With the onset of the 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing season just around the corner, Dunlop has finalized preparation for the annual opener at the storied Daytona International Speedway on March 10-12. As the official tire of AMA Pro RoadRacing, Dunlop supports the entire AMA paddock, and this undertaking is significant—particularly at Daytona. To support this world-renowned event, Dunlop brings three transporters stocked with 3000 tires to the track, including Sportmax D211 GP spec tires for the majority of classes and slicks for the Superbike class. Staffing for this huge event will encompass five Dunlop pit-lane service engineers, three tire designers, 10 tire-fitting technicians and two administrative/stock controllers.
The 29 American SuperBike riders entered in Daytona as of this writing will be competing onslicks specifically manufactured for the Daytona race. They can choose between two front and two rear tires, one soft and one medium compound. Notable riders in this big-displacement class include current series champion Josh Hayes, riding his Monster Energy Graves Yamaha; Rockstar Makita Suzuki teammates Tommy Hayden and Blake Young; Ben Bostrom aboard the Jordan Suzuki; Roger Hayden on the National Guard Jordan Suzuki; Martin Cardenas and his M4 Suzuki plus many more.
A full complement of 49 Daytona SportBike riders will compete in the 200-mile race using Dunlop’s medium-compound Sportmax D211 GP—formulated specifically for the demands of this unique 200-mile race on the fabled Daytona tri-oval. With 2010 DaytonaSportBike Champion Cardenas jumping to the SuperBike class in 2011, this year’s field is wide open. Among some of the pre-race favorites in this unique long-distance event are previous Daytona 200 winners Josh Herrin on the Monster Energy Graves Yamaha and Jake Zemke on the Project 1 Atlanta Yamaha; Richie MorrisRacing’s Danny Eslick; Jason DiSalvo on a Team Latus Motors Racing Ducati; Tommy Aquino on the Pat Clark Sports/Graves Yamaha; and PJ Jacobsen riding the Celtic Racing Ducati.
The young up-and-coming riders in the SuperSport class number 39 entrants so far with more likely to sign up, and they will likewise roll out on medium-compound D211 GP spec tires front and rear. And in the Harley XR1200 Cup Series, riders will also employ Dunlop Sportmax D211 GP spec tires front and rear.
Dunlop wishes all the riders well as we head into a new season of AMA racing on the famous high banks of Daytona. The 2011 season will certainly enjoy a great kickoff, with plenty more close competition to come.
###About Dunlop
Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923.
