Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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VOL. 50 ISSUE 37 SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 P113 the control-tire contract, saying that a lack of competition rendered the exercise meaningless. Bridgestone said much the same, but managed to overcome their scruples. They are now in the fifth year, after renewing the first three-year contract. This made them the sole target for criticism: inevitably they would get a kicking. At the same time it did guarantee victory at every race: when they celebrated 100 of them last year, the numbers rang true, but the self-congratulation was a touch hollow. One consequence of the new contract was a change in direction, away from track-specific tires to a more general design that would work everywhere. At the same time, Bridgestone addressed endurance, to great effect. Frequently fastest laps would come at the end of the race instead of the more usual first five laps. But there is a major down side to the hard construction: poor warm-up performance. There followed a spate of cold-tire crashes, even after they addressed the problem with a softer front carcass last year. As we saw at Silverstone and elsewhere. Bridgestone did release a statement after the British race, pointing out the particular difficulties of Silverstone, with hard braking areas demanding tough front tires. Tires for the longest track of the year were always a matter of juggling various factors, and they believed they had got it more or less right. True enough, within a narrow frame of reference. But there was an elephant in the room. Or, more correctly, several elephants in the medical center. Bridgestone have achieved much, but the company's design philosophy means there are too many crashes and too many injuries. The riders act as crash dummies, and it happens much too often to be comfortable. The solution is obvious, if out of tune with the straitened times. Bring back some competition, and the landscape will change for the better. Maybe it's time to start the tire wars again. The financial cost is high, but if it saves these injurious copycat crashes, it would be worth it. CN LOOKING BACK 40 Years Ago September 25, 1973 We featured a preview of the upcoming 48th ISDE, which was to be held in the US for the very first time… Carle Cranke warmed up for the ISDE with a win at the Hungry Creek 100 in Tennessee… Mitch Mayes continued to tear it up in the California desert… Yvon DuHamel was tops at the Charlotte National Road Race. 30 Years Ago September 28, 1983 The 1984 Kawasaki ZX750E1 Turbo was featured on the cover 30 years to accompany our riding impression of the very fast machine that retailed for $4500... Jim Filice passed Scott Parker on the last lap to win the San Jose Mile… Wayne Rainey clinched the Superbike Championship at Willow Springs… Danny Chandler, Johnny O'Mara and Ron Lechien were the big winners at Mammoth Mountain MX. 20 Years Ago September 22, 1993 Kevin Schwantz was pictured leading the way at the Laguna Seca USGP. John Kocinski won it, but Schwantz was crowned champ. Kenny Roberts Jr. made his grand prix debut and finished 10th… Suzukimounted Randy Hawkins won the Caney Creek National Enduro in Texas. 10 Years Ago September 17, 2003 We showcased the new Yamaha R1 on the cover 10 years ago, along with Honda's latest CRF250R, Yamaha's FZ6 and new World Champion Neil Hodgson... Valentino Rossi was still the one at Portugal… Barry Hawk won again at the Matthews Frams GNCC. Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives