Michelin and Dorna Sports have confirmed a new three-year contract extension with Michelin. The extended tyre supply deal will see the French firm continue as the sole official tyre supplier to MotoGP until at least 2026 and therefore means the partners will reach the milestone of a decade racing together.
Tyre maker Ralson India Ltd, manufacturer of the Ralco tyre brand and a firm that calls itself “India’s fastest growing automotive tyre company,” has entered into an agreement to acquire rights to the Dunlop name in India. The company intends to produce premium Dunlop tyres for the powered two- and three-wheeler segments at its Kot Panech plant in Punjab.
The Harley-Davidson Sportster S is one of the most anticipated motorcycle launches of 2021. Continuing a Sportster saga that began in 1957, the all-new S model is one of the most powerful bikes in the Harley-Davidson range. The manufacturer tasked Dunlop with developing a tyre designed specifically for its needs, and the result is the Dunlop GT503. The tyre features a new construction and compound, as well as aesthetics to complement the Sportster S.
Dunlop is to act as an official sponsor of the 2021 FIM International Six Days of Enduro (ISDE). After a gap of one year, the ISDE returns with a demanding route in Italy’s Apennines Mountains between Lombardy and Piedmont. The 95th edition of ISDE begins on 30 August and will feature 29 competing nations and 200 teams, including eight national teams in the Women’s World Trophy.
Two motorcycle tyre tests from PS. The German sports bike magazine took a look at slick pairs for professional riders in its 6/2021 issue, and followed this up by looking at four brands of track day tyres in its 7/2021 edition. The PS testers declared Dunlop and Continental the respective winners.
Continental has notched up another tyre test win, this time on two wheels. The latest issue (07/2021) of German sports motorcycle magazine PS compares four brands of racetrack slicks suited to ambitious hobby racers. Thanks to its first-place ranking in five out of the eight test disciplines and a total of 183 points from a possible 230, the PS testers declared the Continental Track test winner.
Yamaha Motor has selected the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 as original equipment tyre for the recently-launched Yamaha YZF-R7 Supersport. Bridgestone Corporation views this fitment arrangement as “part of a long-term collaboration,” under which it has delivered tyres for a “wide range” of Yamaha motorcycles.
A new test by German motorcycle magazine PS has declared Dunlop the top slick track tyre following an extensive test. The magazine chose the Dunlop KR106 (front) and KR108 (rear) pairing as the overall winner in its comparison of seven different track tyres. The PS test crew used a Honda Fireblade SP at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, home of MotoGP’s Catalan Grand Prix. The results were published in PS (6/2021) as part of its Pro-Slick Test feature.
CST Tyres’ RideMigra CM-S1 sport-touring motorcycle tyre is available from UK distributor Bickers now. The medium compound tyre offers riders both sporty grip and high-mileage, comfortable touring performance according to the manufacturer. Available in sizes 120/70 R17, 160/60 R17, 180/55 R17 and 190/50 R17, the new product is the first in a new series of CST motorcycle tyres.
At the end of April, Brembo agreed to buy 100 per cent of J.Juan Group, a Spanish company specialising in the development and production of motorbike braking systems, for 70 million euros. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2021 following regulatory approvals.
The FIM Moto2 World Championship’s teams will be able to test Dunlop’s new soft rear tyre during practice and qualifying at Jerez this weekend. Dunlop says the in-event test will help new riders and teams get accustomed to the softer end of the Dunlop Moto2 range, which hasn’t been used since last October’s Teruel Grand Prix. It will also provide Dunlop with data on how the Jerez surface has evolved since its resurfacing in 2018.
TyreSafe is urging riders to remember tyre safety as part of The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) THINK BIKE week. The campaign, which runs from 23 April to 3 May, is being spearheaded by Fire and Rescue Services across the country and 40 partner agencies, including TyreSafe. THINK BIKE highlights the need for riders to wear the right kit and ‘brush up’ on their riding skills as so many will have had an exceptionally long time out of the saddle due to Lockdown. Another key message is on bike maintenance and ensuring machines are in good roadworthy condition, especially the tyres.
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