New Dunlop slicks for ASBK in 2012
Dunlop has announced the introduction of a new, US-built Superbike control tyre which will make its Australian debut in the 2012 season of the Australian Superbike Championship series and Pro Stock 1000 categories.
The Dunlop KR448F and KR449 slicks made their successful introduction to racing in April 2011 in the US, and have already proven their worth with a number of wins in the WERA National Endurance Series Championship.
Dunlop has been the control tyre supplier to the Australian Superbike Championship for the past two years, and Dunlop’s Motorcycle & Motorsport Manager, Ken Wieden, was pleased to announce the introduction of these new tyres to the series.
“We are proud to be associated with IEG and the Australian Superbike Championship, and look forward to an exciting series in 2012 on our new race slicks as the new control tyres,” Mr Wieden said.
“We are confident in the performance of these new products which are the result of extensive development work and Dunlop’s close involvement in superbike racing.”
The Dunlop KR448F and KR449 tyres are dimensionally identical to the famous UK-built Dunlop N-Tec KR106 and KR108 that has dominated Australian road racing for many years. Comprehensive local testing has been completed on the new tyres with Honda and Suzuki that showed consistent wear, durability and lap times.
“The new KR448F and KR449 slicks have been extensively tested and display terrific performance across all areas, particularly in speed and durability,” Mr Wieden said.
“They also contain the same advanced N-Tec, MT (Multi Tread) and IRP (Intuitive Response Profile) technology that has proven so successful in other Dunlop road racing tyres.”
The new slicks are a result of extensive research and development at Dunlop’s Buffalo based US facility, using experience gained in international road racing and also Dunlop’s involvement with the AMA Pro Racing series.
The Dunlop KR448F and KR449 tyres will be used in all 2012 Australian Superbike Championship rounds except for the Superbike class at Phillip Island, where the existing UK–built KR106 and KR108 will continue to be used due to the extreme demands at this circuit. The new slicks will be available in 125/80R17 and 200/55R17 sizes to Australian Superbike Championship competitors from early January 2012.
The QBE Australian Superbike Championships will be contested over seven rounds across four states on the 2012 calendar.
2012 QBE Australian Superbike Championship
Rd 1. 24-26 Feb Phillip Island
Rd 2. 20-22 Apr Hidden Valley
Rd 3. 4-6 May Barbagallo
Rd 4. 18-20 May Phillip Island
Rd 5. 1-3 Jun QLD Raceway
Rd 6. 17-19 Aug Phillip Island
Rd 7. 14-16 Sep QLD Raceway
– Dunlop dominates 8 Hour
Dunlop has dominated the 2011 Phillip Island 8 Hour Australian Endurance Championship (December 2-4) with both first and second placed bikes crossing the line using Dunlop tyres.
The Australian Endurance Championship held at the demanding Phillip Island circuit was this year extended from the six hour format of 2010 to an eight hour ultimate endurance test designed to create major challenges to the bikes, the tyres and the rider’s physical and mental stamina.
The 2011 event utilised an open tyre regulation meaning that all tyre manufactures could compete. It was also open to all the major classes which compete in the Australian Superbike Championship, including Superbike and Supersport.
First place was claimed by the Team Suzuki Superbike outfit of Josh Waters, Troy Herfoss and Robbie Bugden aboard the Phil Tainton Racing-prepared GSX-R1000, with team mates Brodie Waters, Ben Attard and Mitchell Carr on board a Supersport GSX-R 600 in second place.
The difference between the first Dunlop tyre on the winning Team Suzuki bike and the nearest competitor tyre was an incredible 9 laps. Dunlop Motorcycle & Motorsport Manager, Ken Wieden, congratulated the winners at the event and commented on the Dunlop tyre performance at the race.
“PTR Team Suzuki should be congratulated for winning the race outright and also taking runner up place, an impressive result for the riders and the team,” Mr Wieden said.
“Our tyres were totally dominant all weekend and they performed faultlessly. We are extremely pleased with these fantastic results.”
In the qualifying sessions, riders fitted with Dunlop tyres were quickest in each of the five classes, and often by a considerable margin.
“Phillip Island is one of the most demanding circuits in the world on tyres. For the entire weekend Dunlop did not have one issue with tyre performance or reliability,” Mr Wieden said.
This is the third consecutive year that a rider fitted with Dunlop tyres has won the Endurance Race, the first in 2009 in the 6 Hours Championship at Oran Park, last years 2010 6 Hours Championship at Phillip Island, and this years 2011 8 Hours Championship at Phillip Island.
“These results just reinforce Dunlop’s position as one of the world’s leading tyre brands and why we are the number one choice for the top motorsport and motorcycle racing series in Australia.”
2011 Phillip Island 8 Hour Australian Endurance Championship Results
1. Josh Waters/Troy Herfoss/Robbie Bugden (Team Suzuki SBK) – Dunlop
2. Brodie Waters/Ben Attard/Mitchell Carr (Team Suzuki SS) – Dunlop
3. Ben Henry/Bryan Staring/Nicholas Waters (Cube Racing SBK) – Pirelli
4. Trent Gibson/Greg Epis/Jay Layman (Bridgestone Endurance STK1) – Bridgestone
