11-03-2010 at 10:23:13 AM
Is anyone else having problems sourcing Dunlops new GPA control tyre?. I have been trying to get hold of a set sinceJanuary, and have just been told that they wont be readily available until at least mid-year. Considering they have the contract for the control tyres for the whole ASBK series, i would have thought they would have heaps of stock as it wouldn't have come as a surprise to them that they were getting the contract??
I am not doing the whole series, however I plan on doing the Supersport round here in Tas at the end of the year, and hopefully I can get a chance to try these tyres before that round. I really would have expected a major tyre manufacturer like Dunlop to get their act together a bit better, or maybe they're keeping all the tyres for the full series competitors and feeding State Championship racers other info?
Posts: 204
Joined: Jan '10
11-03-2010 at 04:00:36 PM
It's pretty poor form isn't it.........
I feel for all you guys who need them to test, as well as for all the other track day guys who can't get a Dunlop slick other than a NTec right now.
I wish someone would take control of the situation in at Dunlop and get it right!
Posts: 4
Joined: Dec '09
11-03-2010 at 05:09:10 PM
I've actually just found out that it is not Dunlops fault. Apparently they required 6 months notice from ASBK as to whether they are getting awarded the deal for control tyres, however they allegedly only recieved 13 weeks notice, and subsequently had to have a heap of tyres air freighted in for the first round at a huge cost to them, and as such will not have the bulk of their tyres till the middle of the year.
It is a real shame that the whole series could not have been better organised, however everyone is in the same boat, unless you're signed up to race the ASBK or Formula Extreme series. As for the N-Tecs, i even tried getting some of the old Supersport tyres, however couldn't even source N-Tecs. I like the Pirellis and always have, but since changing to Dunlop last year they have given me much more confidence and I'd take them over any other race tyre given the choice.
Posts: 204
Joined: Jan '10
11-03-2010 at 06:53:07 PM
If they can't supply the tyres, regardless of who is at fault, it should be a free for all on tyre choice until they can imho.
Posts: 4
Joined: Dec '09
11-03-2010 at 07:42:23 PM
The thing is, they can supply the tyres, but because of the short notice from ASBK they could only freight enough to distribute to the competitors signed up for the ASBK and FX championships. This means that the blokes/girls that are mainly competing in State races, with the odd Superbike round cant buy them until they compete in the national round, so have no opportunity to practice on them.
There are still plenty of different tyres to chose from, but my first choice would definitely be Dunlop if i could source them!
Anyways, it wont slow our season down and we've still got a few race meetings to go before we have a bit of a winter break, so game on!!!
Posts: 204
Joined: Jan '10
12-03-2010 at 12:52:48 PM
Michelin Power ONE!
Posts: 2240
Joined: Feb '09
12-03-2010 at 12:58:01 PM
Hey DD, you can't source some used sets from anybody you know currently in the ASBK? From what I know, it's the geometry changes that is the main thing to make these tyres work with the bikes. Even if you're on used rubber, not going at race pace, it still may help... just an idea mate. Good luck with it, hope all turns out for the best.
MotoOnline.com.au finally has signatures! Contact me if you have any troubles with the site.
Posts: 4
Joined: Dec '09
12-03-2010 at 02:21:41 PM
Hi Alex! I'm after new sets as i'm using them to race here in Tassie, and i'm gonna have a crack at the Supersport round here in November so was just hoping to test on them prior to that. The Dunlop rep reckons they'll be readily available by the middle of the year so fingers crossed!
Posts: 2240
Joined: Feb '09
12-03-2010 at 02:55:24 PM
Ah okay, cool. My advice would be to use any tyre that you can, however if you're using the Dunlop ASBK control tyre at a state level then it may not be as competitive as some other tyres (this could get confusing for state series I'd say!) that you're eligible to use. On the other hand, it may not be slower than other Supersport tyres - all as we do know is that it's around 2 secs a lap slower than the expensive N-Tec at the Island and at many American tracks (they use the GP-A in the AMA now too). Depends how the other Supersport tyres compare to the old N-Tecs I guess.
MotoOnline.com.au finally has signatures! Contact me if you have any troubles with the site.
Posts: 4
Joined: Dec '09
12-03-2010 at 04:15:09 PM
I haven't really tried a lot of the other Supersport tyres apart from the Pirelli SC1/2's which i like, but after using N-tecs for the first time this year, i was absolutely amazed at how much more confidence and grip they gave me. I cant get a hold of N-Tecs either! Tried the Dunlop rep and he doesn't have any, so it looks like i'll be forced to run with Pirelli's, which I like, but i guess when you find a product that works for you, its hard settling for something else.
Anyway, most of the tyres will be capable of a lot more than what i am at the moment, so its not a major issue, but at Baskerville Raceway (where the surface is shockingly rough and not very grippy) I knocked almost 2 secs off my best lap time on N-Tecs for the first time, although i stepped up from an old Superstock onto Christan Casella's Supersport Yam, so it'll be a combination of both i think!
Posts: 452
Joined: May '09
12-03-2010 at 04:50:47 PM
nothing short of ridiculous really, wouldn't you say Ali G?
Posts: 204
Joined: Jan '10
12-03-2010 at 05:16:00 PM
Michelin Power ONE is "the closest thing to an Ntec" was what someone who is very knowledgable told me after testing them. Brookesy did a 1.37 on them at PI in a one off test ! So come next weeks track day, I'm on 'em!