dunlop download - october 2012
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Check out the DUNLOP DOWNLOAD for October 2012.TRANSCRIPT
OCTOBER 2012
32
CONTENTS
Dunlop Download magazine is published for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires by Vreeke & Associates. www.vreeke.com
4 2012 WORLD JUNIOR MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 DUNLOP TAKES THIRD SUCCESSIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
6 DUNLOP ANNOUNCES NEW BI-DIRECTIONAL MULTI-COMPOUND RACE TIRES
10 TAYLOR ROBERT DOMINATES THE 2012 WORCS PRO CHAMPIONSHIP
14 RICKY CARMICHAEL CLINCHES 10TH LORETTA LYNN AMATEUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
16 TEAM D AT LORETTA LYNN’S
24 JESSE ROOKE CAN’T LEAVE ANYTHING ALONE
30 EXCITING RACING RULES 2012 MX SEASON
44 RD DELIVERS
50 RSD HURLEY SPORTSTER
56 MOTO2 AND MOTO3 RACING UPDATE
60 CAMERON BEAUBIER
66 AMA ROAD RACING UPDATE
76 UPCOMING EVENTS
FOR DUNLOP VIDEOS PLEASE VISITYOUTUBE.COM/DUNLOPTIRESCHANNEL
ON THE COVER: In his first year on the Red Bull KTM Team, running a brand-new bike,Ryan Dungey not only wins the first AMA Motocross championship forthe brand, but he also sets multiple records along the way—mostimpressive results indeed. Photo by Simon Cudby.
JOSHHAYES
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The Federation International de Motocylisme recently staged the
Junior Motocross World Championship in Sivlievo, Bulgaria. The
USA sent a strong contingent of young riders to this year’s annual
competition, which includes riders from all around the world
racing in the 65cc, 85cc and 125cc classes. Team Dunlop
member Austin Forkner ended up earning high points for the
American team, pacing the squad to third place overall.
Austin and his Team Green Monster Energy Kawasaki got off to a
great start by winning the first moto in the 85cc class.
Unfortunately, the second moto did not start as well for Austin
and he had to work his way up to the front for an eventual third-
place finish. That tied him for top points with Germany’s Brian
Hsu, who finished 3-1. But by merit of his better second-moto
placing, Hsu was crowned 2012 FIM 85cc World Champion.
Still, Austin’s finishes were instrumental in leading the USA to
third overall in the Nations standings, with the Netherlands first
and Italy second.
Dunlop and the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) have been crowned the 2012 FIM
Endurance World Champions after a close second place in the Le Mans 24 Hours Moto season
finale on September 9th.
The result is the latest endorsement of Dunlop’s very public research and development program—
conducted under public scrutiny on the race tracks of the world, at the very highest level, against
the most demanding competition.
Dunlop and SERT add the 2012 title to those accrued in 2011 and 2010, as well as countless
other silverware accumulated in the relentless pursuit of better results. Seven of the last eight FIM
World Endurance Championships have been won with Dunlop tires.
DUNLOP TAKES THIRD SUCCESSIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
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2012 WORLD JUNIORMOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Dunlop proudly introduces a whole new concept in road race
tires: The KR451™. This innovative tire is an asymmetric,
bi-directional multi-compound rear slick. This new rear tire
differs from others in its use of a custom combination of tire
compounds, so the tire can deliver maximum performance
regardless of the track’s directional flow. Multiple variations in
compound combinations of the KR451 will be made available.
DUNLOP ANNOUNCESNEW BI-DIRECTIONALMULTI-COMPOUND
RACETIRES
8 9
The reversible nature of the KR451 and versatility are made
possible by a new Jointless Tread application of the tire
compounds, which are wound onto the tire carcass in
continuous strips rather than being laid down in a more
conventional, directional manner. As a result, the tire sidewall
features double rotation arrows, and the different compounds
are also clearly identified on the sidewall as well. By simply
picking the KR451 with the most desirable compound
combinations and then mounting it in the appropriate
orientation, the racer can then ride with a new level
of performance.
In general, a tire with a very grippy compound will produce
faster lap times at the track, but that tire may not be able to
maintain those lap times for the duration of a race. A vivid
example is a qualifying tire: It’s ultra-grippy, but only lasts a
few laps. Tires with compounds that produce consistent
lap times over race distance don’t normally generate as
much maximum grip. By offering different compounds on
each side, the KR451 can deliver more consistent lap times
throughout the race and deliver high grip, allowing the rider
to reap lower and more consistent lap times for the duration
of the race.
During the development phase, top AMA riders sponsored by
Dunlop as the exclusive tire of AMA Pro Road Racing, tried the
new tire and provided feedback. Here is what Roger Lee
Hayden had to say regarding the KR451. “The first time I used
the KR451 was at the NOLA test. I liked how quickly it came in
and how much edge grip it had driving into the corners. I was
also impressed with how well the tire ran after many laps in the
hot temperatures at NOLA.”
Developed and produced in Dunlop’s Buffalo, NY facility, the
KR451 racing tires are the culmination of a long development
process headed up by Dunlop personnel. “This new tire is a
very exciting innovation for racers in America,” says Sabastian
Mincone, Dunlop Senior Road Race Manager. “Obviously,
most tracks around the country are biased in the number of
turns they have to the left or to the right, a result of their
clockwise or counterclockwise directional flow. With the
KR451, racers can now choose from a variety of tire
compound combinations given the demands of the particular
track they are racing on that weekend. The ability to reverse
rotational direction of the tire gives racers more latitude than
ever as they make their race-day preparations. We are very
proud of this new degree of flexibility as well as the
heightened racing performance the KR451 delivers.”
The KR451 is available through Race Tire Service at 800-772-
TIRE (800-772-8473). The direct line for orders or tech
questions is 615-641-3323; fax 615-641-8959. Also, the
KR451 can be ordered via email at [email protected],
and online orders or requests for information can be obtained
at www.dunlopracing.com. Race Tire Service is available for
phone orders from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central time (7:00 AM
– 3:00 PM Pacific time). Orders placed before 2:00 PM
Central time will ship that day. All messages left will be
returned the next day so orders can be shipped as quickly
as possible.
DEVELOPED AND PRODUCED IN DUNLOP’S BUFFALO, NYFACILITY, THE KR451 RACING TIRES ARE THE CULMINATIONOF A LONG DEVELOPMENT PROCESS HEADED UP BYDUNLOP PERSONNEL.
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DOMINATES THE 2012WORCS PRO CHAMPIONSHIP
TAYLORROBERT
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After 10 rounds across the West Coast, the 2012 World Off
Road Championship Series (WORCS) came to a close at
Honolulu Hills Raceway in Taft, CA, with Monster Energy
Kawasaki’s Taylor Robert grabbing his seventh win of the
season. Robert dominated the last three rounds of the series,
winning all six races aboard his Dunlop-sponsored KXF450.
At round eight in Pala, CA, Robert rode flawlessly in race one,
taking the win unchallenged. In race two he had his work cut
out, battling for first place a majority of the 90 minutes but he
eventually pulled away, nailing down another win. Teammate
Bobby Garrison grabbed third overall despite still suffering
from a shoulder injury.
Cahuilla Creek MX in Anza, CA hosted round nine, where
Robert maintained his momentum, dominating the weekend
with a 1-1 performance. This marked his sixth win of the
season, ultimately giving him enough points to wrap up the
2012 Pro WORCS Championship title with one round
remaining. JCR/Honda’s Timmy Weigand, who had only raced
one other round previously, was able to put together a
noteworthy weekend in taking second overall with his 2-3
scores. Garrison was unable to contest his teammate as he
had done at the beginning of the season and would settle for
fifth overall.
At the season finale, Robert launched off the line in race one
and quickly took the lead. Weigand was able to keep him in
sight for much of the race but was never able to get close
enough to make a pass. In the second race, Robert got another
good start but battled the entire time for the lead and at one
point was passed and ran in second. He regained the lead and
took the checkered flag for another 1-1 overall victory. Weigand
finished second with a 2-3 performance and Garrison finished
seventh but placed second overall in the series.
Other Dunlop-sponsored riders finishing out the season in the
top 10 include Justin Soule in sixth, Mike Brown in eighth and
Kyle Summers in ninth.
WORCS POINTS STANDINGS (after 10 out of 10 rounds)
1. Taylor Robert 456 (Dunlop)
2. Bobby Garrison 351 (Dunlop)
3. Robby Bell 311 (Dunlop)
4. Ryan Abbatoye 308
5. Gary Sutherlin 260 (Dunlop)
6. Justin Soule 211 (Dunlop)
7. Joshua Strang 207
8. Mike Brown 196 (Dunlop)
9. Kyle Summers 157 (Dunlop)
10. Timmy Weigand 117 (Dunlop)
BOBBYGARRISON
ROBERT DOMINATED THE LAST THREE ROUNDSOF THE SERIES WINNING ALL SIX RACESABOARD HIS DUNLOP-SPONSORED KXF450.
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After a 16-year absence from the most prestigious amateur
motocross race in the world, Ricky Carmichael returned to
Hurricane Mills, Tennessee to take on the 31st annual Red Bull
AMA Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Champion.
Carmichael, also known as the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T)
has been retired from competitive racing for five years but
wanted to revisit his MX roots and experience a no-pressure
form of racing.
Despite being one of the most decorated racers of all time
with 67 amateur titles and a record 150 Supercross and
Motocross wins, Carmichael, like nearly 20,000 other racers,
had to qualify for his spot at the National. For the Southeast
region the area qualifier was hosted at Aonia Pass Motocross
Park in Washington, GA, where Carmichael lined up on the
gate for both the Junior +25 class and Open Pro Sport class
aboard his Dunlop-equipped RMZ450. In the +25 class he put
together two commanding performances, riding unchallenged
for 1-1 finishes, guaranteeing him a transfer to the regional
qualifier. Unfortunately, he did not grab a transfer spot in the
Open Pro Sport class, finishing 10th overall with 15-4 scores.
Carmichael then took on the regional qualifier at Millcreek
Motorcross Park in Pell City, AL. He had another impressive
showing, launching to great starts both motos and taking the
overall win plus a spot at Loretta Lynn’s.
From July 29 to August 4th Carmichael and his family returned
to what is deemed as the “World’s Greatest Motocross
Vacation” for another chance to be crowned champion. During
that week Carmichael took on some heavy hitters but
triumphed, taking the win in his first two races. Finally, in moto
three of the +25 Junior class Carmichael grabbed the holeshot
but was passed by another rider on the opening lap. The
“G.O.A.T” ran in second for a couple laps until regaining the
lead and quickly pulling away from the rest of the pack. He
rode flawless the remainder of the race and won his 10th
Loretta Lynn Amateur National Championship, sweeping the
class with 1-1-1 scores.
CLINCHES 10TH LORETTA LYNN AMATEUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
RICKYCARMICHAEL
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TEAM DJORDANBAILEY
AT LORETTA LYNN’S
1918
In the first week of August, amateur racers from all over the country flocked to
country singer Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee for the 31st
annual Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocoss Championship. Marked as
the most prestigious amateur-racing program in the world, over 20,000 racers
attempt to qualify each year in 36 classes for one of the 1,446 available
positions. Each rider must go through the qualifying program, which consists of
50 area qualifiers that take place from February through May and 12 regional
qualifiers in June. This year Team Dunlop riders had an impressive showing,
clinching a total of eight championship titles over the five days of racing.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, who is also an original Team
Dunlop member, put together a flawless performance, riding undefeated in both
Super Mini 1 and Super Mini 2 classes to grab two more Super Mini
Championships. Cianciarulo ends his mini career with a whopping 11 total
Loretta Lynn titles, and he also earned the 2012 AMA Youth award. Jordan Baily
likewise had a very successful week, wrapping up two championships in 85 (9-
11) Modified with 1-1-2 finishes and 85 (9-11) Stock with 2-1-1 finishes.
THIS YEAR TEAM DUNLOP RIDERSHAD AN IMPRESSIVE SHOWING,CLINCHING A TOTAL OF EIGHTCHAMPIONSHIP TITLES OVER THEFIVE DAYS OF RACING.
ADAMCIANCIARULO
RYDERDiFRANCESCO
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BRANDYRICHARDS
ANDREWPIERCE CARSONMUMFORD PIERCEBROWN
Other Elite Team Dunlop members to leave the prestigious amateur national as
crowned champions include Ryder DiFrancesco sweeping the 51 (4-6) AMA 1
Stock class with 1-1-1 finishes, Pierce Brown in the 65 (7-9) Stock class with 1-
1-1 finishes, Carson Mumford grabbing 1-1-2 finishes in the 65 (7-11) Modified
class and Brandy Richards in the Girls (12-15) class with 2-2-1 finishes.
51cc (4-6) AMA Stock
Ryder DiFrancesco Champion
51cc (7-8) AMA 2 Stock
Jett Reynolds 8th
Gage Linville 12th
65cc (7-9) Stock
Pierce Brown Champion
Stilez Robertson 2nd
Gage Linville 7th
65cc (10-11) Stock
Carson Mumford 3rd
65cc (10-11) Mod
Carson Mumford Champion
85cc (9-11) Stock
Jordan Bailey Champion
Garrett Marchbanks 2nd
85cc (9-11) Mod
Jordan Bailey Champion
Garrett Marchbanks 3rd
Mini Sr. (12-14) Stock
Austin Forkner 4th
Chase Sexton 8th
Mini Sr. (12-14) Mod
Tanner Stack 2nd
Sean Cantrell 3rd
Chase Sexton 5th
Austin Forkner 11th
Super Mini 1 (12-15)
Adam Cianciarulo Champion
Andrew Pierce 11th
Super Mini 2 (13-16)
Adam Cianciarulo Champion
Mark Worth 2nd
Andrew Pierce 27th
Girls (12-15)
Brandy Richards Champion
Women’s (14+)
Brandy Richards 4th
MARKWORTH
2322
TANNERSTACK
STILEZROBERTSON
GARRETTMARCHBANKS SEANCANTRELL GAGELINVILLE AUSTINFORKNER
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON TEAM DUNLOP
24 25
JESSEROOKECAN’T LEAVE ANYTHING ALONESome guys love a clean, stock bike. Some even painstakingly return piles of junk into
picture-perfect restorations. Jesse Rooke has a new shop in Arizona that could handle any
restoration, and routinely builds a bike from scratch, but Rooke has no love of stock. He
creates machines that are innovative, clean, stark and rolling works of art.
26 27
While most of his work has been in the custom and chopper
genre, his latest creation started with knobbies. He began with
an exceptionally unusual all-wheel-drive Christini 450. The
Christini is based on a Honda CRF450X, and while it is hardly
smooth in the way street bikes are, adding Christini’s drive
system to the front adds more barbs. As exotic as the Christini
is stock, JR wasn’t interested in stock.
“Steve Christini wanted to see what we could do with his
Christini AWD 450. I’ve always been fascinated by flat track
racing, so we went in a dirt track direction. Carey Hart had
parts from racing Supermoto, so we swapped the X parts to a
full Pro Circuit CRF450R Supermoto race engine, swingarm,
airbox and subframe. We shortened the suspension, and
Steve Christini shortened the drive system to match. The
rolling stock is 19-inch wheels from Dubya with the ultra-
strong D.I.D Dirt Star rims in black with black spokes. The
entire bike is built with titanium and aluminum fasteners. The
guards and levers are from Works Connection.”
Naturally, being a Rooke custom, the bike had to look the part.
“The frame is bead-blasted, but all of the other chassis parts
are powder-coated. Even the aluminum fasteners get in on the
program, since many are anodized. The plastic and graphics
are special. We haven’t decided yet, but we might sell replicas
to raise money for charity.”
And, since Jesse is a Dunlop guy, there are Dunlop tires. “We
haven’t ridden the bike on dirt yet, but I can’t wait. I’ve got an
invitation to Kenny Roberts’ ranch to get some dirt track
practice and have a chance to ride the bike. I’ll be riding with
really good guys, so I am hoping the AWD is as good as
everyone says it is. I’ll need every advantage in that crowd.”
Look for Rooke customs at various events this year. “I prefer
to display my bikes at events rather than just custom shows. I
want to have things to do and see, and I love dirt track. I’m
hoping to schedule in shows that coincide with dirt track
races. Many of our greatest racers have come from dirt track,
and I want to see it thrive.”
CLICK HERE TO KEEP UP WITH JESSE ROOKE AND HIS MACHINES
“MANY OF OURGREATEST RACERSHAVE COME FROMDIRT TRACK, AND IWANT TO SEEIT THRIVE.”
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EXCITING RACING RULES
2012 MX SEASON
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Dunlop-sponsored riders Ryan Dungey, Blake Baggett and Ashley Fiolek won all three
national Motocross titles. Elsewhere in this issue of Dunlop Download, we’ve provided an
in-depth interview with Red Bull KTM rider Dungey, who earned the 450 Class
Championship—the first-ever pro Motocross or Supercross championship for KTM in the
USA—with a masterful effort, posting 10 overall victories in the 12-round season; he won
every overall from the third round forward. Motoconcepts’ Mike Alessi worked hard all
season long to challenge Dungey, and his efforts earned him the runner-up spot on the
year. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer edged out Chaparral Honda’s
Andrew Short by a single point for third overall in the championship points chase.
In the 250 class, Blake Baggett earned the title for his Monster Energy/Pro
Circuit/Kawasaki team, in part by winning a class-leading five races. The championship
came down to three Team Dunlop alumni riders—Baggett, GEICO Honda teammates
Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac. It all came down to the final at Lake Elsinore, where Baggett
once again asserted his dominance, never giving up the points lead, and emerging
victorious at the end of the year.
Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Ashley Fiolek closed out the 8-round Women’s Motocross
Championship on top following a wide-open season that saw three riders still holding a
chance at winning the title entering the final round. Fiolek’s hard-earned championship
was her fourth in five seasons as a pro—this, despite missing a round of competition with
an injury early in the season. Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda’s Tarah Gieger earned a
career-best runner-up finish in the championship, while Rockstar Suzuki’s Jessica
Patterson fought on gallantly despite an injury to round out third in the points chase.
ONE THING’S FOR SURE: THE LUCAS OIL PROMOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP, SANCTIONED BY AMAPRO RACING, PROVIDED LOTS OF EXCITEMENT ANDA NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME ACHIEVEMENTS AS THE2012 SEASON FINALLY CAME TO A CLOSE.
ELITOMAC
3534
RYANDUNGEY
3736
BLAKEBAGGETT
3938
ASHLEYFIOLEK
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MIKEALESSI
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JUSTINBARCIA
JAKEWEIMER
ANDREWSHORTCLICK HERE TO SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THE MX SEASON
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2012 SEES RYAN DUNGEY DELIVER MANY FIRSTS TO KTM—INCLUDING THEIR FIRST AMA MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
RDDELIVERS!The 2012 AMA Motocross season will go down in the history books—especially the KTM history
books—as one of the most dominant one-man shows to ever brace the grueling National outdoor
circuit. Red Bull KTM rider Ryan Dungey staged a truly amazing display of racing prowess as he
absolutely dominated the competition all season long with a staggering collection of moto wins and
overall victories. These wins elevated Dunlop-sponsored Dungey to third on the all-time win list, as
he overtook Rick Johnson and now closely trails Bob Hannah—both true legends of the sport.
We managed to carve a little time out of RD’s busy schedule to gain a few insights on his
championship season.
46 47
First of all, congratulations on your championship! You had
an incredible run of moto wins and overall wins in 2012;
what were some of the elements that helped you find so
much success?
RD: The Motocross season went really well. I stayed healthy
the entire season, which is what every rider aims for. At the
start of the season James Stewart and I had some great
battles and I was bummed to see him get hurt because I was
having a great time racing him. We were really pushing each
other. But as the season went on I feel the team and I got even
stronger. We were consistently at the top of our game and on
the podium every week. Consistency is definitely very
important as is staying healthy. I think we got the bike dialed in
a little better with every race and by Unadilla we were able to
wrap up the championship. I know KTM is stoked, as am I.
How gratifying was it to be able to keep on top of your
game, racking up win after win, building up a points lead
to an early championship?
RD: It felt good but it wasn’t without a lot of hard work along
the way. What’s the old saying; “It’s hard work getting to the
top but even harder to stay there?” The biggest challenge was
staying focused and trying to continuously push myself to
keep getting better and faster each week. When it comes to
racing I always strive to do better and keep learning new
things about the sport and myself. Like I said, James and I had
some great battles and as the season went on Mike Alessi
continued to get stronger as well so I always had someone
there ready to capitalize on any mistakes.
The first year on a new bike with a new team is supposed
to be an “adjustment period”, but you quickly found
success early on during Supercross—what helped you to
adapt so quickly?
RD: When I signed with KTM late last year I literally had two
weeks on the new KTM 450SX-F before we decided to race
the cup race in Las Vegas. We figured there was no better
way to find out where we were at in terms of the competition
than to race with them. We raced Vegas and gathered a lot
of valuable information about the bike at that race and we
were pumped to finish in second place in the process! It
gave us a solid platform to build from heading into the
Supercross Championship.
And you found success right away once the Supercross
season began, right?
RD: Our first Supercross season together was a really good
one. We put the Red Bull KTM on the podium at the series
opener in Anaheim and that was awesome. It was a big boost
for the team to know we were on the right track and a reward
for everyone’s hard work, bringing the revamped KTM program
into fruition. And from there we continued to get stronger,
taking our first win of the season—and KTM USA’s first-ever
big bike win—the following week in Phoenix. Our second win
came at the Atlanta SX. However, just like anytime you’re
working with something brand new, there were some weeks
where we were a little ways off from where we wanted to be
but I think we always figured it out and were back on it the
following week. It was a shame that I got injured midway into
the season and missed five rounds but I think we made up for
it by winning the final two Supercross races.
Did you ever have any reservations about joining a new
team with an all-new, virtually unproven bike?
RD: There are a lot of factors that come into play when it
comes to signing with a team. I guess coming to KTM, a
company that for a long time had dedicated the majority of its
resources to the European racing scene, was a bit of a leap of
faith. But I knew that if Roger DeCoster was there then
something good would come out of it. I’ve had a great
relationship with him for many years and I trust his
workmanship. If he says he can make something work, then I
know he will. Roger never does anything half-heartedly. I also
went to Europe to meet with KTM and I saw firsthand the level
of commitment and resources they were putting toward the U.S.
racing program in an effort to win here. It’s awesome for
everyone involved to experience the success we experienced in
our first year together.
GOOD TIRES ARE ESSENTIAL. WE CAN DO ALL THEWORK IN THE WORLD DEVELOPING AND SETTING UPTHE BIKE BUT IF THE TIRES, THE ONE PART THATACTUALLY CONNECTS THE BIKE TO THE TERRAIN,AREN’T ANY GOOD THEN WHAT’S THE POINT?
48 49
Tell us about the bike; what are some of the things you like
best about it?
RD: It just feels good. The weight is just right for me and I like
the power delivery from the engine; it handles great.
Tell us about getting adjusted to your new team; how is
this team different compared to past situations?
RD: That’s hard to answer because all but one year in my
professional career has been under the leadership of Roger! I
think one of the biggest factors when it comes to a rider’s
performance and success is your confidence. If you don’t
have confidence in the equipment you’re on or the people that
surround you working on your race bike then it’s hard to go
out there and race at 100 percent to 110 percent. What we do
can be dangerous so you have to have your head in the right
place when it comes time to race. At Red Bull KTM I am
working with a bunch of new faces; however I’m also working
with many guys I’ve worked and trusted in the past (Roger, Ian
Harrison and Rob Hendrickson). Roger is very good at putting
an experienced hard working team together. Everyone at Red
Bull KTM is good at what they do and I don’t have to worry
about things because I know they have it handled. KTM both
in Europe and America made me feel welcome from the start
so the adjustment period didn’t take too long.
Tell us about some of the development work you and the
team did with the bike as the season progressed, and how
those changes have helped your performance.
RD: When you are working with an all-new bike, every time
you ride you discover new characteristics about it. I think
Roger and the guys in Austria did an awesome job in the short
time they had to develop a bike that was virtually ready to go
out of the box. I can honestly say that when I received my first
KTM 450SX-F practice bike I felt just as good on it for the first
time as I had felt on any other new bike I’d ridden. I was
actually surprised. We had a really good platform to build
from. That’s why two weeks after getting my first bike I was
able to race the cup race in Las Vegas. The key areas we
focused on since then have been suspension and engine
development. We use WP Suspension components and the
team spent a lot of time testing and developing our settings.
We also worked on engine power delivery to make the ride
smoother—the way I like it. I think these are the two key main
areas we made improvements and are still improving on.
The outdoor tracks vary considerably in terrain and
soil types; tell us about the different Dunlop tires you
use at the different tracks, and how they contribute to
your success.
RD: Good tires are essential. We can do all the work in the
world developing and setting up the bike but if the tires, the
one part that actually connects the bike to the terrain, aren’t
any good then what’s the point? They literally are the part of
the bike that grounds it. And it’s the travel and feel we get from
the tires to the bike that we eventually base our set-up from.
So the quality of the tires we use is crucial to our overall set-
up and development. We choose Dunlop because the product
they produce, I believe, is the best. And the support we
receive from them is exceptional. We are always trying and
experimenting with tires working in conjunction with Dunlop.
Do you have a favorite Dunlop tire, one that gives you the
best feel in most track situations?
RD: My favorite is the tire that hooks up best to the conditions
we’re riding in! (Laughs) No, I don’t really have one favorite.
We work closely with Brian Fleck and the entire Dunlop crew
on race day and work with their suggestions for tire choice. No
one is more knowledgeable than them when it comes to
knowing what will work best in the various conditions. We
have a good idea of what we should run but we definitely lean
on them for advice when the time comes.
What are some of your high points and favorite memories
from this 2012 season?
I think getting my first win with KTM and delivering KTM USA’s
first-ever Supercross win in Phoenix at only the second race in
the series is a standout moment for me. And of course,
winning the Motocross Championship! It’s been a great year
for the team and me. And being back with Roger, Ian and the
crew is awesome. I feel at home with the team and with that
feeling then I think the good results will only continue.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE IMAGES OF RYAN DUNGEY
50 51
RSD HURLEYSPORTSTER
KEEPING IT SIMPLE.
52 53
Simple things are best. And Hurley’s H20 initiative is, at heart,
a simple thing. Hurley makes surfing gear, and the initiative is
to supply clean water to, well, everyone. Pretty simple, seeing
as how clean water is a simple requisite for life. Hurley’s a
natural match for the project, because it’s a company that
makes surfing gear, which depends on—water.
Enter Roland Sands Design. Sands and some of his crew are
avid surfers, and liked Hurley’s H20 initiative, as well as the
designs of the company’s apparel, specifically the Phantom
line. Sands says, “The Hurley pattern on the tank was the
inspiration for the build. I really liked the geometric pattern.”
So with that RSD decided to build a “surf-worthy café bike” to
show its support for Hurley. And Sands’ choice for a platform?
Simple. A Harley-Davidson Sportster, specifically the Nightster,
arguably one of Harley’s simplest models.
As Sands says on his Web site, “The guys at Hurley are stoked
on bikes and we’re equally stoked on surfing, so a
collaboration was born … using Hurley’s Phantom pattern as
inspiration. …”
As Sands says, “My friend Punker Pat works with them
[Hurley] on various projects, and this was really an excuse for
us to hang out and combine bikes and surfing.”
Sands aim was to create “a bike you could ride to the beach
that was easy to build.” To that end, the changes aren’t
necessarily sweeping, but are well thought out, and took about
a month. The suspension, brakes, wheels and ergos have all
been fettled, plus there’s a pipe and fuel module for the 45-
degree V-twin. “It’s really a bolt-on build, not much fabrication
involved,” Sands says.
“We have changed the bike quite a bit in its lifetime. We build
a lot of parts for Sportys, so we’re constantly trying new bars,
seats, foot controls, levers and whatever else we can throw at
it,” he adds.
But the Sportster won’t be the end of the RSD/Hurley
collaboration. Sands says, “Our plans are to develop some
future concepts that can be a part of the H20 initiative,
possibly building some bikes specifically to reach places that
need clean water.”
No easy feat that. But you can be assured the simplest
approaches will work best.
54 55
SIMPLE THINGS ARE BEST. AND HURLEY’S H20INITIATIVE IS, AT HEART, A SIMPLE THING.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE IMAGES OF THE BIKE
RACING UPDATE
MOTO2MOTO3
5756
MARCMÁRQUEZ
The racing in the Dunlop-spec-tire Moto2 and
Moto3 series has been terrific since the start of
the year, but with 12 rounds down as the season
progresses, a few select riders are rising to the
top.
In Moto2, as of the Brno GP round in the Czech
Republic, Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol’s Marc
Márquez has notched his second consecutive win
and sixth on the season. These efforts have given
him a comfortable gap in the championship stand-
ings, with his closest challenger Pons 40 HP
Tuenti’s Pol Espargaró trailing by 48 points, which
is a margin of almost two race victories. Six races
remain on the calendar, so things look very posi-
tive for Márquez.
Such impressive results, among other factors,
prompted Honda to sign the 19-year-old Spanish
rider to the factory Repsol Honda MotoGP team
for 2013 and 2014. Márquez will take the spot va-
cated by team rider Casey Stoner, who an-
nounced his retirement earlier this year.
In Moto3 racing, tight competition continues to be
the rule with any one of a number of racers vying
for the win come race day. Case in point: in Brno
it was Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3’s Jonas Folger
who locked up the win in only his second race for
the Aspar team after switching squads midway
through the season.
Currently, Sandro Cortese of the Red Bull KTM Ajo
team leads the Moto3 championship chase with
200 points, followed by Blusens Avintia’s Maverick
Viñales with 168 points and RW Racing GP’s Luis
Salom with 149. But there’s plenty more racing to
be done, and the only thing for certain in this class
is that there will be plenty more close races before
the final checkered flag has fallen.
AND
5958
SANDROCORTESE
6160
EUROPECAN WAIT.
CAMERON BEAUBIER
6362
At 19 years of age, Californian Cameron Beaubier has a racing
resume longer and more impressive than many riders 15 years
older. A second-generation racer, Cameron has been racing
most of his life, starting out on a Yamaha PW50 minibike, and
moving from there to race motocross and supermoto. He
found his way to Europe in the Red Bull Rookie’s Cup, then
raced the MotoGP 125 GP class and the Spanish 125 series
and now has returned to the USA to race for the Yamaha
Extended Service/Graves/Yamaha team in the AMA Pro GoPro
Daytona SportBike class.
At an age when most parents would not let their teen stay over
at a strange house, Beaubier was traveling all over Europe, at
times by himself. Credit goes to his Dad, Jeff, who was a racer
himself and understands the sacrifices and laser-like focus you
need to be successful.
After several years in Europe, Beaubier returned to the United
States and began a progression through the racing ranks. He
won races in the AMA SuperSport series, including his first
race on a 600 at Daytona. He adapted easily to production-
based racing here in the States. From his motocross and
supermoto roots, one might believe that Cameron Beaubier’s
heart lies with the aged two-strokes when it comes to a
favored mode of racing motorcycle, but it’s exactly the
opposite. He says he likes the power and responsive chassis
of a 600 over a two-stroke 125cc GP bike. “You can’t do much
with a 125,” he says.
Known for his youthful appearance, Beaubier can look forward
to being one of those people who gets asked for his ID well
into his 30s. And his physicality? Like so many of his racing
peers, Beaubier prefers to spend long hours on his bicycle for
training purposes. In Europe, Beaubier saw that his heroes like
Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner, and the rest went racing with no
fat on their bones and just enough muscle to get the job done,
and he’s adopted that same physical profile.
Beaubier has enjoyed an explosion of success in 2012. After a
somewhat slow start to the season—due to the broken leg he
suffered in a Christmas Eve dirtbike mishap, followed by a
post-Daytona scooter accident that broke his kneecap into
three pieces—the Californian has won four of the past five
Daytona SportBike races, including his breakthrough weekend
at Barber Motorsports Park where he earned his first career
DSB pole position, followed by his first two career DSB race
wins. The racecraft that Beaubier demonstrated in the class
has garnered a great deal of accolades. He’s aggressive
without being overly aggressive and he’s got such a strong
technical riding style that he doesn’t look like the fastest rider
on the track even when he is.
Thanks to racing, he’s got friends all over the world. He and
American JD Beach stayed with Casey Stoner at Casey’s
home in Australia, and he enjoys a close relationship with
reigning World Supersport champion and current Aprilia World
Superbike rider Chaz Davies.
With his recent explosion of success, some wonder if Beaubier
will return to Europe next season. There is unfinished business
for Beaubier in Europe, but his focus will be the AMA series in
2013. For now, there is the U.S. to conquer. The World
championships will have to wait for Cameron Beaubier.
“I LIKED WHAT I SAW. I LIKED HIS ATTITUDE. HE WASTRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD ON HIS OWN, AND WEWERE ABLE TO HELP HIM AND GUYS LIKE HIM A LITTLE BIT.” –CASEY STONER ON CAMERON BEAUBIER
6564
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE IMAGES OF CAMERON BEAUBIER
66 67
AMA ROAD RACING
UPDATE
JOSHHAYES
When the MotoGP crowd comes to town, every single national rider afforded an opportunity to
race on the same weekend as the GP stars has his internal meter set to “impress.” A national rider
who has a good showing at a MotoGP event cannot underestimate how it may impact his career.
MotoGP arrived at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in late July, and the full accompaniment of AMA
Pro Road Racing classes joined the storied Euro-centric world championship series. While each
class—SuperBike, Daytona SportBike and SuperSport—were afforded just one race on the week-
end, all were held in good weather and with the good vibe brought on with the announcement that
GEICO had signed on to become the series sponsor for the AMA Pro Road Racing series.
68 69
In the SuperBike class, Josh Hayes enjoyed a historic week-
end at Laguna Seca Raceway. The Monster Energy/Graves/
Yamaha rider and two-time reigning SuperBike Champion
qualified on pole and handily won the race and, by doing so,
he cemented himself further into the AMA Pro Racing records
book. Josh won his 11th SuperBike race of the season, includ-
ing his 8th victory in a row, which is a single-season SuperBike
record in AMA Pro Racing. As icing on the cake, it was Josh’s
28th career SuperBike win, tying him with Ben Spies for third
on the all-time wins list.
“Good things are happening right now,” Hayes said. “I’ll ride
the train as long as I can. If I get into a battle in a hard race,
you’re going to see me fighting for it for that individual race; it
has nothing to do with streaks or race wins or anything like
that. It’s for that race win. I’m in a position where I can try for
every single one of them. I don’t have anything to worry about.
I’ve got a points situation that I don’t even think about at this
point in the season. I’m just focused on winning every race
that I can. If I toss one down the road—or two down the
road—then I’ll reevaluate how I’m going to approach it. But,
right now, I just want to win everything.
“I’m still riding like I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder.
I still remember last year very clearly. I remember it more
clearly than I remember winning eight races in a row. It seems
like things have happened pretty quickly and it doesn’t feel
like that to me. I’ll just keep focusing, and trying hard, and
pushing myself.”
Going into New Jersey Motorsports Park, Hayes was leading
his third consecutive SuperBike Championship by 74 points
with six races and three rounds remaining on the season. With
dominating back-to-wins in Jersey, Hayes not only increased
his point lead, but set a new record for most AMA SuperBike
wins in a single season—eleven—surpassing the record previ-
ously held by Mat Mladin. JOSHHERRIN
BLAKEYOUNG
AMA PRO NATIONAL GUARD SUPERBIKE
70 71
In the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class, Cameron Beaubier just continues to impress. The
Californian won a cut-and-thrust, three-way fight for another victory at Laguna Seca, taking his fourth
victory in the past five races in the DSB class. If you’re of the opinion that Martin Cardenas is one of the
best riders in the AMA Road Racing series and the best rider in the Daytona Sport Bike class, you can’t
help but be impressed by Beaubier beating series points leader Cardenas in a impressive, last-lap pass.
In Jersey, Beaubier won the first race ahead of Cardenas to close the championship points gap, but in the
second race Beaubier was caught up in a horrific crash with Yamaha teammate Tommy Hayden (both
riders walked away) after Hayden hit a damp spot on the tarmac and highsided. The crash left the door
open to Cardenas to take the win, stretching his championship lead.
CAMERONBEABIER
MARTINCARDENAS
AMA PRO GOPRO DAYTONA SPORTBIKE
72 73
James Rispoli won the AMA Pro Motorcycle-
Superstore.com SuperSport race on Saturday at
Laguna Seca in a race that few on hand will ever
forget. The Celtic Racing/Orient Express Racing
Suzuki GSX-R600 pilot led the majority of the
race, but he was kept honest in it by RoadRace
Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6 rider Hayden
Gillim. The chance to show the world what you’re
capable of at a MotoGP event was not lost on
anyone at Laguna and certainly not on the
SuperSport rivals. Both almost crashed as the
laps wore down, and Rispoli put himself on the
top of the podium with an aggressive pass in
Laguna’s final corner for the win. In Jersey, Rispoli
did it again, taking another win and stretching his
significant championship points lead.
AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM SUPERSPORT
JAMESRISPOLI
74 75
The Vance and Hines XR1200 class did not race at Laguna Seca, but they were
back in action on an equally hallowed ground at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
and they had good news to report. AMA Pro Road Racing, Vance & Hines, and
the Harley-Davidson Motor Company announced on Saturday that the spec
racing class will be extended for the 2013 and 2014 seasons in the GEICO Mo-
torcycle AMA Pro Road Racing Championship.
With an international crowd watching and a $50,000 weekend purse on the
line, Kyle Wyman won Saturday’s race one. In Sunday’s race two, Tyler O’Hara
withstood an early battle, and then he notched a lopsided win that he cele-
brated in style with one of the longest cool-down-lap wheelies in recent AMA
Pro Road Racing memory.
All bets were off in New Jersey as Shane Narbonne took his first win in the XR
class. Wyman finished fourth, knocking him back to a tie for the championship
points lead with Benjamin Carlson.
AMA PRO VANCE & HINES XR1200 SERIES
SHANENARBONNE
TYLERO’HARA
CLICK HERE FOR MORE RR IMAGES
UPCOMING EVENTS
©2012 Dunlop • P. O. Box 1109, Buffalo, New York 14240-1109 • 1-800-845-8378 • dunlopmotorcycle.com
GNCC Series #11October 6-7
Powerline ParkSt. Clairsville, OH
National Hare and Hound Series #9October 14
Johnson Valley, CA
MotoGP–Moto2October 14
Motegi, Japan
Monster Energy CupOctober 20
Las Vegas, NV
GNCC Series #12October 20-21
Crawfordsville, IN
MotoGP–Moto2October 21
Sepang Circuit, Malaysia
National Hare and Hound Series #10October 28Lucerne, CA
MotoGP–Moto2October 28
Phillip Island, Australia
GNCC Series #13November 3-4
Hurricane Mills, TN
MotoGP–Moto2November 11
Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia