Daytona (SPOILERS)

[swampduc]

1. Why would teams not have had spare front tires? Is that a cost issue? I mean, do the teams pay for race tires and therefore try not to buy more tires than they'll absolutely need?
2. Clearly, this is just my opinion, but I think Dunlop makes absolute shite for tires. What exactly did AMA expect from them? Between this last race and the end of last season's Sportbike championship, determined by Asslick's "antics," is it possible for AMA to look more like a bullshit bush-league series?
3. Any bets on who's being disciplined for the last lap crash? Was any discipline ever handed down to Asslick last year? Or was it deemed a racing incident?

[Spidey]

1. Why would teams not have had spare front tires? Is that a cost issue? I mean, do the teams pay for race tires and therefore try not to buy more tires than they'll absolutely need?
2. Clearly, this is just my opinion, but I think Dunlop makes absolute shite for tires. What exactly did AMA expect from them? Between this last race and the end of last season's Sportbike championship, determined by Asslick's "antics," is it possible for AMA to look more like a bullshit bush-league series?
3. Any bets on who's being disciplined for the last lap crash? Was any discipline ever handed down to Asslick last year? Or was it deemed a racing incident?

1)  I think it was that they didn't have any spares of the specific spec that Dunlop was using.
2)  I disagree *completely* re Dunlops.  I don't care that much for their street tire (they're fine, but whatever), but their race tires are great.  They give really good feedback and lose traction predictably. 
3)  I don't think Asslick was discliplined, though for the life of me, I can't figure out why.  I don't know about the 200, but based on what they allowed in last year's last race, it seems pretty bush league.  It's hard to say who is going to be disclipned as there were so many crashes.  If I had to bet, I'd say Herrin, though I'd chalk his thing up to a racing incident.  Sure,  the crash was his fault, but I'm not sure if it is the kind of thing that you get disciplined over. 

[derby]

1)  I think it was that they didn't have any spares of the specific spec that Dunlop was using.

nobody was running that compound in the race. it was the "failback" compound.

so everybody, whether they'd planned on running the entire 200 on one front or had six fronts on warmers ready to go, had to take wheels to the dunlop truck to get new tire(s) mounted.

[Spidey]

nobody was running that compound in the race. it was the "failback" compound.

so everybody, whether they'd planned on running the entire 200 on one front or had six fronts on warmers ready to go, had to take wheels to the dunlop truck to get new tire(s) mounted.

I didn't hear anything more about the Eslick crash other than to see it a coupla times on TV.   It looks really weird.  Do you happen to know if that was the Dunlop issue or whether he just lost the front?  I've never ridden or been at a race with banking, so I don't have a good feel as to how it affects grip, but that crash really looked funky.  

Edit:  Google tells me the crash was the Dunlop issue:

2011 Daytona 200 - Danny Eslick Crash

[Triple J]

2)  I disagree *completely* re Dunlops.  I don't care that much for their street tire (they're fine, but whatever), but their race tires are great.  They give really good feedback and lose traction predictably. 

+1. Dunlop makes great tires.

[gm2]

+1. Dunlop makes great tires.

+2.  by far the best tire i've used on the track.  like, by a huge margin.

[mitt]

Official DMG Press Release: "Yup, the 200 was fuxored"

http://superbikeplanet.com/2011/Mar/110316dmgexpla.htm

WOW 

[swampduc]

2)  I disagree *completely* re Dunlops.  I don't care that much for their street tire (they're fine, but whatever), but their race tires are great.  They give really good feedback and lose traction predictably.  

My personal experience with Dunlop only includes street "performance" tires, both cars and moto, and I've never really liked any of them. The only thing i "knew" about their race tires was what I had heard from a friend who used to race; sounds like he was off in his assessment.

[ducpainter]

My personal experience with Dunlop only includes street "performance" tires, both cars and moto, and I've never really liked any of them. The only thing i "knew" about their race tires was what I had heard from a friend who used to race; sounds like he was off in his assessment.

All the local race and trackday guys that are fast like them.

I dunno.

[gm2]

My personal experience with Dunlop only includes street "performance" tires, both cars and moto, and I've never really liked any of them. The only thing i "knew" about their race tires was what I had heard from a friend who used to race; sounds like he was off in his assessment.

i've heard much  better things about pirellis in the last year or 2 but my personal experience is that dunlops give you LOTS of warning that they are starting to go, and they do so in a very even, predictable, controlled way.  

pirelli, michelin: they let you know by handing you your ass.

[swampduc]

i've heard much  better things about pirellis in the last year or 2 but my personal experience is that dunlops give you LOTS of warning that they are starting to go, and they do so in a very even, predictable, controlled way.  

pirelli, michelin: they let you know by handing you your ass.

Talking about Michelin race tires there, or street tires? I've only ridden their street tires, but I love them. Pirellis - mixed bag. Hated them on the 1098; love 'em on the Daytona.

[ducpainter]

<snip>
pirelli, michelin: they let you know by handing you your ass.

never had that experience with Michelins...

and I'm talking race tires.

[gm2]

never had that experience with Michelins...

and I'm talking race tires.

this was.. 2005?  then i used pirellis for a while.  then finally saw the light with dunlop. 

[ducpainter]

this was.. 2005?  then i used pirellis for a while.  then finally saw the light with dunlop. 

So you're talking the S1/S2 or the slicks?

The new DOT true race tires are awesome. I don't like the trackday version.

[Triple J]

My personal experience with Dunlop only includes street "performance" tires, both cars and moto, and I've never really liked any of them. The only thing i "knew" about their race tires was what I had heard from a friend who used to race; sounds like he was off in his assessment.

Individual impressions about tires are funny. I had Qualifiers on my 848 and loved them...did 2 back-to-back trackdays in 100* temps at Milller and they didn't slip once.  The bike came with Supercorsa Pros and I liked them as well.