went 1-2-3 for the 85cc (12-14) Stock title win.

“I am proud of each and every Dunlop-sponsored rider at Loretta Lynn’s,” said Primo

Marotto, Dunlop's Manager Amateur Motocross Support. “Everyone did a tremendous job

not just at the event but also by qualifying for the biggest race of the year. The Team

Dunlop squad performed outstandingly against some very stiff competition, particularly

Adam who won two titles. We are especially proud that more than 80 percent of the

champions chose to equip their motorcycles with Dunlop Geomax tires at the premier

amateur national event of the year.”

DUNLOP-SPONSORED RIDERS ENJOY MUCH SUCCESS AT

LORETTA LYNN’S

1312

DUNLOP WON 33CHAMPIONSHIPS OVER THESEVEN DAYS OF COMPETITION.

TEAM DUNLOP UPDATE

GARRETTMARCHBANKS

STILEZROBERTSON

SEANCANTRELL

1514

“WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD THAT MORE THAN 80 PERCENTOF THE CHAMPIONS CHOSE TO EQUIP THEIR MOTORCYCLESWITH DUNLOP GEOMAX TIRES AT THE PREMIER AMATEURNATIONAL EVENT OF THE YEAR.”

TEAM DUNLOP UPDATE

CHASESEXTON AUSTINFORKNER

16

Team Dunlop’s winning ways continue with Adam Cianciarulo, Stilez Robertson and

Michael Mosiman turning in championship-winning performances at the annual Mammoth

Motocross event held in Mammoth Lakes, CA, in late June. Aboard their Geomax-fitted

race machines, the trio mastered the Mammoth Mountain track with each rider garnering

a championship win. Fellow Team Dunlop members Tristan Miller, Sean Cantrell and

Brandy Richards put in solid efforts to record overall podium finishes.

Cianciarulo was unstoppable in the Supermini class, dominating all four motos that made

up the Supermini Championship. Miller joined Cianciarulo on the podium in third overall

after recording 4-5-3-3 moto results. Mosiman blitzed the 85cc 7-11 class, winning back-

to-back motos for the title, while Cantrell went 2-3 for second overall. The 50cc Open

Championship was comprised of four motos, and Robertson finished on every podium,

including taking two wins to capture the title victory. Richards put in a strong effort to

finish second overall in the Women’s Championship.

In addition to Team Dunlop’s excellent results, Dunlop-equipped racers earned more than

60 percent of the championship wins over the 10 days of racing action.

17

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TEAM DOR TO JOIN THE TEAM D COMMUNITY

MAMMOTH HAUL FORTEAM DUNLOP RIDERS

MICHAELMOSIMAN

ADAMCIANCIARULO STILEZROBERTSON

TEAM DUNLOP UPDATE

18 19

As you might imagine, whenever the creative mind of noted custom bike builder Roland Sands focuses on a

project—any project—the end result will likely be bursting at the seams with over-the-top results. He’s already

proven that truism many times over with the fabulous custom motorcycles he’s conjured up, many of which have

appeared here in the pages of Dunlop Download. And so it was when the Roland Sands Design group opened up

their new headquarters in Los Alamitos, CA. Roland and the RSD crew threw one mighty fine grand opening party to

show off their new facility, which contains the RSD design center, a custom build shop, plus a retail store featuring

the new Roland Sands Collection of apparel.

“We have an eclectic mix of art, motorcycles, parts, apparel and accessories at our world headquarters,” Roland

explained. “But it’s not just your average showroom, there are a lot of really interesting and unique items on display.”

ROLAND SANDSOPENS NEW DESIGN CENTER

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW RSD DESIGN CENTER,RSD PRODUCTS AND A LOOK AT HIS MANY PROJECT BIKES

20 21

“WE HAVE AN ECLECTIC MIX OF ART,MOTORCYCLES, PARTS, APPAREL ANDACCESSORIES AT OUR WORLD HEADQUARTERS.”

22 23

MISSION MOTORSWINS 2011 USGP TTXGP/FIM E-POWER CHAMPIONSHIP

24 25

At the 2011 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Red Bull US Grand

Prix, Dunlop-sponsored Mission Motors won the TTXGP/FIM

e-Power International Championship Race, showing very

impressive speed in the process. Steve Rapp, riding the

Mission R electric superbike, completed the eight-lap race

39.9 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

The win capped off a flawless weekend that also saw Rapp

pilot the Mission R to pole position in qualifying with a 1:31.3

lap, breaking the lap record for all electric vehicles at Laguna

Seca by seven seconds. Had the Mission R been competing in

the weekend’s gasoline-powered AMA Pro Supersport

category, it would have qualified in fifth place.

Thousands of racing fans were on hand to cheer on the e-

powered racers, and the weekend produced some other very

compelling stats:

• This qualifying time was just 10 seconds off of the MotoGP

pole time.

• Average race lap times were 10 seconds faster than last

year’s fastest times.

• Piloted by Steve Rapp, the Mission R finished the eight-lap

race in 12 minutes, 40.6 seconds, 39.9 seconds ahead of the

second-place finisher.

By merit of having electric motorcycles share the weekend

with MotoGP bikes in front of a huge international crowd, the

point was made that the new era of electric vehicles is rapidly

gaining mainstream acceptance. And the fact that the Mission

R lapped Laguna Seca at the same pace as combustion-

engine race bikes shows how competitive electric vehicles can

be. But perhaps most compelling is the technology that won

the race. The Mission R’s powertrain has been built with

production-grade durability and reliability in mind.

During the press conference following the race, Rapp said,

“The name of the bike, Mission, is the perfect name. This

company has been on an absolute mission to give me a great

bike to ride. It was great to have such a large crowd to show

what these bikes are capable of. We don’t know what the

future holds, but it looks good.”

THE FACT THAT THE MISSION R LAPPED LAGUNA SECA ATTHE SAME PACE AS COMBUSTION-ENGINE RACE BIKESSHOWS HOW COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES CAN BE.

26 27

28 29

HONDA MOTO3RACER DEBUTS

30 31

32

World GP motorcycle road racing upshifted into a new era

recently when Honda Racing Corporation unveiled the new

purpose-built NSF250R four-stroke racer at the Catalunya GP

in Barcelona, Spain. Honda will sell the NSF250R to teams for

use in the Moto3 class—a class that will use Dunlop spec

tires—in the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand

Prix (WGP) in 2012, and this new series will replace the current

two-stroke, 125cc GP125 class.

The high-performance, lightweight and compact NSF250R

inherits important elements from Honda’s RS125R racer and

will give riders a familiar-feeling platform while honing their

racing skills. As before, this entry-level GP series serves as a

gateway to the premier classes, functioning as a springboard

in creating future MotoGP Championship riders.

Beginning with the 1976 MT125R through the 2009 RS125R,

Honda produced a total of 15,000 machines for entry-level

road racing. Over this 34-year span, Honda broadened the

base of two-wheel motorsports both in Japan and worldwide

with highlights including all 29 Japan Championship 125cc

class champions, and a grand total of 130 Road Racing World

Championship Grand Prix (WGP) victories, resulting in 11

manufacturer championships and nine champions with the

RS125R. Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, currently riding

the RC212V in MotoGP, both won World Championships

aboard the RS125R, accumulating world-class experience in

the process.

The NSF250R follows the current shift to four-strokes for

motorcycle GP road racing machines that saw the

replacement of two-stroke 500cc machines with the four-

stroke MotoGP class in 2002 and the onset of the four-stroke

600cc Moto2 in place of the two-stroke 250cc GP250

machines in 2010.

GP veteran Alex Crivillé put the new NSF250R into action on

the Catalunya circuit with demonstration laps run during

June’s Spanish GP races, and the bike was also on display for

the world to see. Technical highlights include a liquid-cooled

four-stroke single-cylinder DOHC 249cc powerplant

specifically designed for Moto3 applications as a lightweight

and compact unit that delivers a remarkably high output. The

engine incorporates a front-intake/rear-exhaust configuration

with high charging efficiency, while adopting a layout with the

cylinder tilted back 15 degrees to concentrate mass. To

generate strong power throughout the high-rpm range, the

NSF250R incorporates titanium valves for both intake and

exhaust to reduce friction and lighten the valve train.

Furthermore, the design reduces friction between piston and

cylinder and improves durability by offsetting the cylinder

centerline and applying nickel silicon carbide (Ni-SiC) for the

cylinder surface treatment. The cassette gearbox design was

selected for quick and easy gearset changes for the close-

ratio six-speed transmission, thereby allowing gear selection

to be optimized over a large variety of racing circuits.

The new frame design ensures excellent cornering traits and

an agility that not only matches but also surpasses the

RS125R by revising the rigidity balance and shape, while

retaining the compact dimensions of the RS125R. The basic

structure of the front and rear suspension remains the same as

on the RS125R, and the NSF250R-exclusive settings produce

a machine with excellent riding stability. The wind-cheating

bodywork makes the NSF250R the equal of the RS125R in

aerodynamic performance, while a cooling duct on the under

cowl improves the engine’s cooling performance. In addition,

the NSF250R will compete on class-spec Dunlop racing tires.

33

THIS ENTRY-LEVEL GP SERIES SERVES AS A GATEWAY TOTHE PREMIER CLASSES, FUNCTIONING AS A SPRINGBOARDIN CREATING FUTURE MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP RIDERS.

34 35

How would you like a job with unlimited travel opportunities, a

generous clothing and equipment allowance, and free room

and board? And let’s sweeten the pot even more: we’ll pay

you to ride motorcycles and even throw in a pension plan.

Where do you sign? Right on the dotted line. All you have to

do is see your local United States Marine Corps recruiter.

The Marines have been using motorcycles for scouting,

patrolling, reconnaissance and military-police functions for

decades. And Dunlop is proud to supply them with thousands

of D606 tires for those bikes. But even with the tires covered,

the Marines faced a more serious dilemma: Uncle Sam

decided that everything on the battlefield should use one kind

of fuel, and that will be diesel. Sure, it makes sense from a

logistical point of view, and the Navy (in whose ships the

Marines ride) was only too happy to get out of the gasoline

business. But how to reconcile the Marines’ bikes and the new

fuel requirements?

Enter Hayes Diversified Technologies (aka, Hayes DT) of

Hesperia, CA. Founded by Fred Hayes, the company

specializes in producing diesel dirt bikes for the United States

military. The company got its start 43 years ago; at that time

they tuned motorcycles and were a small supplier of electronic

components to the military.

From there, Hayes moved into modifying gasoline-powered

off-road bikes for the military, especially converting Kawasaki

KRR250s and KLR650s for the job. By 2004 the company was

building their own motorcycles with “heavy fuel” engines.

The current model is the M1030-M2. Hayes bills it as the

world’s first JP-8/diesel–powered tactical motorcycle, a niche

market for sure, but one with serious growth potential,

especially when you consider the engine’s versatility. At its

heart is a double-overhead-cam, four-valve, 670cc single-

cylinder liquid-cooled engine that offers true multifuel

capability, running on JP-8, JP-5, JP-4, JET-A1, AVTUR diesel

and even biodiesel. (JP stands for jet propellant. JP-8 is the

current kerosene-based fuel used by the U.S. Air Force, and

it’s also used to power heaters, stoves, tanks—and in our case

motorcycles. Understating the case as only the government

can, they note, “The use of a single fuel greatly simplifies

logistics.” JP-4 was a 50/50 mix of kerosene and gasoline

used until 1995. JET-A and JET-A1 are found in most

commercial airliners.)

Home-builders have shoehorned small single-cylinder and V-

twin agricultural diesel engines into existing motorcycle

chassis, but almost all of them end up using one-speed CV

automatic transmissions. Not the M1030-M. It features a

standard, dirt bike–style five-speed with a conventional foot

shifter and a handlebar-mounted clutch lever.

Hayes bases the M1030-M2 on a Kawasaki KLR650 rolling

chassis, but modifies the frame and airbox for diesel use. They

also change the rear shock and the fork springs. The

transmission is unit construction with the new engine, but uses

some KLR shafts and gears. Hayes fits the bikes with Dunlop

D6076 or TR91 tires depending on their use.

Diesels are famous for their fuel economy, and the M1030-M2

does not disappoint. With a big gasoline-powered single

like a KLR650 Kawasaki or a Honda XR650L, you can

generally expect about 50 miles per gallon. The Hayes gets

about double that at 96 mpg—and this is no lightweight

machine either. With the stock 6.1-gallon Kawasaki tank,

the M2 will easily cover between 550 and 600 miles on

one filling.

During the recent 2011 Vetter Challenge, a 133-mile fuel-

economy run, Fred Hayes himself easily won, riding one of his

machines with an M2 in street bike trim. He pulled off a 128.24

miles per gallon on biodiesel. And the Hayes diesel bikes

aren’t only about high mileage: they also hold 37 Land Speed

Records for diesel motorcycles.

Between the awesome fuel economy, the ability to run on just

about any liquid you can pour into the tank, and a diesel’s

reputation for lasting hundreds of thousands of miles, more

than a few readers are probably asking where they can get

one of these for their own. Other than enlistment, there’s still

hope. Hayes DT is in the middle of getting EPA certification for

a new 695cc diesel engine in the KLR chassis, and would like

to offer three versions: a standard “street fighter,” an

adventure-touring model and a high-mileage commuter bike.

When they do, we’ll be sure to let you know.

DUNLOPS, DIESELS AND THE

U.S. MARINES

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HAYES DT

36 37

DUNLOP RELEASES

RACING SLICKSUSA-MADE

38 39

In September Dunlop will release brand-new USA-built

KR448F and KR449 racing slicks, tires created primarily for

club-level racers and hard-core enthusiasts who enjoy partici-

pating in track days. The KR449 rear 190/55R17 and

200/55R17 tires will be available in three compounds, Soft,

Medium and Hard. All of these rear tires incorporate Dunlop’s

exclusive N-Tec, MT Multi-Tread™ and Intuitive Response

Profile™ (IRP) technology that has proven so effective in

other Dunlop road racing tires. The KR448F front 125/80R17

will be offered in two compounds, Soft/Medium and

Medium/Hard.

This new KR tire project started in mid-2010 with the goal of

providing additional slick rear tire options for club racing and

track days across the country. The end result is a tire built in

America that is competitive at all levels, including competitive

pricing and race-winning performance. During the testing and

development phase, these tires have been able to match the

lap times of the more expensive made-in-the-UK racing

slicks. Such impressive performance was made possible

thanks to the latest investments Dunlop North America

made in incorporating high-technology tire-building machines

and procedures in the Buffalo, NY, production center—the

same equipment and processes used to build tires in the UK

for Moto2.

Testing of these USA-made slick tires encompassed exhaus-

tive efforts including multiple tests with many riders at AMA

test sessions and private tests. Some of the more notable rid-

ers included Josh Hayes, Ben Bostrom, Josh Herrin, Roger

Hayden, Larry Pegram and Martin Cardenas, and test tracks

included Miller Motorsports Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car

Course, Barber Motorsports Park, Las Vegas Motor Speed-

way, Jennings GP, Roebling Road Raceway and Summit Point

Raceway. In addition, the BEI Racing Team tested the tires

and have been using them in competition in the WERA Na-

tional Endurance Series, where they have won every race

they have entered thus far in 2011.

The KR448F and KR449 tires will be available in September

to all racers from Dunlop’s race-tire outlets, Erion Racing

(800-700-3599) and Race Tire Services (800-772-8473).

TESTING OF THESE USA-MADE SLICK TIRESENCOMPASSED EXHAUSTIVE EFFORTS INCLUDINGMULTIPLE TESTS WITH MANY RIDERS AT AMA TEST

SESSIONS AND PRIVATE TESTS.

40 41

XGAMES

17DUNLOP MEDAL HAUL

NATEADAMS

42 43

DUNLOP RACERS SWEPT THE MOTO X STEP UP,MOTO X BEST WHIP, MOTO X SPEED AND STYLE,AND WOMEN’S MOTO X EVENTS.

Downtown Los Angeles was transformed into an

adrenalin-filled sports mecca on July 28-31, as

some of the biggest names in motorsports from

around the world invaded the city center for X

Games 17. And they put on a show like no other. A

mixture of Freestyle, Motocross and Endurocross

motorcycle events thrilled spectators inside the

Staples Center over four days of competition, and

out of a possible 24 medals up for grabs, Dunlop

racers won 18: five gold, seven silver and six

bronze. In addition, Dunlop racers swept the Moto

X Step Up, Moto X Best Whip, Moto X Speed and

Style, and Women’s Moto X events.

Matt Buyten set a new world record on his

Dunlop-equipped motorcycle in the Step Up

competition, soaring over the bar at 37 feet to

capture his fourth X Games gold and second-

consecutive Moto X Step Up gold. Ronnie Renner

was awarded the silver medal clearing 36.5 feet,

while Myles Richmond finished with the bronze,

leaping 35.5 feet. X Games veteran Nate Adams

nabbed his first gold of the games in the Speed

and Style competition—Mike Mason took silver

and Ronnie Faisst bronze—before going on to win

gold medal number two in the Freestyle

competition. Spaniard Dany Torres won bronze.

The Best Whip contest is always a crowd favorite

as fans get the opportunity to vote via text for

their favorite whip. Fans voted Jeremy Stenberg

the gold medal winner while defending gold

medalist Todd Potter earned the silver and Jarryd

McNeil secured the bronze medal. Defending

Best Trick gold medalist Australian rider Cameron

Sinclair won silver after executing a knack-knack

double backflip in this year’s contest.

Vicki Golden won her first X Games gold medal by

winning the Women’s Moto X aboard her Dunlop-

fitted Kawasaki race machine, while X Games 14

gold medalist Tarah Gieger secured the silver

medal and France’s Livia Lancelot secured the

bronze. Gieger scored her second silver medal of

the games by finishing runner-up in the first-ever

Women’s Enduro X event.

Dunlop-sponsored World Off Road Championship

(WORCS) rider Mike Brown had a memorable first

X Games, winning the silver medal in the debut

Moto X Enduro X event, while two-time WORCS

champion Justin Soule finished with the bronze.

VICKIGOLDEN

JEREMYSTENBERG

44 45

MATTBUYTEN

46 47

LAGUNA SECAROAD RACE ACTION

TOMMYHAYDEN

48 49

DANNYESLICK

Drama and tight racing filled race day at California’s

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, where AMA racers

shared the track with MotoGP action. With only one

more round at New Jersey Motorsports Park re-

maining on the 2011 AMA calendar, Laguna Seca

proved to be a crucial setting as some champi-

onship hopes got virtually locked down while others

became only more tightly contested.

In Superbike action, Rockstar Makita Suzuki rider

Tommy Hayden and Monster Energy Graves

Yamaha’s Josh Hayes fought an epic battle, with

numerous passes and bare fractions of a second

separating the pair all race long. Multiple passes on

the last lap—no mean feat on the undulating La-

guna circuit—saw Hayden outfox Hayes on the very

last turn and win the drag race up the front straight-

away. Hayden’s victory raised his points tally to

263, but more importantly he helped teammate

Blake Young retain his lead in the points standing,

with 311 to 306 for Hayes. And that puts all the

marbles on the line in the Superbike class come

New Jersey.

The Daytona SportBike race at Laguna Seca proved

dramatic enough in its own right, albeit under alto-

gether different circumstances. The race was red-

flagged twice for crashes, and the championship

struggle between GEICO Powersports/RMR

Suzuki’s Danny Eslick and Monster Energy Graves

Yamaha rider Josh Herrin was largely decided when

Herrin DNF and Eslick, leading the race, won the

contest when the second red flag flew. That out-

come puts Eslick squarely in control with 244 points

over 199 for Herrin and 196 for Jason DiSalvo on

the Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati 848.

In SuperSport West racing, Benny Solis ran away

and won by a hefty margin on his Red Bull/Erion

Racing/Roadracing World Honda CBR600RR, but

he still trails LTD Yamaha’s David Gaviria in the

points chase, 172 to 165.

JOSHHAYES

50 51

BLAKEYOUNG

52 53

BENNYSOLIS

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE RR IMAGES

54 55

BATTLE TO THE FINISH LINEMX UPDATE:

CLOSE, FIERCE RACING CAPTIVATES FANS

56 57

RYANVILLOPOTO

58

DEANWILSON

59

As the 2011 AMA Motocross Championship enters the home

stretch, a number of racers are battling for the top spots in the

championships. We’ve witnessed tremendous racing and

spectacular bar-banging action all season and with three rounds to

go in the two Motocross Championships and Women’s

Championship, the race to the finish line will be anything but

predictable.

The RedBud National marked the midway point in the 450 class

Championship, and a fanatical Michigan crowd filled the hillside

surrounding RedBud. With three overall victories to his credit

coming into round six, TwoTwo Motorsports’ Chad Reed captured

his fourth overall win of the season, further extending his lead in the

championship to 16 points over Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan

Villopoto. Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Ryan Dungey finished runner-up

in the round with Villopoto in third.

The Spring Creek National was up next and a spectacular crash by

Reed during moto two allowed Villopoto and Dungey to reel in

Reed’s points lead. After winning moto one, Reed lost control of his

bike while leading moto two, and he crashed hard. Astonishingly,

the gutsy racer rejoined the race. Forced to execute a come-from-

behind charge, he advanced from last position to ninth by race’s

end. Finishing runner-up in the first, Dungey came out on top in the

second for the overall win, marking the defending champion’s

second victory of the season, and a fourth consecutive win at his

hometown track. Villopoto finished a close second overall, while

American Honda Racing’s Trey Canard finished third in an

impressive 450-class motocross debut. Reed’s fifth overall result

narrowed his lead in the points to just six ahead of Villopoto.

WE’VE WITNESSEDTREMENDOUS RACING ANDSPECTACULAR BAR-BANGINGACTION ALL SEASON

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CHADREED

At round eight’s Washougal National, Dungey captured his third victory of 2011

and his fourth straight victory at Washougal. Villopoto took the opening moto win

with Dungey in second, and Dungey finished on top in moto two. However, by

virtue of the second-moto tiebreaker, Dungey nabbed the overall. Canard was

well on his way to capturing his second-consecutive overall podium result after

finishing moto one in third place, until he crashed hard in the second moto while

in third. With Canard out, Dungey’s Suzuki teammate Brett Metcalfe moved into

third to score his first overall podium of the season. Villopoto assumed the

championship lead after Reed finished fourth overall.

The Unadilla National hosted round nine in the series and Villopoto captured his

second overall victory of the season after dominating both motos (1-1). Dungey

finished runner-up with 2-2 moto results, while American Honda Racing fill-in

rider Justin Barcia kept the reigning champ honest, as the pair dueled for second

in both races. Barcia went on to go 3-3 for third overall at his impressive 450-

class debut. Villopoto’s victory extended his lead in the championship to seven

points ahead of Dungey and 25 points in front of Reed after the TwoTwo

Motorsports racer finished in fourth place.

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki squad continues to dominate the 250

class Championship with team members Blake Baggett, Tyla Rattray and Dean

Wilson all recording wins. At RedBud, Baggett swept both motos for the overall,

while Wilson finished runner-up in both for second overall. Rattray completed the

team’s sweep in third. The following round at Millville, Rattray came out on top

while Wilson finished second and Baggett rounded out third overall. Baggett

rebounded at Washougal to get the overall after winning the opening moto and

overcoming a crash early in the second for third overall. Rattray scored a pair of

runner-up finishes for second, while Wilson bounced back after finishing fifth in

the first race to win the second moto and take third overall.

Through eight rounds in the 250 class, Wilson captured five moto victories to lead

the championship despite not notching an overall win. Wilson changed that at

round nine in the series by dominating both Unadilla motos, going 1-1 on the day.

Baggett finished runner-up (2-3), while GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac broke Kawasaki’s

stronghold over the top spots by taking third overall (5-2). Wilson has a 25-point

advantage over Baggett in the 250 class standings with three rounds to go.

America’s fastest female Motocross racers joined the men at Millville for round

five of the Women’s Championship. DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s

Jessica Patterson tied with American Honda Racing’s Ashley Fiolek for the day in

points, but Patterson's second moto victory gave her the overall over Fiolek. Troy

Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Tarah Gieger finished third. Fiolek has an eight-

point lead in the championship over Paterson with three rounds to go.

62 63

JUSTINBARCIARYANDUNGEY

64 65

TYLARATTRAYBLAKEBAGGETT

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JESSICAPATTERSON

ASHLEYFIOLEK

WMX CHAMPIONSHIPPOINTS STANDINGS

1. Ashley Fiolek 232 (Dunlop)

2. Jessica Patterson 224 (Dunlop)

3. Tarah Gieger 188 (Dunlop)

4. Jacqueline Strong 138 (Dunlop)

5. Vicki Golden 131 (Dunlop)

6. Kasie Creson 128

7. Marissa Markelon 125 (Dunlop)

8. Lindsey Palmer 107 (Dunlop)

9. Alexah Pearson 103 (Dunlop)

10. Sayaka Kaneshiro 98 (Dunlop)

250 CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPPOINTS STANDINGS

1. Dean Wilson 396 (Dunlop)

2. Blake Baggett 371 (Dunlop)

3. Tyla Rattray 353 (Dunlop)

4. Kyle Cunningham 264 (Dunlop)

5. Eli Tomac 239 (Dunlop)

6. Gareth Swanepoel 200 (Dunlop)

7. Broc Tickle 195 (Dunlop)

8. Justin Barcia 181 (Dunlop)

9. Martin Davalos 175 (Dunlop)

10. Darryn Durham 148 (Dunlop)

450 CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPPOINTS STANDINGS

1. Ryan Villopoto 391 (Dunlop)

2. Ryan Dungey 384 (Dunlop)

3. Chad Reed 366 (Dunlop)

4. Brett Metcalfe 262 (Dunlop)

5. Mike Alessi 210 (Dunlop)

6. Andrew Short 196 (Dunlop)

7. Kevin Windham 193 (Dunlop)

8. Jake Weimer 190 (Dunlop)

9. Davi Millsaps 173

10. Tommy Hahn 140 (Dunlop)CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE MX IMAGES

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MIKEGOSSELAARTUNER TO THE STARS

Question: Mike, when and how did you first get involved

with tuning for racers?

MG: Probably like many people I started off riding

motorcycles and then racing minibikes as a kid. Then, in high

school I started working in a motorcycle shop. Next, I worked

for the state of California with the California Highway Patrol,

working on their motorcycles, and then I got a position at

American Honda. At the time, I knew Dave Arnold, who was

team manager with the Honda team. He raced at the same

track where my kids were racing, and Dave came over and

said, ‘Hey, Mike, we need you! Have you ever thought about

working as a factory mechanic?’ The next thing I knew he

had lured me down to Honda to work on the team.

Q: When you first started wrenching, did you ever

suspect you would still be at it after all these years? What

did the future look like to you at that time?

MG: When I started with Honda, I had taken a one-year leave

of absence from working with the state, and I planned on

coming back to that job after one year. I never thought I’d be

going at it this long. Here I am after all these years, and I still

enjoy it. I tell you what, that feeling of winning is something

really special; once you experience that, it’s really hard to

settle for something less.

Q: With the constant flow of new machines and new parts

to test, it must seem kind of overwhelming at times to

keep up with all the hardware and technology; what are

some of the keys to keeping on top of the technology

game?

MG: You always try to be innovative and you’re always

working on new ideas. As a factory team we’re always on the

forefront, and sometimes we see things that the factory

maybe hasn’t thought of yet. So we give them input and they

follow up on it—so that can be pretty cool. We’re always

training and always trying to keep up with the new

technology. The electronics are especially complicated now,

but we have people who specialize in that and work on that

portion only so they can keep up with it—that’s a full-time job

on its own. But the mechanical end of it, which I do, doesn’t

really change that much.

For many years, Mike Gosselaar has been a fixture in the pro motocross paddock. He has prepped bikes

for some of the biggest names in the sport and has gathered many championships along the way. We

recently had a chance to spend some time with Mike to ask him about life and living as a pro MX tuner.

70 71

Q: It seems that most of the racers you worked with had

one thing in common: winning. Talk about the riders you

worked with and the championships you’ve gathered

along the way.

MG: I started off with Team Honda with Steve Lamson in 1994,

and we won a couple of 125 championships the second and

third year working together. From there I started working with

Ezra Lusk, and we came close to winning a couple of

championships; we won a lot of races and beat Jeremy

McGrath at that time when he was at the top of his game.

Then, I started working with Ricky Carmichael and that led to

more championships with both Honda and Suzuki. Then, I

worked with Mike Alessi for one year and Chad Reed for one

year, and now I’ve been with Ryan Dungey for two years.

Frankly, I’m not sure how many championships that is all

together; I should know. I think it’s maybe 10 or 11.

Q: What are some of the keys to developing winning

partnerships with the riders you tune for?

MG: The key is being with a whole group of people; it’s a team

thing. It’s not just about myself or the rider—that would be

impossible. It takes a whole bunch of people working close

together, and having a good time by being serious and still

getting the job done. It’s definitely a whole team effort.

Q: When you started tuning, two-stroke race bikes were

the norm. Now it’s all about four-strokes. Talk about that

transition, and things you’ve learned along the way.

MG: It wasn’t much of a transition for me because I worked on

four-stroke street bikes for years and years. So it wasn’t really

much different. When Honda came out with the four-stroke

motocross technology, it was pretty cool working with a big-

bore single with four valves, but the internal working of

four-strokes are basically all the same. I grew up racing four-

strokes and I worked on racing four-stroke Hondas back in

1973. So it hasn’t been that big of a deal for me.

Q: Since the transporter keeps traveling—often for long

distances—from track to track, explain how you keep

ahead on the work you do to the bike.

MG: We start working on the bike the day of the race, after the

final race is over. The transporter can’t leave the track until all

the fans clear out, so that gives us some time to work,

disassembling the bike and getting things cleaned up.

Then, we get to the next venue early, meet the truck and start

setting up the bike for the next race, reassembling the bike

and doing the engine work. It’s about a two-and-a-half-day

cycle, but they’re long days and we’re under the gun.

We set up a work routine, and we try to stick to that routine

unless we have a delayed flight or we get stuck someplace

or whatever.

Q: What are some of the most fun aspects of your job?

MG: Well, first of all, everybody here loves motorcycles and we

all ride. Then, we get to work on these team bikes, and it’s so

hands-on—it’s your baby, you know? It’s fun to see it out there

and competing against other riders and other manufacturers. It

keeps you young.

Q: What are some of the hardest things you have to deal

with in your profession, things that the general public

never sees?

MG: The hardest thing is when you have a failure

breakdown/issue/mishap on your motorcycle; your heart just

sinks. It feels like you die just a little bit, like you literally lose a

little bit of your life span right there because you don’t know

“THE KEY IS BEING WITH A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE; IT’S ATEAM THING. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MYSELF OR THE RIDER—THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.”

EZRALUSK

STEVELAMSON

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what happened at that moment. It’s the worse feeling, the

really tough part of the job. It’s just a machine, you know?

Sooner or later things break, things come up—that’s racing.

But you learn and move forward from there. And everyone and

everything becomes better, the race bike, the production bike,

it all gets better in the long run because of what you’re

learning there at the track.

Q: Many young aspiring mechanics look at you and figure

you have the best job in the world—what advice would

you offer to someone who wants to break into race tuning

for a living?

MG: As a mechanic, it’s tough to break into this business. You

have to start young, be in the right place at the right time and

it’s good to know somebody in the business and get the right

opportunity. It’s tough to break into this and make a good

living at it. It’s not like with the racers where you can prove

yourself with sheer speed and move up. You have to prove

yourself, but you also have to get known by the right people at

the right time.

Q: Tell us about the working relationship you have with

the Dunlop crew at the track and how they help you with

bike setup.

MG: We’ve always had a great working relationship with

Dunlop. For years when I was at American Honda we used

Dunlops, worked closely with them, and the Dunlop crew

knew their stuff and they know how to build tires. They change

our tires for us, and we have complete confidence in them;

they’re true professionals.

Q: Looking back on your career, what are some of the

most memorable moments and milestones you’ve

achieved along the way?

MG: I’ve enjoyed so many special moments in my career that

it’s hard to pick out one that I could call the most memorable.

Having said that, I guess I look back on Ricky’s championship

in 2004, and that time really stands out. Ricky was coming

back from a knee injury, yet he still won 24 out of 24 motos in

the Motocross season. That was quite an accomplishment.

The championships are always memorable, but it’s also the

people you get to meet, people you would never otherwise get

to know and be around—a ton of memories.

Q: You used to race and you still ride. Do you ever think, I

should have been a factory rider?

MG: No. I got to the local pro level, but I never even thought

about going to the national level and trying to qualify for a

national. I did road race for a while and did some national stuff

and that was fun. But now it’s just for fun; I don’t take riding

seriously. Now I’d rather go woods riding with a buddy and

just have a blast, and just ride a motorcycle and have fun.

“THE CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE ALWAYS MEMORABLE, BUT IT’SALSO THE PEOPLE YOU GET TO MEET, PEOPLE YOUWOULD NEVER OTHERWISE GET TO KNOW AND BEAROUND—A TON OF MEMORIES.”

RYANDUNGEY

RICKYCARMICHAEL

7574

CHRISFILLMORELIKES RACES THAT START WITH SUPERTwo-time Supermoto champ and road racer Chris Fillmore hit

the big time when KTM announced its involvement in U.S.

Superbike competition for the first time with the race-spec

1190 RC8R, with Fillmore at the controls. Fillmore—who

currently leads the Vance & Hines XR1200 series with three

wins to his credit—wasted no time establishing the KTM’s

credibility: At the team’s debut race at Mid-Ohio, Fillmore and

the RC8R showed serious speed, and ultimately finished

seventh.

Things weren’t always this way for the likeable 24-year-old

from Michigan. In 1999 Fillmore was just a kid with a Yamaha

YZ80 motocross bike dreaming of making it as a pro, but not

making any plans to reach that goal.

“I was just having fun,” Fillmore said. “We went to the sand

dunes and played in gravel pits. As I got a little older I did

some racing, and got a little more serious, but it wasn’t until

2003 that things changed. That was when I tried Supermoto,

and despite my motocross background I fell in love with the

pavement part. Roughly two months later, I was on the grid at

a National. I hooked up with KTM that first year, and was pro

at 16 years old.”

During his Supermoto career Fillmore rode for KTM twice, and

also for the Troy Lee Honda team. He earned two national

Supermoto titles, but was already thinking of road racing.

7776

“While I was riding for Troy Lee, I told Honda that I

was interested in getting into road racing, but

nothing ever came together. In 2007 I got a 600 and

did some WERA races. Then in 2008 I was back

with KTM, so I did some road racing on a KTM

Superduke, and that opened the dialogue with KTM.

We’ve talked about me road racing a KTM ever

since 2008.”

Between 2008 and his new Superbike ride,

Supermoto faded away for pros despite grass roots

and local racing for the machinery. Fillmore chased

rides and honed his racing skills whenever possible.

For 2011 he jumped to the Vance & Hines XR-1200

spec race series for RMR/Bruce Rossmeyer

Daytona H-D Racing/Revolution team. You wouldn’t

think that any bike could be more different from a

light and flickable Supermoto bike.

“For sure the Harley is different in many ways, since

it is heavy, but for some reason the wide bars make

it feel similar to me,” Fillmore explained. “Also, for

road racing you don’t get that much time to

practice. When I got the H-D ride I hadn’t been on

the track for months, so the transition wasn’t

difficult. It is a really cool class to race, and it really

teaches you technique. Despite the pace being

intense and the racing very close, the speeds are

slower. You have time to teach yourself as you ride

and race. The bikes are all identical, so the racing is

more about the rider. If you lose some ground it is

hard to make up time, but the close battles make it

really fun. All of us are smiling under our helmets!”

Fortunately, when he made arrangements with

RMR/Rossmeyer/Revolution, he included the option

to accept rides that don’t conflict. So Fillmore

reunites with former KTM Supermoto sponsor Mitch

Hanson and the HMC Team, but remains in the VHR

XR-1200 series.

“I’m super excited about making the move to

Superbike. I rode a stock RC8 a little in 2010, and

when the race bike arrived from KTM Austria, we

uncrated it and went straight to the track. Even

without any setup the modified bike is amazing. It is

a full race bike. We had to keep the bike under

wraps until after KTM announced the ride and

introduced me at the dealer meeting. I drove straight

from the dealer meeting to a track to start testing.

I’m definitely excited to take this next step forward!”

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RICKYDIETRICHWORCS CHAMPION TURNEDMOTOCROSS ROOKIE

All racing is about putting in fast laps, but not all racing is the same.

In 2011 Ricky Dietrich is making a change few others have dared to

attempt. The 2006 World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS)

Champion and 2008 Endurocross Champion is switching from

off-road racing to Motocross, competing in the AMA Motocross

Championship with the Valli Motorsports/Rockstar Yamaha team.

Dietrich is having an impressive first full season racing Motocross,

scoring a string of top-10 moto finishes, including a season-best

fifth overall at the Freestone National in Texas. We caught up with the

longtime Dunlop rider to find out how he’s adjusting to full-time

Motocross and get his thoughts on his season so far.

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Q: What are the main differences between WORCS and

Motocross racing?

RD: The intensity! Having straight-up speed and putting in

your best laps from the minute the moto start gate drops is

the biggest difference. WORCS racing is all about

endurance because a race lasts a couple of hours. I raced

the WORCS series for six years, so going the distance and

having stamina is not a problem. In Motocross, each moto

is about 35 minutes long. I find myself just starting to settle

into a rhythm at the 30-minute mark. I notice I’m making

passes towards the end of motos when riders are getting

tired; that’s when I’m just warming up!

Q: Why switch to Motocross?

RD: Motocross has always been my passion and something

that I’ve wanted to pursue—I’ve always had the itch for it.

Whenever I could fit in racing a Motocross event around my

WORCS schedule, I would do it. In 2009, I got the

opportunity to fill in for Ryan Villopoto on the factory

Kawasaki team when he got hurt, and I got good results. I

raced five rounds and finished inside the top 10 four times

(5-6-6-7-11). Knowing I could run in the top 10 with little

experience in the class, against the top guys, really ignited a

spark in me. That’s when I knew that I wanted to have a go

at racing Motocross at the pro level. Since then, I’ve been

focusing on pursuing a full-time ride in Motocross.

Q: How are you adapting to the shorter Motocross

tracks? Anything particularly challenging about the

tracks?

RD: I think I’m adapting well. Some of the national tracks I

have been to before and some I haven’t. So when I’m going

to a new track I do all I can to familiarize myself with it

beforehand. I watch videos of the previous years’ races and

try to see where lines develop. In my opinion the tracks

seem rougher this season. I’m not sure if that is to keep the

speeds down a little; however, I think that works to my

advantage. I’m used to riding rough, nasty tracks so I think

that has helped me. At the 2009 Colorado Motocross night

race, I remember the track was really smooth, and I did

horrible there! I wasn’t used to racing on such soft and

smooth surface conditions. The roughness of the tracks this

year has really helped me to adjust.

Q: Which round has been your best this year?

RD: Probably the second round in Texas. I finished just shy

of the podium in one moto and ended the weekend fifth

overall. I also finished fifth overall at that race in 2009. I

think the off-roader in me comes out in those grueling, hot

conditions. I’m used to having to ride for a few hours at a

time in that sort of heat. The temperature at the Lake

Havasu WORCS race each year is around 105 degrees, and

we have to race in those conditions for two hours straight! I

think that’s why I go okay at races like Texas.

Q: You’ve been a longtime Kawasaki rider and switched

to ride for Yamaha’s Valli team this year. How did

that relationship start and how’s everything going

at Valli?

RD: It’s going great! Valli Motorsports also has a WORCS

team, and that’s where I got to know the team owner Chad

[Lanza]. I called him up during the off-season and preached

my case about how I wanted to be the first WORCS racer to

successfully switch to racing pro Motocross—that’s my

dream. Chad was stoked and very supportive. We decided

that I wouldn’t race Supercross and instead focus on

preparing for Motocross. The transition to a new discipline

and onto a new team and new bike has been a lot of fun so

far. I was with Team Green Kawasaki for six years, and that

team was basically all I knew. I feel like I’m reinventing

myself this year, which is exciting. It makes everything fresh

and new again, and to be doing it with the support of a

great group of guys around me is awesome.

Q: You’ve been riding Dunlop for a long time. Talk about

your relationship with Dunlop over the years.

RD: I’ve ridden Dunlop tires from as far back as I can

remember. I’m pretty sure I rode Dunlop throughout my

entire amateur career, and I’ve only ever ridden Dunlop

during my pro career. I said previously that everything about

this year is new, but I failed to mention the one thing that

has stayed the same—my relationship with Dunlop. I’ve

enjoyed a great relationship with the trackside Dunlop guys,

and I’m glad I could keep them as a sponsor in the switch.

When everything around you is new, it definitely helps to

have something familiar to build from. It’s good to be on

tires that I know and trust.

WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS NEW, IT DEFINITELYHELPS TO HAVE SOMETHING FAMILIAR TO BUILD FROM.IT’S GOOD TO BE ON TIRES THAT I KNOW AND TRUST.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

©2011 Dunlop • P. O. Box 1109, Buffalo, New York 14240-1109 • 1-800-845-8378 • dunlopmotorcycle.com

AMA Road Racing #9September 2-4

New Jersey Motorsports ParkMillville, NJ

AMA Motocross #11WMX #7

September 3Steel City Raceway

Delmont, PA

MotoGP–Moto2September 4

Misano, San Marino

World Superbike #10September 4

Nurburgring, Germany

AMA Motocross #12WMX #8

September 10Pala RacewayPala, CA

GNCC Series #10September 11-12

UnadillaNew Berlin, NY

WORCS ATV #7September 16-18Glen Helen MXDevore, CA

MotoGP–Moto2September 18Aragon, Spain

WORCS Bikes #8September 23-25Glen Helen MXDevore, CA

GNCC Series #11September 24-25Somerset, PA

World Superbike #11September 25Imola, Italy

World Superbike #12October 2

Magny Cours, France

GNCC Series #12October 8-9Powerline ParkSt. Clairsville, OH

National Hare and Hound Series #9October 9

Johnson Valley, CA

WORCS Bikes #9October 14-16Race Town 395Adelanto, CA

MotoGP–Moto2October 16

Phillip Island, Australia

World Superbike #13October 16

Portimao, Portugal

WORCS ATV #8October 21-23Race Town 395Adelanto, CA

GNCC Series #13October 22-23Amsoil IronmanCrawfordsville, IN

MotoGP–Moto2October 23

Sepang, Malaysia

National Hare and Hound Series #10October 23Lucerne, CA