Pirelli Moto Takes Over in Dakar 2009: 1st and 2nd Overall with Scorpion Rally

 

2009 Pirelli’s debut in the Dakar as a supplier to the official KTM factory teams was nothing short of dominating, with the new SCORPION RALLY tyre capturing the 1st and 2nd positions on the podium with riders Marc Coma and Cyril Despres. This off-road rally tyre was developed together with KTM in preparation for this year’s Dakar. Out of a field of 235 riders, seven riders chose to have support from Pirelli and out of these seven, three riders finished in the top 7 positions overall. KTM Repsol rider Marc Coma (SPA) and Red Bull KTM rider Cyril Despres (FRA) were fiercely competitive in this 31st edition of the Dakar, considered to be the most difficult rally race in the world, which this year moved 10,000 km away to South America.

Two years of development on the new SCORPION RALLY tyre, made specifically for rally application and born from the winning heritage of the Scorpion product family, has resulted in a product worthy of such a challenging race. This new tyre underwent testing and collaboration with the best rally riders and racing teams, and Dakar 2009 was chosen for its launch due to the event’s popular following and demanding terrain. The innovative and complementary structure helped guarantee outstanding performance and high resistance to fatigue and puncture. Furthermore, the compound and knobs layout is designed to provide great traction and grip for the difficult terrains that are encountered in even most demanding rallies such as Dakar.

Pirelli Tyre would like to thank Marc Coma, Cyril Despres the entire KTM team and its riders for managing the uncertainty of change, their excellent preparations prior to the race, and for believing that Pirelli could produce a winning rally tire. From the positive feedback received during the testing sessions, to the open communication throughout the Dakar, it was clear that KTM and Pirelli were a committed team. Pirelli and KTM look forward to all the excellent racing results the partnership will bring as well as the strong and positive benefits which two sport-focused companies will inevitably find.

RALLY won 7 of 14 stages, and gained a total of 1:52 hrs over the competition. These riders tackled 5,652 km of specials from Buenos Aires to Valparaíso and back again, during which they encountered a race environment unique to this new location, with notable places like Terra Del Fuego, the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert, said to be the world’s driest desert. Dakar 2009’s extreme diversity and newly charted territory was especially challenging for the teams, the riders and technicians to make the ideal setup (regarding tyres, compounds, mousse, tubes, etc.,) as the environment was completely foreign from previous African Dakar races.

Notwithstanding the excellent performance of the top two riders, Marc Coma’s teammate Jordi Viladoms (SPA), who is always a perfect example of fine team spirit and consistency, finished 7th out of 235 riders and even took home his own win in Stage 10. Pirelli rider Rodrigues Filho (BRA) of Team Honda Brazil rode near the front for the whole race behind the pack of large displacement bikes, putting his 450cc bike in the 12th spot for the Dakar overall, and 3rd amongst bikes in the 450cc class.

New Dunlop D407 Range for Harley Davidson to Feature MTC Technology

 

Dunlop has introduced a new line of Harley-Davidson D407 tyres for 2009 model year FL touring bikes. 
The rear tyre in the new range, Dunlop reports, features the company’s exclusive Multi Tread Compound (MTC) technology, which incorporates a long-wearing compound in the centre of the tread and a lateral grip compound on each shoulder to improve cornering performance while providing longer tread life.

Dunlop’s Multi-Tread tire design features three zones of differing tread compounds that provide riders with optimum performance under varying riding conditions. The high-wear compound in the center of the tire tread runs cooler to provide stability, excellent traction under braking and long tread life. Lateral grip compounds flank both sides of this long-wearing compound to enhance traction at higher lean angles. Net result: more grip when cornering.

In addition, bold, angled lateral grooves in the tread pattern carry water away from the tire contact patch on wet roads. And the reinforced multi-layer tire carcass gives the D407 maximum strength for long life while also providing great handling at all speeds and lean angles.

Dunlop and Harley-Davidson engineers first tested these multi-compound motorcycle tyres as models in computer simulations, then tested them to extremes in the lab, and finally rode many thousands of hard test miles to ensure the D407 delivers performance that clearly surpasses current standards.

These new Dunlop MT technology touring tyres are available in black sidewall, wide whitewall and classic narrow white bar versions.

Thanks to Dunlop’s Multi-Tread design, Harley-Davidson owners can now enjoy the benefits of the best tire technology in the business.

The D407 comes in a 130/80B17 D407F BSW front and 180/65B16 D407 BSW rear for the following models: Electra Glide® Standard, Street Glide™, Road Glide®, Police Road King®, Police Electra Glide® and Screamin’ Eagle® Ultra Classic® Electra Glide®.

The front 130/80B17 D407F NWB and rear 180/65B16 D407 NWB D407 fit these model Harley-Davidsons: Road King®, Electra Glide® Classic and Ultra Classic® Electra Glide®.

For the Road King® Classic, use the D407 in a 130/90B16 D407F WWW front and a rear 180/65B16 D407 WWW.

The 130/70B18 D407F BSW front and 180/55B18 D407 BSW rear are made for the Screamin’ Eagle® Road Glide®, Screamin’ Eagle® and Softail® Springer®.

D407 for 2009 FL Touring Models

Front
          130/90B16 WWW
          130/80B17 BSW, NWB
          130/70B18 BSW

Rear
          180/65B16 BSW, NWB, WWW
          180/55B18 BSW

BSW = Black Sidewall
WWW = Wide Whitewall

NWB= Narrow White Bar

MICHELIN´S NEW MOTORCYCLE RACING TYRE – POWER ONE

the new racing tyre Michelin Power one will replace 2009 the Power Race

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power One – can be used also on the road.
120/60zr17 (55w) tl Power One
120/70zr17 (58w) tl Power One 

160/60zr17 (69w) tl Power One 
180/55zr17 (73w) tl Power One
190/50zr17 (73w) tl Power One
190/55zr17 (75w) tl Power One

Power One A/B/C/Rain – NHS – just for race tracks

110/70zr17 (54w) tl Power One A
120/70zr17 58w tl Power One A
120/70zr17 58w tl Power One B

150/60zr17 66w tl Power One A
150/60zr17 66w tl Power One B

160/60zr17 69w tl Power One A
160/60zr17 69w tl Power One B

180/55zr17 73w tl Power One A
180/55zr17 73w tl Power One B
180/55zr17 73w tl Power One C

190/55zr17 75w tl Power One A
190/55zr17 75w tl Power One B
190/55zr17 75w tl Power One C

12/60r420 nhs tl Power One A
12/60r420 nhs tl Power One B
19/69r420 nhs tl Power One A
19/69r420 nhs tl Power One B
19/69r420 nhs tl Power One C

12/60r420 nhs tl Power One Rain
19/69r420 nhs tl Power One Rain

NEW METZELER RACETEC – WITH INTERACTTM TECHNOLOGY

New Metzeler Racetec – With InteractTM Technology

Advances in evolution are something you can’t stop, above all in the motorcycle racing world. Tyres must lead the process of evolution in order to match the increasingly sharp precision and demanding behaviour of the latest racing bikes. Metzeler’s answer is based on technology: the new Racetec adopts INTERACT TM technology, the latest evolution of the patented 0° steel belt. The main target of this new development was the desire to make one step forward in the PURE LAPTIME project, designing what we call the new PURE RACETIME project: regardless the skill of the rider, the aim is to shave seconds not only off his best lap times but also the overall race times, thanks to a very constant performance all the way to the end. The New Racetec design is tremendously effective, and it’s cool to look at. It is characterized by the concept of controlling the distribution of land/sea ratio from the crown to the shoulder, following an optimized tread distribution (patent pending). It makes the ride more linear at every lean angle, reducing the tread’s influence on the tyre’s behaviour on track and reducing any overheating effects, to ensure maximum duration of full-on performance.

Structure: INTERACT TM technology The new winding process of a 0° steel belt reduces the contribution made by belts and carcass to stress resistance all along the profile. Lower tension in the crown area creates more flexibility and the tyre can adapt itself better to the road surface, enlarging its footprint. High steel belt winding tension in the shoulder area ensures maximum and uniform pressure on the contact patch: the trajectory is therefore always precise, without any deviation.

 

New Rear Tread Pattern:  4 Compound variants are available (3 for race and 1 for street usage). Each of them precisely tuned for specific weather and surface conditions, ensuring the rider can find the best solution, whatever the temperature and tarmac conditions.

available Size

F 120/70 R 17 M/C 58V TL Racetec Front K0 INT
F 120/70 ZR 17 M/C 58W TL Racetec Front K1 INT
F 120/70 ZR 17 M/C 58W TL Racetec Front K2 INT
F 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL Racetec Front K3 INT

R 180/55 R 17 M/C 73V TL Racetec K0 INT
R 180/55 ZR 17 M/C 73W TL Racetec K1 INT
R 180/55 ZR 17 M/C 73W TL Racetec K2 INT
R 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL Racetec K3 INT
R 190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL Racetec K3 INT
R 190/55 R 17 M/C 75V TL Racetec K0 INT
R 190/55 ZR 17 M/C 75W TL Racetec K1 INT
R 190/55 ZR 17 M/C 75W TL Racetec K2 INT
R 190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL Racetec K3 INT

NEW DUNLOP SUPERMOTO TYRE D 253

D253 SUPERMOTO – Grip quick warm-up performance and sustainability of the balance SUPAMOTADO only compound adopted.Track temperature changes large and Tarmac Dirt repeated in a stable grip and the control and tight cornering response.FS-JLB rear of the structure can be adopted to ensure high-speed stabilility.

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT  HUSQVARNA SM 450R / SM 510 R / SM 610 S

120/70R17 58H D 253 F
150/60R17 66H D 253

NEW DUNLOP ENDURO AND MOTOCROSS TYRES – GEOMAX ENDURO – GEOMAX MX11

Geomax Enduro - FIM approved Enduro tyre. With a carcass adapted for the specific usage requirements of Enduro bikes, the GEOMAX Enduro utilises larger gaps between knobs and a very different shape of block to increase traction in a straight line and when cornering.
The adapted carcass and new profile increases the durability and  handling. The larger profile provides better feedback allowing you to stay completely in control of the bike under any circumstance and thus getting the competitive edge of pushing the boundaries with confidence.

90/90-21  120/90-18  140/80-18

Geomax MX11 - is designed to partner the D773 front tyre and features widely spaced scooped, paddle style tread blocks, sturdy reinforcement at tread block bases, a central cross-bar tread block enhancement and new shoulder block design. Result? “Dunlop Geomax MX11 is THE tyre of choice for sandy terrain!”

110/90-19.  80/100-21

THE NEW RACING TYRES CONTIRACEATTACK SLICK AT THE START

The new ContiRaceAttack Slick represents the next stage for Continental Motorcycle Tyres in building up its racing tyre program. The Slick tyres developed for ambitious amateurs but also for professionals complete the successful, sporty ContiRaceAttack family of tyres. The new profile-less sports tyre is manufactured in many different compound versions including the currently unique size with a 60 cross-section for the rear wheel.

 

The new ContiRaceAttack Slick comes with the same features as the ContiRaceAttack Comp. which has established itself on the market for some time now and is internationally successful. It was particularly developed for the Supersport and Stocksport classes and offers the high performance features which also distinguish the profiled variants: A zero-degree-steel band at the front and rear, black-chili rubber compound and “Continuous Compound” technology. One very new feature is the special rear wheel contour with the 60 cross-section which, above all, ensures enormous grip and even better thrust forward thanks to the increased contact area. The front wheel variants, compared with the competition model, have received a new contour. Furthermore a lot of weight has been lost on the front wheel in order to further optimize handling and feedback.

 
The ContiRaceAttack Slick is available immediately in two compounds at the front – Soft and Medium – as well as in the compounds for the rear – Soft, Medium and Endurance, whereby the last option is not only suitable for long-distance running but also, above all, should be suitable for engaged hobby pilots who need a tyre which can also withstand many days of racing training at a high level.

Front

 

120/70 R 17 TL Slick Soft 

120/70 R 17 TL Slick Medium

 

Rear

 

180/55 R 17 TL Soft * 

180/55 R 17 TL Medium 

180/55 R 17 TL Endurance

 

190/60 R 17 TL Soft * 

190/60 R 17 TL Medium 

190/60 R 17 TL Endurance

 
* in preparation

Dunlop Introduces the new Sportmax D211GP Racetyre

Dunlop Motorcycle Tires proudly introduces the Sportmax D211GP, the finest production Supersport road racing tire available. Dunlop’s latest creation will make its national racing debut at Daytona International Speedway at the opening round of the 2008 AMA Superbike Series.

The new D211GP embodies the experience and tire technology amassed by Dunlop over years of racing in the USA. The D211GP is based upon the latest race Dunlop tire designs <N-Tec radial slick tires and the N-Tec radial D209 Sportmax GP< that have dominated the AMA Superbike series in recent years, winning championship after championship in all four classes.

The 2007 racing season serves as proof of Dunlop’s dominance. In the 19 AMA Superbike events, Dunlop riders swept every podium and took every top-10 position in every race except one (189 out of 190 possible). In the 10 AMA Supersport races, Dunlop riders collected 80 percent of the podium positions (including five sweeps) and 66 percent of the top 10 finishing positions. Overall in the four AMA classes,

Dunlop riders represented a whopping 84 percent of the top-three positions and 77 percent of the top-10 finishers. The radial-construction D211GP rear tire features a nylon carcass overlaid with two nylon breaker belts and a continuously wound, aramid-fiber tread belt for cooler-running, excellent straight-line stability and virtually no circumferential tire growth.

Dunlop’s N-Tec steel bead and its high-modulus bead apex combine to offer improved feel for the rider as the tire nears its cornering limit, producing the “predictability” that has become a signature characteristic of Dunlop roadracing tires.

The multi-compound rear tread is an ingenious design that results in the first production racing tire to utilize seven tread zones: a high-modulus traction compound in the center and two lateral grip sections on each side, both separated by a triangular support region<all extruded as a one-piece unit. The high-modulus traction compound is extruded as a base layer and when positioned on the tire it spans the distance from one tread edge of the tire to the other. It extends to the tire’s surface only in the center, forming a central band that contacts the pavement when the motorcycle is in vertical or near-vertical attitudes. The flanking bands of lateral-grip “working” compound are situated on either side of the central traction compound.

Engineered into the design of the underlying high-modulus compound is a triangular-shaped support that rises radially  oward the surface of the tread, bisecting the lateral grip “working” compounds. Viewed in cross-section, the peak appears as an inverted trumpet bell<wider at the base and narrowing as it ascends to the tread surface<that in effect creates two lateral grip zones on each side of the tire’s centerline.

Sharing the spotlight with the D211GP rear is the D211GP front tire. Dunlop’s first multi-compound front for production-based racing motorcycles utilizes radial construction and features two nylon carcass plies and two aramid cut-breaker carcass belts. A thin, high-modulus carcass compound is layered under these belts to

minimize and distribute the forces transmitted from the aramid belts to the carcass plies under hard braking. The D211GP front tire also combines Dunlop’s N-Tec steel bead and unique bead apex design to further stabilize handling at full lean. For the multi-compound front tread, two compounds<the lateral compound and the high-modulus traction compound<are extruded as a one-piece unit. Like the rear, the high-modulus traction compound of the front tire is extruded as a base  ayer spanning the distance from one tread edge of the tire to the other and it also extends to the tire’s surface in the center. The flanking bands of lateral-grip “working” compound that contact the road surface when cornering are again situated on either side of the central traction compound, producing three tread zones: the high-modulus compound in the center and a lateral grip compound on either side.

The D211GP features a next-generation cosecant-curve tread pattern developed with the assistance of FEA (finite element analysis). Withthis new tread pattern, carefully placed tread grooves continuously coincide with the forces running through the tread face of the tire during cornering, resulting in reduced tread wear and extended grip levels. The D211GP incorporates enhanced longitudinal elements in the center of the tread for improved wet-surface grip and is distinguished from the D209 Sportmax GP by the chevrons visible in the grooves.

The D211GP is a singular accomplishment, delivering Dunlop’s latest technology to the racing market less than a year after the earliest pre-production designs first appeared at the track. Able to deliver excellent stability, consistent grip and feel, and quick laps from the start of a race to the end, the D211GP is the next big step in Supersport race tire design. And it will surely make life even more difficult for the competition.

NEW METZELER MOTORCYCLE TYRE – ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT

PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT represents Metzeler way of innovation. Instead of pushing on a single element of the tyre like the compound which is then subjected to wear, Metzeler established that is more effective to improve the whole tyre system. Making the tyre elements interact to the maximum level means improving the interaction between the tyre and the ground, the tyre and the bike, the tyre and the external environment. This is the key of the new INTERACT technology. ROADTEC Z6 was perfection, ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT is the evolution, the fine tuning which guarantees it to be the perfect tyre for the new generation of bikes and riders.

Structure

 The Structure represents the backbone of the product and its most critical element because it bears all stress and the strain  generated by the bike during the ride. Up to now it has been very difficult to ream stresses in order to differentiate the tyre behaviour in different areas but Metzeler technicians, working over the years on the 0° steel belt winding process, have made another huge step forward. The new winding process allows to progressively ream stresses in the different areas of the tyre; as the result, every single steel string has been designed with a pre-defined resistance to stress for a specific performance requested. As a result, we now have a real interaction between carcass and belts thanks to the modular string winding tension from zenith to the shoulder: no compound at all would allow itself this level of result. The key of performance is the entire tyre design with no discontinuity in terms of performance due to wear or to different lean angles. The number of steel strings inside the tyre guarantees an homogeneous differentiation of performances, avoiding any “step effect” typical of multi compound technology. Lower tension creates more flexibility and therefore higher energy absorption, the compound increases the temperature and in a certain sense becomes softer.

Basically we are discussing high steel belt winding tension for maximum stability in the centre of the tyre and a progressive reduction of steel belt winding tension allowing maximum agility whilst tipping in and higher flexibility for maximum grip at full lean Another important aspect which contributes to making ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT

Profile

ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT benefits from the profile of the world famous Contour Modelling Technology (CMT) that has been world wide celebrated with the ROADTEC Z6. The immediately  perceptible result for the motorcyclist is neutral and smooth handling in all manoeuvres: in agile and fast changes of trajectory, the motorcycle always remains predictable, with never anything other than total reliability in the motorcycle-system and its interaction with the road’s surface.

Tread pattern

keeps the same tread pattern of the ROADTEC Z6 adopting the same philosophy of combining the drainage and mileage characteristics but with the basic concepts that sustain the sporting vocation of the sport tyre. Linear sea/land ratio distribution on contact patch at different lean angles features excellent water drainage for smooth and homogeneous riding

ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT keeps the same tread pattern of the ROADTEC Z6 adopting the same philosophy of combining the drainage and mileage characteristics but with the basic concepts that sustain the sporting vocation of the sport tyre. Linear sea/land ratio distribution on contact patch at different lean angles features excellent water drainage for smooth and homogeneous riding.In dry conditions, the performance equilibrium that inspires the ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT in all its aspects is manifested in perfect combination between sports grip and mileage, within the logic of the use of a Sport-Touring bike. The pre-defined stress distribution all along the profile helps to keep open all the grooves even under the high load which is typical of sport touring bikes; the perfect interaction between structure and tread pattern design ensures the perfect water drainage even in the hardest conditions.

The key product benefits are summarized in the following radar chart, which compares the features of the ROADTEC Z6 INTERACT with ROADTEC Z6, actual internal reference in the segment. confirms all of the outstanding features of Roadtec Z6 like Mileage enhancing to the utmost: stability, handling, total wet behavior and performance lasting till the end of the product life

120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL Roadtec Z6 Interact Front F
120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) TL Roadtec Z6 Interact Front F “G” 

160/60 ZR17 M/C (69W) TL Roadtec Z6 Interact R
170/60 ZR17 M/C (72W) TL Roadtec Z6 Interact R
180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W) TL Roadtec Z6 Interact R
180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W) TL Roadtec Z6 Interact R “C” 

KoMa

Neuer Touring Motorradreifen – Michelin Anakee II für schnelle Reiseenduros

Aus anderem Holz soll der neue ‘Anakee 2′ geschnitzt sein, der gezielt für schnelle Reiseenduros entwickelt wurde. Mit neuer Profilgestaltung und Gummimischung präsentiert Michelin den Nachfolger des erfolgreichen ‘Anakee’ für schnelle Reiseenduros von 600 bis 1200 ccm Hubraum. Das Profil des neuen Anakee 2 wurde so optimiert, dass die Profilrillen von der Laufflächenmitte nach außen hin breiter verlaufen und so eine noch bessere Wasserverdrängung gewährleisten. Während die Profiltiefe in der Mitte vorne 5,0 sowie hinten 8,0 Millimeter beträgt, wurde diese zugunsten einer höherer Laufleistung und eines harmonischeren Verschleißbildes zu den Flanken hin reduziert.

Vorderreifen:

110/80 R 19 59H Michelin Anakee II

110/80 R 19 59V Michelin Anakee II

Hinterreifen:

150/70 R 17 69H Michellin Anakee II

150/70 R 17 69V Michelin Anakee II

In dem aktuellen Motorradreifen Test der Zeitschrift Motorrad landet er aber nur auf Platz 6

Getestet wurde auf einer neuen BMW R 1200 GS