Dunlop Download - Issue 38

JANUARY 2016

CONTENTS 4

MALCOLM

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WHEN MIKE THE BIKE RETURNED TO THE ISLAND

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DUNLOP WINS WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

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2016 AMA SUPERCROSS SEASON PREVIEW

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2 STROKE ATTACK

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FLAT TRACK WRAP UP

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JOE ROBERTS MOTOAMERICA SUPERSTOCK 600 CHAMPION

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SUPERBIKE CHAMP CAMERON BEAUBIER

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JD BEACH HITS HIS STRIDE

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JAKE GAGNE CHAMPION

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JEREMY LATRASSE FROM TWITTER TO THE TRACK

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ROADRACE FACTORY’S DANNY WALKER

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UPCOMING EVENTS

ON THE COVER: For the second time in his career, Ryan Dungey defends his #1 plate in 2016.

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Dunlop Download magazine is published for Dunlop Motorcycle Tires by Vreeke & Associates. www.vreeke.com

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MALCOLM when Malcolm smith asks you if you have time for a quick story, the answer is always yes. we recently visited Malcolm at his dealership in riverside, California, where he told us the story of his first ride on a husky and his first trip to the international six Days enduro (isDe). his relationship with husky would span five decades, and in that time Malcolm would become a legend, winning the Baja 1000 four times, earning eight gold medals at six Days and starring in On Any Sunday—arguably the greatest motorcycle film ever made— alongside Mert lawwill and steve McQueen. Despite all we know about Malcolm, we had never heard the story about how he started with husky, and how he achieved his dream of competing at six Days.

CliCk here To wATCh MAlColM Tell his sTory

MALCOLM! THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY Malcolm also recently finished his autobiography with author Mitch Boehm. it’s a 400-page coffee-table book titled Malcolm! The Autobiography, and it’s a great read.

CliCk here To orDer The Book

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THIS FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT OF ONE OF THE GREATEST RACING COMEBACKS IN HISTORY WAS WRITTEN BY PETER STARR, THE PROLIFIC FILMMAKER WHO WAS THERE FILMING SCENES FOR HIS EPIC MOTORCYCLE MOVIE TAKING IT TO THE LIMIT.

WHEN MIKE THE BIKE

RETURNED TO THE ISLAND in all the years i have followed motorcycle racing, i cannot

successfully against men who were in some cases half his

recall any world champion returning to the sport some 10

age. A plan was hatched whereby i would get to fulfill my

years after retiring, and winning a world championship-caliber

dream of filming Mike on the island, and Mike would get to

race — except for “Mike The Bike” hailwood. To say he was

ride a current race bike at speed around the island for the

an extraordinary man is to acknowledge the obvious. Nine

cameras — without any pressure of competing.

times a world road racing champion with 76 Grand Prix wins and 14 isle of Man TT wins, hailwood is still considered by

The deal came together. yamaha supplied a Formula 750

many to be the greatest motorcycle racer of all time.

ow31 through Padgett’s, its dealer on the island. Dunlop stepped up with tire support and covered some of Mike’s

you may know the story of his return in 1978 at the age of 38,

expenses. Various others supplied leathers, a helmet and so

but it’s not the whole story. The full version of the story

on, all thinking that Mike was just making a movie.

appears in my book Taking It to the Limit: 20 Years of Making Motorcycle Movies. The Cliffs Notes version of that illustrious

At this point only three people knew what was really afoot. But

return begins early in 1977 when i was working on my movie.

when we got off the boat in Douglas, the island was all abuzz

Although i had already filmed some spectacular sequences

with speculation that Mike was back. To break the ice and to

with racing icons like kenny roberts, steve Baker, roger

see what changes had been made to the course in the 10

DeCoster and more, i still did not have an ending to the movie.

years since his last race there, Mike drove around the island

sharing this dilemma with my friend rod Gould, himself a

and talked me through a lap so we could make a plan for the

former world champion, i expressed the regret that i had not

filming. i was amazed at all the detail Mike remembered. he

been making movies when my hero, Mike hailwood, was still

was able to point out so many places where the road had

racing at the isle of Man.

been changed, even slightly. it was inspiring for me to witness this champion at work preparing himself for his own test, for

rod, then advertising and marketing manager for yamaha

which our filming was almost a distraction.

europe, had maintained a friendship with Mike beyond their racing years. A phone call from rod to Mike revealed that he

The island’s elite and high-ranking members of the

was contemplating a return to the isle of Man for a comeback

government, The Tynewald – the longest continuously

race but was totally unsure of his ability to compete

standing government in the world – turned out at various times

to meet Mike and express their wishes that someday he return

winning the Formula 1 race on a Ducati, and he returned

to race the TT. little did they know at the time that the seed

again in 1979 to win the senior race on a suzuki 500

had been sown, germinated and sprouted.

two-stroke GP bike.

The filming went without major incident: Two laps and three

Postscript: For all of his accomplishments, stanley Michael

stops to change film magazines, and it was all over. Mike, who

Bailey hailwood was perhaps best at racing at the isle of Man.

at the time did not even have a motorcycle license, rode under

in the 1967 senior TT, he defeated his great rival Giacomo

special dispensation of the local authorities as a “traveling

Agostini and in the process set a lap record of 108.77 mph

marshal.” he completed his laps fast enough to feel comfortable

that stood for the next eight years.

in his abilities, and he made his decision to again compete in the isle of Man TT, the scene of his many victories during what has

in 1981, just two years after his comeback win in the isle of Man

been called the golden era of motorcycle road racing.

senior TT, hailwood and his nine-year-old daughter were killed in a traffic accident not far from their home when their car collided

The rest, as they say, is history. Mike returned in 1978,

with a truck that had made an illegal turn in front of them.

TAKING IT TO THE LIMIT Peter starr’s book Taking It To The Limit is a unique perspective on 20 years of motorcycle film making that’s full of insider stories about some of the greatest racers in the world. it chronicles the rise of American Grand Prix racers through stories of kenny roberts, Freddie spencer, eddie lawson, randy Mamola, Mike Baldwin, wayne rainey, kevin schwantz and others who came to dominate the world scene. No matter what your two-wheel interest—motocross, road racing, flat track—starr movie-making exploits captured some of the greatest eras in motorcycle racing history.

CliCk here To orDer The Book AND DVD

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DUNLOP WINS

WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

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The suzuki endurance racing Team (serT) took the squad’s

chance of success when an accident on the first lap put the

14th FiM endurance world Championship (ewC) title by

team last. After four hours the team was up to 17th out of 55

finishing third at the Bol d’or 24-hour race at the Paul ricard

and then an impressive second—where they would ultimately

Circuit in southern France. it is the 10th time that Dunlop and

finish—by the eight-hour mark.

serT have claimed the title together since 2000, and it’s Dunlop’s 15th title in the last 21 years.

serT’s problem hit in the 11th hour when an axle issue led to an extended pit stop. The team lost six laps and dropped to

The Bol d’or was won by Team srC kawasaki, the only front-

eighth, ultimately taking a fourth-place podium from the fourth

running bike to have a trouble-free run. GMT94 yamaha, one

and final race of the year. The points were more than enough

of the two Dunlop title contenders, looked to have lost all

to secure the 2015 title.

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2016 AMA SUPERCROSS

SEASON PREVIEW The 2015 supercross season ended on a high note for Dunlop last spring with championships in all three classes, including 450sX, 250sX east and 250sX west. Adding this year’s supercross and Motocross titles together, Dunlop riders have captured an incredible 136 total AMA sX and MX national championships – more than all other tire companies combined.

After the 2015 supercross finale in las Vegas, top honors went to red Bull kTM’s ryan Dungey, whose consistency and speed gave him a commanding lead over Geico honda’s eli Tomac and Team honda hrC’s Cole seely after the 17 rounds. in the 250sX east division, red Bull kTM’s Marvin Musquin took the title over Geico honda’s Justin Bogle and yamalube star racing yamaha’s Jeremy Martin. yamalube star racing yamaha’s Cooper webb then bested the 250sX west division, taking the crown over Troy lee Designs’ shane Mcelrath and red Bull kTM’s Zach osborne. All were Dunlop sponsored.

Now multiple rider and team changes are setting up the 2016 supercross season to be just as dramatic. But despite the changes, one thing remains the same – the strength of Dunlop in the stacked 450 and 250 fields. here’s a rundown on who’s racing what.

Honda

roster in 2015, while Zach osborne continues in

2016, while 2015 champion ryan Dungey and Dean

Yamaha

on the Geico honda team, Justin Bogle moves up

250sX for another season. likewise, Jason

wilson continue in the premier class. Then at Troy

Chad reed returns to the yamaha factory team in the

to the premier 450sX class, replacing eli Tomac,

Anderson and Christophe Pourcel carry on in 450sX.

lee Designs, the 250sX roster expands with the

450sX class. At yamalube star racing yamaha,

who joins Monster energy kawasaki. New to the

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addition of Alexander Frye and Justin hill. returning

Mitchell harrison and Alex Martin join 2015 250MX

Geico squad, Christian Craig and Jimmy Decotis

Kawasaki

to the class are shane Mcelrath, Jessy Nelson and

champion Jeremy Martin in 250sX, while 2015

join the 250sX class alongside Malcolm stewart. rJ

in big news for Monster energy kawasaki, for 2016 eli

Mitchell oldenburg.

250sX west champion Cooper webb and Aaron

hampshire and Jordon smith continue in 250sX for

Tomac joins wil hahn in the 450sX class. in the 250sX

the team, Trey Canard and Cole seely continue in

class contested by Pro Circuit, former AMA Arenacross

Suzuki

rock river Powersports, Tommy hahn will race a

450sX for Team honda hrC. Chase Marquier and

champion Tyler Bowers joins Chris Alldredge, Arnaud

yoshimura suzuki welcomes the return of James

450sX for the team as Colt Nichols joins luke

kyle Peters will be with Crossland Motorsports

Tonus, and former Team Dunlop elite amateur racers

stewart to the 450sX class, where he joins Blake

renzland in 250sX. And finally for yamaha, Michael

in 250sX.

Adam Cianciarulo and Joey savatgy.

Baggett. ken roczen and Broc Tickle likewise

leib and Broc schmelyun will compete on the Blue

continue in the 450sX class for rCh racing, while

Buffalo slater skins team.

Husqvarna

KTM

Mike Alessi and Vince Friese also remain in 450sX

At rockstar energy racing, Martin Davalos moves to

within the red Bull kTM team, 2015 250sX east

with MotoConcepts racing.

the 250sX class from his position on the 450sX

champion Marvin Musquin moves up to 450sX for

Plessinger continue in the class. Meanwhile over at

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MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI ELITOMAC 12

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MONSTER ENERGY KAWASAKI WILHAHN 14

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RED BULL KTM RYANDUNGEY 16

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RED BULL KTM MARVINMUSQUIN 18

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RED BULL KTM DEANWILSON 20

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TROY LEE DESIGNS FACTORY RED BULL KTM 250 TEAM 22

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TEAM HONDA HRC TREYCANARD 24

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TEAM HONDA HRC COLESEELY 26

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JAMESDECOTIS 28

RJHAMPSHIRE

MALCOLMSTEWART

CHRISTIANCRAIG

JORDONSMITH

GEICO HONDA 29

ROCKSTAR ENERGY RACING HUSQVARNA

ZACHOSBORNE 30

CHRISTOPHEPOURCEL

MARTINDAVALOS

JASONANDERSON

PHOTOGRAPHER: ROMERO S.

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RCH SOARING EAGLE/JIMMY JOHN’S/SUZUKI KENROCZEN 32

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YAMALUBE/STAR RACING/YAMAHA COOPERWEBB 34

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YAMALUBE/STAR RACING/YAMAHA JEREMYMARTIN 36

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TeaM

DUNLOP SUPERCROSS RIDERS FOR 2016

RideR

450SX

250SX

Honda TeAM hoNDA hrC Trey Canard Cole seely GeiCo hoNDA Justin Bogle Christian Craig Jimmy Decotis rJ hampshire Jordon smith Malcolm stewart

X X X X X X X X

CrosslAND MoTorsPorTs Chase Marquier kyle Peters

X X

HuSqvaRna roCksTAr eNerGy rACiNG husQVArNA Jason Anderson Christophe Pourcel Martin Davalos Zach osborne

X X X X

KawaSaKi MoNsTer eNerGy kAwAsAki wil hahn eli Tomac

X X

MoNsTer eNerGy/Pro CirCuiT/kAwAsAki Chris Alldredge Tyler Bowers Adam Cianciarulo Joey savatgy Arnaud Tonus

X X X X X

KTM reD Bull kTM ryan Dungey Marvin Musquin Dean wilson

X X X

Troy lee DesiGNs/luCAs oil/reD Bull/kTM Alexander Frye Justin hill shane Mcelrath Jessy Nelson Mitchell oldenburg

X X X X X

SuzuKi yoshiMurA suZuki Blake Baggett James stewart

X X

rCh soAriNG eAGle/JiMMy JohN’s/suZuki ken roczen Broc Tickle

X X

MoToCoNCePTs rACiNG Mike Alessi Vince Friese

X X

YaMaHa yAMAhA FACTory Chad reed

X

yAMAluBe/sTAr rACiNG/yAMAhA Mitchell harrison Alex Martin Jeremy Martin Aaron Plessinger Cooper webb CyCleTrADer.CoM/roCk riVer yAMAhA Tommy hahn Colt Nichols luke renzland Blue BuFFAlo/slATer skiNs/yAMAhA Michael leib Broc schmelyun 38

X X X X X X X X X X 39

2 STROKE ATTACK 40

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FAST, INCREDIBLY LIGHT AND AGILE, THE BIKE BLENDS THE PAST WITH A RAW BUT FUTURISTIC SHEEN. Though his projects tend to run toward modern iron, roland sands recently set his sights on his personal past. As a former AMA 250 Grand Prix Champion, sands has always had a soft spot for two-strokes. when he got the invitation this year to build a bike for the Born Free show at sturgis, he figured there would be no shortage of V-twins and other American iron there, so he did the opposite—made his dream of building a custom two-stroke a reality.

The 2 stroke Attack, as he calls it, sprang to life with a modified 1974 yamaha rD400 twin-cylinder engine jammed into a 1997 TZ250 chassis. Featuring parts from the old Team roberts Grand Prix race bikes as well as sand’s own TZ250 archive, the machine took shape as more racer than custom. The magnesium race wheels were pulled from sand’s championship-winning TZ250 and are his own design.

The fuel tank and handmade tail section are aluminum, while the upper fairing is carbon fiber and silver-leafed with the words “2 stroke Attack” in Japanese. The engine work was done by renowned twostroke tuner ed erlenbacher and includes a rare dry clutch and various vintage race parts such as webco heads.

Fast, incredibly light and agile, the bike blends the past with a raw but futuristic sheen and was, as you might expect, a towering departure from all the other customs at the Born Free show.

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FLAT TRACK WRAP UP

JAREDMEES 56

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The final flat track race of the season at the orleans Arena in las Vegas should have been a barn-burner. instead, Bryan smith, who trailed Jared Mees by a mere seven points going into the final, failed to make the main event. That all but handed the title to Mees, who would finish third to secure his third consecutive harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & hines championship.

Although he missed his chance at winning his first Grand National Championship, smith still put together a stellar 2015 campaign. he won five times—more than any other rider, and finished with 181 points, 23 shy of Mees. Missing the main in two events cost him the title.

Mees was consistent all season, posting nine podiums and a single victory. “it’s awesome to get this championship,” said Mees. “There was a lot of pressure coming into this race tonight. it’s a short track and what ended up happening to Bryan was my biggest fear. Anything can happen in this type of race. i’m just glad i was able to come away with this championship, it feels awesome.” in addition to the championship, the big story was Briar Bauman, who won his first race of 2015 in Vegas. Bauman nailed the holeshot and led the whole race. it was a great ending to a great season for the young rider.

Bauman finished the season in fifth, and dedicated his win to the late Jethro halbert.

“This win was for Jethro halbert,” said Bauman. “he was an awesome friend and you can bet all the money you got that he would have been running with all of us at the front. This was his kind of race track and he would have been glass smooth. i rode with him all night. This was for Jethro.”

GNC2 Davis Fisher had the GNC2 championship won before he even started packing for Vegas, but he still wanted to make a good showing during the Flat Track season Finale. unfortunately he didn’t qualify for the main event, yet still received the No. 1 plate during opening Ceremonies.

Dan Bromley won the event, running away with his first victory of the season.

Bromley finished second in the GNC2 point standings behind Fisher.

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BRYANSMITH 60

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JOE ROBERTS MOTOAMERICA SUPERSTOCK 600 CHAMPION Poise is something that can’t really be faked. while 2014 was a tough season full of struggle and pain, Joe roberts never wavered in his confidence. it counted: roberts turned it all around in 2015, winning nine races to take the MotoAmerica superstock 600 championship. when that accomplishment was wrapped up, roberts jumped into the 1000 supersport battle and won the final race of the season in what can only be described as MotoAmerica’s most competitive class.

Cheerful and positive, roberts sets lap records and handles questions with ease. you probably won’t see it on his helmet any time soon, but his nickname is “Broadway Joe” for a reason. he is a rider that many feel is headed for the big time.

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I ALWAYS KNEW I COULD RUN UP FRONT. I ALWAYS FELT CONFIDENT THAT I WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE WITH THOSE GUYS. I GUESS THIS SEASON I PROVED TO EVERYBODY THAT I AM.

You dominated the 2015 Motoamerica Superstock 600

one of your riding pals is eddie Lawson. what’s it like

championship with nine wins, then stepped up to race

riding with a four-time world champion?

several Supersport 1000 races taking one win. it was an

i met eddie a few years ago—at the end of 2013—and through

incredible season.

wayne rainey i got to go riding with him. we just ride off-road,

Thanks. it was a fantastic season. i came into this year riding

MX tracks and things like that. we got on really well, and he

for the Meen Motorsports Group with a plan to win races and

kept inviting me to come out with him. eddie is a really cool

win the championship. we accomplished both in the

guy, and it’s awesome to go riding with somebody like that.

superstock 600 class and then moved up to the supersport 1000 class for the two MotoGP events in the u.s. and also

You started racing in dirt track and sort of returned to it

the final at New Jersey [Motorsports Park]. i think the New

this year.

Jersey round was my best weekend of the whole season

i did some dirt track when i was little, but i moved out of it in

because i was able to go out and qualify eight-tenths faster

order to concentrate on supermoto racing and also Minimoto

than anyone else in the class. Then i won the first race by six

racing. But i have always loved dirt track, and this season i’ve

seconds, and in the second race i had a really good battle and

been doing a bunch more of it. i bought a 450 and have been

finished second.

spinning around. it’s such a gnarly sport, and at the same time it really takes a lot of practice and such a smooth hand. The

i’m not sure anyone expected that from Meen or me, so it was

guys who do well have a ton of experience and have riding

gratifying and it made a statement.

tracks in their backyards. i’ve learned a lot this year just in terms of how body placement on the dirt track bike makes

Your 2015 success has to be sweeter simply because you

such a difference for me. it’s like in road racing when i learned

struggled in 2014.

that where i was sitting on the bike was so important in how i

yeah it’s kind of hard to pinpoint what went wrong or why we

went faster.

struggled. i certainly wasn’t on the most competitive bike out there but it was a good bike. i struggled a lot with injuries

what are your 2016 plans in racing?

during the season, and once i got some laps on my current

i will be racing the 2016 MotoAmerica series in the superstock

bike i became aware of how much we were down last season.

600 class for the Meen Motorsports team again. i’m really

i think all of those things made a recipe for a bad season. it

looking forward to it.

was great that Meen Motorsports came along after that and picked me up and believed in me.

dunlop presented you with a champion’s guitar at the Motoamerica championship banquet. Can you play it?

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was it difficult psychologically?

i can, sort of. i’m a bass guitar player in a band and this isn’t a

i always knew i could run up front. i always felt confident that i

bass, but i can “fake play” a normal guitar pretty well. This

was good enough to be with those guys. i guess this season i

guitar is so nice that i wouldn’t use it as a working guitar

proved to everybody that i am.

anyway. it’s a beautiful guitar. it’s amazing.

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SUPERBIKE CHAMP

CAMERON

BEAUBIER In just his second season on a Superbike,

season on the Superbike last year laid the groundwork

Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha’s Cameron Beaubier

for the title. He scored his first “double” Superbike win

beat his teammate Josh Hayes for the very first

at Road Atlanta and pushed on as the season

MotoAmerica Superbike title.

progressed. As a former GP racer in the Red Bull

This is no small feat. Despite being in his 40s, Hayes is

2008, he dominated with two more Superbike race wins

Rookies Cup in 2007 and the FIM CEV championship in by no means ready for the slow lane. He won 10

at the Indy MotoGP round in front of many of the riders

Superbike races in 2015 and did an admirable job of

he competed against seven years ago.

defending his multiple, consecutive titles. Beaubier won eight races and took the title with a safe finish at

For 2016 there won’t be too many drastic changes for

the New Jersey final. In fact, between them the pair

Beaubier. He will again ride the Yamaha R1 in

won every MotoAmerica Superbike round in 2015.

MotoAmerica Superbike, with the same crew supporting him. His biggest obstacle to adding a

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A former kid motocross and Supermoto racer, Beaubier

second Superbike title to his résumé? The same one

used all of his wiles to defeat Hayes. His frantic learning

he faced in 2015: Josh Hayes.

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Your 2015 season could be termed “the year that Cameron arrived.”

On Superbike for sure. It was a busy and stressful season but certainly one that I will look back on because we had some issues with the new bike and it was a challenge. My team worked really hard to get it all fixed, and I kept my head on straight and I just kept pushing. I had a few little crashes and luckily crashed only once in a race.

I had more confidence this year than I did last year of course. Last year was my first year on a Superbike, and I feel like the new Yamaha R1 and I jelled really well. I feel like the bike fits me a little better—it seems to me to be more of a 600-sized bike than the Superbike I was used to. So that was good because I came from a 600 background. I just had a ton of fun this year.

I think MotoAmerica bringing back the Friday practice and qualifying sessions really helped me—and the series— because the year prior we were basically showing up and having to qualify the very first time we were on the track in some places. So that was really hard for me, being a rookie rider in Superbike. That was so tough, trying to learn the new tracks on the Superbike. So this year it was definitely a lot easier for me knowing that I had the whole day Friday to learn the track, get the bike set up better and then qualify.

Years ago Jamie Hacking was on his second factory Superbike, and he confessed that he was still learning things every time he rode it. Is it that way for you?

I definitely feel that every weekend I get on the Superbike I learn something new, almost every day. Just because our track time is so limited and the bike is new.

I know he doesn’t help me out much anymore because we were battling for the title, but I think Josh Hayes helped me quite a bit. Especially last year coming into the class new like I was. It was really helpful just to have someone to bounce things off and, now, just to have that carrot to chase.

It definitely made me up my game and make all of the practices and qualifying sessions count. It was a big change from when I was on a 600 and maybe could have a little more fun in some of the sessions. Back then I could maybe take it a little bit less seriously at times. This year, no room for error, no taking a lap off.

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You won the Superbike title at the final event of the

what it’s like to be a younger rider on a Superbike. I really

season. Stress-o-meter pegged in the weeks leading up

appreciate what he’s doing for me.

to that event?

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At Indy I was able to win both of the races, and that

What’s an average day like for you this off-season?

definitely gave me a little cushion—or breathing room if you

I have backed off my training a little and have been really

will—before the New Jersey race. I was really happy with my

enjoying this time off. I still ride my mountain bike most

performance at New Jersey this year for a lot of reasons.

days, and I ride motocross quite often. I’ve been a

Last year I crashed out of both races and it was a bad

motocrosser since I was a little kid, and I love riding off-

weekend. I was for sure a little nervous going in there this

road. I’ve actually been playing a bit of golf and really like

year; I was frustrated because it was raining a little bit. I

that too. Probably about the time the holidays roll around I’ll

ended up second behind Josh, so in the second race all I

punch back in and start training super hard again, but for

had to do was fourth or better to clinch the title. So I

now I am taking some time off from the regimen of training

basically rode around the whole race trying not to make

every day. My family and I go camping in the desert with our

any mistakes.

dirt bikes; it’s something we really enjoy.

AMA Superbike Champion, World Superbike Champion

Dunlop presented you with an electric guitar for winning

and retired MotoGP racer Ben Spies is in your corner.

the Superbike championship. What will you do with it?

How does that help?

It’s so cool that they do that for the champs. That’s actually

We started working together this year. He’s been mentoring

my second one—they gave me one in 2013 as well. I hang

me a little, and he’s been at this game so long and is so

them on the wall in my house—people see them and check

smart that it really helps. I call him after each session and

them out, and comment on them. It’s really spectacular,

we talk. He knows so much about motorcycle racing and

even though I don’t know how to play guitar.

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JD BEACH HITS HIS STRIDE

A second-generation racer, yamalube/y.e.s./Graves/

pretending to play the guitar Dunlop gave me!

yamaha rider JD Beach won the 2015 MotoAmerica

seriously though, it will hang in my house. it’s amazing.

supersport championship. These are good days for the former red Bull rookies Cup champion, who slept

after several tough seasons, 2015 was really a year

on Casey stoner’s couch while he was in europe and

of vindication for Jd Beach.

recently coached Troy Bayliss when he decided to give

it was. The commitment needed to win a

AMA Pro Flat Track Mile racing a shot.

championship is really huge. in the past i have shown myself to have the speed needed to win races, lead

dunlop presented you with a cool electric guitar at

sessions and certainly have good days, but not a

the Motoamerica championship banquet.

championship. The investment from yamaha and all of

it is stunning. At the beginning of the night i saw one

our sponsors really came together in 2015 and pushed

up onstage, and it was next to the yamaha superbike

me even harder. i have a great riding coach in ken hill

so i assumed there was just one and it was for

and a great crew.

Cameron [Beaubier] and his superbike championship. i admit i was kind of bummed at that point because i’d

as one of the newer racing stars in the sport of

seen these cool Dunlop guitars given to champions

road racing, sum up dunlop’s racing tires.

previously and i’d always wanted one. i began road racing in 2009, so all i have really ever Then, later, when we were all called back on stage i

known is a “spec” tire or a control tire. That said, i

was presented with one. i’m thankful and grateful.

think the term is a bit unfair. Dunlop has never stopped developing any of its tires and has made huge

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do you play guitar?

investments in its racing and street tires. i have zero

sadly, i do not play any musical instruments and have

complaints: The Dunlop front is hugely confidence-

no ability to play music. This has not stopped me from

inspiring and the rear gives me tremendous grip.

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was there a round of the 2015 Motoamerica championship you will remember for the rest of your life? it’s pretty difficult to pick out just one race or weekend in a championship season. if i had to, i would probably say it would be the very first round of the series at Austin’s Circuit of the America’s last April. i’d been training in the cold all winter in kentucky for that one. having MotoAmerica’s first ever event at such an amazing circuit was incredible, and me winning the first ever MotoAmerica supersport race there was great. i’ll never forget that. a common thread in Jd Beach’s life is dirt track racing. How do you term your current relationship with the sport of dirt track racing? are you a former dirt tracker, an occasional dirt tracker or a reformed dirt track racer?

That’s a difficult question for me to answer. i have dirt-tracked nearly my entire life, and it remains one of my favorite forms of motorcycle racing. it is difficult to distance myself from racing dirt track, but the MotoAmerica supersport championship showed me the value in focusing on road racing. That said, i will always use dirt track as a form of training and a fun way to get around on a motorcycle.

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JAKE GAGNE CHAMPION it’s easy to think that Jake Gagne is a relative newcomer to road racing. After all, he spent a chunk of his young career racing in europe before winning the AMA Daytona sportBike Championship in 2014 and the MotoAmerica superstock 1000 Championship this year, often mixing it up with the lead superbike group, showing speed and determination earned from nearly a decade of road racing.

Gagne’s rise was anything but preordained. A fast 14-year-old motocross kid in 2008, Gagne tried out for the AMA red Bull rookies Cup. Despite never having ridden on pavement, he qualified to compete in the championship, where he finished fourth. Two years later, he won the MotoGP red Bull rookies Cup. in addition to nailing down his superstock title in 2015, he also qualified for the lucas oil AMA Pro National Motocross round at Miller Motorsports Park, where he finished a remarkable 22nd in the 450 class against the best racers in the country. some would say Gagne is the most promising MotoGP hopeful racing in the u.s. today.

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SOME WOULD SAY GAGNE IS THE MOST PROMISING MOTOGP HOPEFUL RACING IN THE U.S. TODAY.

You qualified for the Rookies Cup with no road racing

feels for a big bike. i was pretty blown away the first time i got

experience. what was that like?

on a stocker and could see what it could do right off the

i showed up to the tryouts at Barber [Motorsports Park]

showroom floor. it’s just a super fun bike to ride.

without a clue about what was going on. i had only ever ridden a motorcycle in dirt up until then. Being a kid that age, it’s like

did you surprise yourself by doing so well at the MX

Christmas morning every day you’re at the track. There is so

national?

much learning and development at that early stage in a racer,

A lot of people asked me that, and in a way, yes and no. if you

and i’m just fortunate i was able to grow through the red

would have said at the start of the year that i would be lining

Bull program.

up at a 450 national against the best guys in the world, i probably wouldn’t have believed you. At Barber, Danny walker,

How did your experience in europe help you when you got

keith McCarty, and i sat down and talked about it, and all of a

back here?

sudden i was testing a factory 450 the very next week, so it

it was huge. At that age being able to travel around the world

was pretty last-minute. once i started putting in a lot of motos

and race the best tracks in front of the best riders in the world

at home, i felt like it took my riding to the next level and i could

was instrumental. i think it definitely helped me mature and

give it a pretty good shot. The track at Miller was hands-down

grow a bit faster. And it just pushed my riding so much having

the gnarliest track i’ve ever seen in my life, even in first

to bang elbows with a bunch of euros who i didn’t want to let

practice at 9 a.m. That was the biggest eye-opener for me,

beat me.

going from smooth local tracks to three-foot-deep ruts around the entire track.

You surprised a lot of the Superbike guys this year by being right there with them—and ahead of them—for a lot

You have a very unique perspective—you’ve raced against

of races. How do you explain that?

the best road racers in the u.S. and the best

i think it just shows how much work we put in this year—

motocrossers. Talk about that—the intensity level, fitness

everyone from scotty and Danny wrenching on the r1 to

level, and so on.

walker and Jeremy handling all the other team business. No

At the end of the day, anyone who can ride any type of

matter what, we just never stopped pushing. even if we had a

motorcycle as fast as the best do and for as long as they do

bike that we were sure could win superstock, we still wanted

must have a perfect combination of skill, fitness, focus, and

to be that much closer to the superbikes. i think that’s what

intensity. you have to be so in tune with whatever bike you

we all really enjoyed this year. sure i threw down a few bikes in

are riding, and you have to be able to know what it’s going to

the process, but in the big picture it didn’t bother me because

do before it does it. everybody knows how physical

what we learned from our mistakes this year was huge.

motocross can be, but trying to push a superbike to the absolute limit for 25 laps with no mistakes is the toughest

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How much better is the R1 than what you’ve

thing i’ve encountered, especially mentally. on the dirt bike,

ridden before?

sometimes you can get away with little mistakes here and

it’s an amazing motorcycle. Coming from an r6 it’s a really

there, but the superbike will take those mistakes and magnify

nice transition with how small and nimble the thing actually

them big time.at’s it like to be on the RoadRace Factory

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“I’VE LOVED BEING ON DUNLOPS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. CONSISTENCY AND PREDICTABILITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND DUNLOP HAS THAT DIALED.”

Yamaha team?

Fillmore, Josh Hayes, and a lot of fast moto guys around

We say it all the time, but it’s just like a family. Everybody is

SoCal. I ride motocross a few times a week, especially during

there simply because they love the sport and enjoy being at

the season. For someone like me who has been riding

the track with their buddies.

motocross for so long, I feel comfortable and confident enough to be able to put in a few 40-minute motos in a day

I’ve been with Scott Jensen and Danny Anderson for the last

and go home safe and with a smile on my face. I just love

two years, and those guys have been amazing. The biggest

riding my dirt bike. Before the Utah national this year, I put in

thing is that I can put full trust into those guys building me

more motos in two months than I had in my life, and it was

a perfect bike, and I only worry about my riding with no

cool to see that pay off.

doubts about the bike. They’ve helped me improve and learn how to set up a bike and get it heading in the

What is your favorite race of any season?

right direction.

My first Sportbike win in Miami was a huge one. I was so pumped to get my first win in a while. And I got to race Dane

What do you do in your spare time?

Westby in the rain, which I’ll remember my whole life. Nobody

I spend most of my free time in the ocean surfing as well as

could ride in the rain like the Wolverine.

diving and fishing. I love the ocean. It clears your mind and recharges you, just like motorcycles. I’ve been getting into

What was your best race/moment from 2015?

music and guitar a lot more lately too; luckily Dunlop hooked

I have to go with New Jersey [Motorsports Park] when we

the 2015 champions up with some new electric guitars to jam.

wrapped up the championship in race 1. That feeling is

Thanks guys!

indescribable, crossing the line and putting a nail in the championship.

What racer do you most look up to and why?

I have to say Josh Hayes. Every single year I look up to him

You’ve spent a lot of time now on Dunlops. What do you

more and appreciate what he does. That guy is over 40 years

like about the tires, company, and so on?

old, and he rides with so much heart and drive. It seems like

I’ve loved being on Dunlops for the last few years.

he’s only getting stronger every year, and that’s truly

Consistency and predictability is the most important thing, and

motivating for us younger guys to never give up.

Dunlop has that dialed. The support they’ve showed for our sport here in America is huge, and I’m lucky to be rolling on

How do you train?

Dunlop rubber. I want to say thanks to everyone at Dunlop

I do a lot of mountain biking mostly by myself and get in the

who works their butt off every weekend. We couldn’t be out

gym work with my friends at home. Motocross is also a huge

there if it wasn’t for them.

part of my program, so I get out and ride with guys like Chris

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JEREMY LATRASSE

FROM TWITTER TO THE TRACK Jeremy laTrasse is a quiet presence in the MotoAmerica paddock. A motorcycle enthusiast most of his life, laTrasse did some road racing as time permitted between raising a family and work. A co-founder of Twitter, laTrasse is a deep-tech guy with a fascination for motorcycles and racing, but it wasn’t until he attended American supercamp at the age of 30 and met Danny walker that the idea of starting a race team began to take shape. The roadrace Factory team now has three national titles to its credit, and seems to be just hitting its stride. we caught up with laTrasse to find out more about him.

what do you like best about riding, and what is your

what got you so interested that you became a

favorite kind of riding?

team owner?

i like discovering my own limits and, when i’m really lucky, the

Danny and i dreamed up the team at a supercamp i was

limits of the machine.

attending. we see racing pretty much the same way, and we decided it was too sad watching American road racing

what bikes do you currently own, and which is

crumble to not try our best to turn it around.

your favorite? i’ve got some yamaha r6s, some wr250s and some TT-

i guess also, i heard you could make a “small fortune” racing. i

r125s. The r6s are great, but after riding Jake’s [Gagne] r1

think somebody forgot to tell me the rest of that line.

race bike at high Plains raceway recently, that’s my new favorite. Nothing like that bike has ever come close. My wife

what is/was your goal for the team?

just bought a new Bolt r-spec to go with her FZ-07.

we have way, way outstripped our goals. in 2011 our goal was to finish races and show that we could put young guys on

what got you interested in racing?

bikes that worked. obviously, three titles later we’ve proven

i fell in love with Grand Prix racing back in the ‘80s. i vividly

not only that, but a whole slew of other things along the way.

remember thinking that wayne rainey and Norick Abe were

For instance, we run our team like a family. everyone is

the best riders in the world. i still think that today. seriously

encouraged to take chances and fail openly, and we all get the

watching those guys ride, i could see the flow of their process.

hugs and handshakes no matter the podium result. The goal of

Few riders have that even today.

being friends with everyone and doing whatever it takes to feel good about a weekend is huge, and i think you’ll hear that

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i’ve tried all kinds of riding and racing, but my true love is GP

from anyone who doesn’t hate us for laughing and clapping

so road racing is what i’ve done the most.

and crying all the time.

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I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN THE ROOM WHEN TWITTER WAS INVENTED, THEN I SPENT FOUR SLEEPLESS YEARS TRYING TO MAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLID. Tell us about your background with Twitter.

definitely two of the most important things.

I was fortunate to be in the room when Twitter was invented, then I spent four sleepless years trying to make the

I felt that the direct involvement of the FIM folks was a huge

infrastructure solid. We had to build things no one had ever

boost since the weekends went so smoothly. And not just the

imagined, so it was like dancing slow on quicksand. So far,

FIM presence; all the folks who came over from the DMG

though, I’m very proud of what we started and wouldn’t have it

series stepped into roles—some unfamiliar I know, but they

any other way.

made it look easy. We didn’t encounter any unnecessary delays all season long. Serious kudos to those people. I also

Do you ride with your family?

want to call out the fact that they are such a diverse group,

We ride together constantly—my wife and I on the road, and

that it gives me a great feeling to be involved with the series. I

all of us in the dirt and on the track.

try to show my kids examples of women and minorities in positions of power so they know we aren’t just a bunch of rich

Where did you grow up, and did you ride as a kid?

white brats blowing trust funds. Again, it’s easy to be proud of

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Riding was only

all the MotoAmerica crew this year.

available by borrowing friends’ bikes and scooters until I was 16.

You have been involved in big business ventures. What is Has Danny Walker ever hit you with a shovel at Supercamp?

it going to take to make MotoAmerica succeed on a

No, Danny has only ever struck me with a broomstick, a road

bigger scale and bring U.S. road racing back to its former

cone and his body as he nerfed me out of his way on the

glory days?

track, usually in a dangerous and illegal human berm shot

It’s all about making the series accessible to everyone. I’m not

we refer to in Supercamp as “pole putting.” Also, this

sure that the old days should’ve been what they were, but I

happens frequently.

know that in today’s world, the more that people share videos, comments and excitement with each other, the more that

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What is your specific role on the team?

novel opportunities are created to make money. And making

I try to be the business leader and financial support system. I

that money has always got to be conceived of with customer

have done countless presentations for sponsors, but I also

satisfaction in mind. Our customers want to see the races,

help set up and tear down our pits. My goal is always to

yes, and some of us want to breathe fuel fumes and get up

remove obstacles and not be one. Hopefully everyone on the

close. Others want to pick apart the technical details of what

team knows they can always tell me to get out of the way.

makes the bikes go so fast. Still others want to follow these

Seriously, though, I enjoy being around on race weekends and

young riders through their development, see how far a human

tests to point out stuff that fails and come up with either

really can push to be the best and fastest. We need to think

processes or just encouragement to help make sure we

about all of them and not get pigeonholed into producing just

succeed wherever possible.

one version of road racing.

After the first MotoAmerica season, what are your

I don’t know what the perfect package looks like, but I do

thoughts on the series?

know that it’s about revving the heart of every fan to the limiter

MotoAmerica has been great. I think those folks all showed up

and making them feel like we are putting on the show just for

with new enthusiasm and tons of new resources, which are

them individually.

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ROADRACE FACTORY’S

DANNY WALKER Danny walker is a racer turned riding guru who has schooled thousands of riders through his American supercamp flat-track program, and along the way he has mentored some fast up-and-comers. riders he’s worked with over the years include Jake Gagne, JD Beach, Tomas Puerta and hayden Gillim. walker and Jeremy laTrasse formed the roadrace Factory team with the intent of building young riders into accomplished road racers. The team currently consists of Gagne, Puerta, Cameron Petersen and Ben young.

Gagne won the 2015 MotoAmerica superstock 1000 championship.

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DUNLOP HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE SUPPORTER OF OUR SUPERCAMP PROGRAM, EVEN WHEN THE ECONOMY WAS IN THE TANK. WITHOUT DUNLOP’S SUPPORT, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO.

do your riders attend your Supercamps?

Anderson have to be given the credit for so much extra

yes, whether they like it or not. i always joke that we taught

work. our bikes, besides the factory yamahas and yosh

JD Beach how to shift when he first came to supercamp

suzukis, were the best bikes on the track.

many, many years ago. All of our riders are encouraged to attend as many camps as they like.

How did Red Bull get involved with your team? red Bull came to us before our team was formed looking for

How has flat-track riding influenced their road racing?

a place for their athletes to race. red Bull has been involved

i believe any type of riding helps. That being said, the dirt

in the top form of most racing for many years.

track training really helps with the finer points needed for top-level road racers. we just try to put as many tools in

after your first Motoamerica season, what are

their riding toolbox as possible.

your thoughts?

MotoAmerica has been and will be the resurrection of

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what’s your specific role with the team?

American road racing. There are so many benefits to the

one of the many great things about having Jeremy as our

MotoAmerica group. After a few minutes of conversation

partner is that he really allows us to do whatever we need to

with them you can tell they are in it for the right reasons.

do to be successful as a limited-budget privateer team. we

Nobody in the organization is just along for a paycheck.

get to operate out of the box most of the time—which really

having wayne [rainey] as the philosophical leader is

is good because i am personally not good with boxes. i am

amazing. he wants to see the same things we do—

kind of the voice, face, rider coach and low guy on the totem

American racers getting back to being successful

pole on our team. Between Jamie spinks our assistant team

on the world stage. was the first year perfect? No, but

manager, Mick our logistics manager and scotty Jensen our

it was a huge step forward. if you have an issue or

chief engineer, i have plenty of opinions and influences that

an idea they are always ready to listen to what you

help us steer this ship.

have to say.

Tell us about your race bikes.

You’ve been a dunlop guy forever—what is it about

The yamaha r6 has been such a dominant bike in the u.s.

dunlop that you like?

for so long. i think it’s a great platform because there are a

Dunlop has been such a huge supporter of our supercamp

lot of ways to make the bike competitive on a limited

program, even when the economy was in the tank. without

budget. The new r1 is a whole different beast. Technically

Dunlop’s support, we would not be able to do what we do.

we had to be on our game. it was so far ahead of anything

it’s that kind of dedication that makes Dunlop all about the

we had worked with up to that point. Jensen and Danny

people, not just about black, round, rubber things.

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UPCOMING EVENTS January 9 AMA Supercross Round 1 Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA

January 30 AMA Supercross Round 4 O.co Coliseum Oakland, CA

February 20 AMA Supercross Round 7 AT&T Stadium Arlington, TX

March 5-6 GNCC Round 1 Rodman Plantation Palatka, FL

January 16 AMA Supercross Round 2 Petco Park San Diego, CA

February 6 AMA Supercross Round 5 U. of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, AZ

February 27 AMA Supercross Round 8 Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA

March 12 AMA Supercross Round 10 Rogers Centre Toronto, ON

January 23 AMA Supercross Round 3 Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA

February 13 AMA Supercross Round 6 Petco Park San Diego, CA

March 5 AMA Supercross Round 9 Daytona International Speedway Daytona, FL

March 12-13 GNCC Round 2 Hill Family Farm Sparta, GA

©2016 Dunlop • P. O. Box 1109, Buffalo, New York 14240-1109 • 1-800-845-8378 • dunlopmotorcycletires.com