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Dunlop tire tests in Daytona |
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Posted by Staff
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Saturday, 01 December 2007 |
DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. – Overcast conditions and misty rain slowed the
opening day of the annual three-day Dunlop motorcycle tire test at historic
Daytona International Speedway.
The top riders
and manufacturers that utilize Dunlop tires finally got on track Friday
mid-afternoon at DIS to kick off the first of three days of tire testing in
preparation for the Feb. 29 – March 8 Daytona 200 Week By Honda, which is
highlighted by the prestigious 67th Daytona 200 By Honda on Sunday,
March 8.
Among the riders
in attendance for the test include Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, Mat Mladin and
Tommy Hayden, Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and Geoff May, American Honda’s Neil
Hodgson, Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes and Jake Zemke and Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo,
Josh Herrin and Ben and Eric Bostrom and Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden and Jamie
Hacking.
For a couple of
riders, the test serves as an opportunity to get more familiar with their new
teams in advance of the 2008 season and Zemke – the 2006 Daytona 200 By Honda
champion – is one of those riders.
The 31-year-old
Zemke leaves American Honda to join Erion Honda for the 2008 season – a team
that he rode for earlier in his career – and will compete for the championships
in Supersport class and the Formula Xtreme class, which kicks off its season
with the Daytona 200 By Honda.
The new team has
Zemke pumped up about the upcoming AMA season.
“I’m actually
really excited about this year,” Zemke said. “I’ve got two bikes, two different
classes. We’re going to be really competitive in both. We’re shooting for the
championship in both classes.”
While waiting out
the rain during the lunch hour on Friday, Zemke said he was beginning to get
“antsy” and was ready to get on track for the test.
“For me, I
haven’t ridden a 600 Supersport bike since ’03,” Zemke said. “I’m really looking
forward to getting out there and getting comfortable again on a Supersport bike
and also getting on the Formula Xtreme bike and getting things dialed in for
myself and get ready for the 200.”
For Zemke and all
the riders, the three-day test is important in finding the right tire for the
races in March at DIS as well as building chemistry with the
team.
“You’re looking
for the best of both worlds,” Zemke said about the tire. “You want as much grip
as you can have but it’s gotta last (for the Formula Xtreme bike) until your pit
stop window which is usually around Lap 20-24. You got to have a tire that is
going to give you as much grip as possible but also get you to your pit stop.
Dunlop has done a great job over the years of giving us tires. Safety is their
No. 1 issue and then they try to get us grip after that. They do a really good
job at it.”
Dunlop motorcycle
tire testing continues through Sunday at Daytona International Speedway is open to the
public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstand through the lobby of The
Daytona 500 Experience.
On Monday,
Pirelli tire testing will kick off a two-day test. Among the riders expected to
attend include 2007 Daytona 200 By Honda winner Steve Rapp, M4 EMGO Suzuki’s
Chris Ulrich, Chaz Davies, former Superbike champion Doug Chandler and Brian
Parriott
from Daytona International Speedway Press Office
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