Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/146704
ROAD RACE DAYTONA BEACH, FL, DEC. 1-3 wenty-one riders from eight teams - including squads from Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha - converged on Daytona International Speedway for an intensive three-day tire testing session hosted by Dunlop. The action on the speedway's 3.56-mile circuit was in preparation for the 10 days of racing during Camel Motorcycle Week, scheduled for February 26 through March 7, 1993. "We came here with nearly 600 tires to test, " said Jim Allen, Dunlop's road race tire manager. "We're testing superbike and International Lightweight tires, plus the DOT tires for the 600 and 750cc Supersport (classes). "The test was two-fold. Obviously, we're testing for Cycle Week in March; plus what we learn here will go into next year's production street tires." Allen was joined by Dunlop USA tire engineer Tom Welch and Dave Watkins of Dunlop England, Dunlop's Grand Prix tire engineer. A pair of incidents marred the otherwise successful test, which Allen called "the biggest test Dunlop has undertaken, that I know of." Reigning World Superbike Champion and 1992 Daytona 200 runner-up Doug Polen suffered a separated shoulder on December 1 when T Picotte fastest at Daytona,Polen; Jamesinjured he fell in the East Horseshoe. Jamie James, the 1989 AMA Superbike Champion, sustained a broken left hand on December 3 in an accident at the chicane. Polen's shoulder separation will keep his arm and shoulder immobilized for about three weeks. "It's better than a broken collarbone," said Polen. "It was just one of those things. Maybe the tire was still cold. . I'm going to go home (Polen flew home to Texas on the afternoon of December 2) and park myself in front of my computer and relax for a while." Before his accident, Polen had been "cruising" in the one~minute, 51-second lap time range, close to his superbike track record of 1:50.388/116.100 ..(Above) Scott Russell (1) leads Colin Edwards II during Dunlop tire testing at Daytona International . Speedway. (Right) Miguel DuHamel had his first ride on the Kawasaki zx6. (Below) Camel Honda's Tom Kipp. mph, on the Fast By Ferracci Ducati. Thomas Stevens, the 1991 AMA Superb ike Champion, sprained his left hand when he crashed the Yoshimura Suzuki on December 1. Stevens sat out the res.t of the test. The cast of riders involved included Polen and Pascal Picotte of the Fast By Ferracci Ducati team; Honda rider Randy Renfrow from Rothman Racing; Yamaha-mounted Chris D' Aluisio and Danny Walker of Southwest Motorsports; Scott Russell, Miguel DuHamel, Japanese rider Takahiro Sohwa and Aaron Slight from New Zealand on the Team Muzzy Kawasakis; Yoshimura Suzuki riders Donald Jacks, Stevens, Britt Turkington and Japanese Suzuki factory rider Akira Yanagawa; Team Valvoline Suzuki riders Kurt Hall, Michael Martin, Chuck Graves and Steve Patterson; Tom Kipp from the Carnell Commonwealth Honda team plus James, Colin Edwards and Jamie Bowman on the' Vance & Hines Yamahas.