Ricky's Factory Rubber

RICKY’S FACTORY RUBBER

THIS PAST SPRING, DUNLOP debuted a new tire, the previously factory-racer-only D756RR. Offered in limited quantities and costing more than the standard D756, the Race Replica features a softer, stickier compound and a reinforced carcass, the latter allowing for reduced air pressure and a larger footprint. Based on the 756RR's improved traction, Dunlop claims better starts-as much as .2 of a second quicker on a 185-foot starting line straight. That may not sound like much, but at the Pro level it equates to two or three

bikelengths!

To prove its point, Dunlop enlisted none other than

reigning AMA Supercross and 250cc National champ Ricky Carmichael for a gate-drop competition against journalists at its press introduction at Glen Helen Raceway. Also, television personality Dave Despain stepped up to host a game of Motocross Jeopardy. The remainder of the day was spent roosting around the nationalspec track.

Although Carmichael beat me in the start contest (Hey, what do you expect? It was his bike!), I knew enough about the Hang Ten Classic (Carlsbad), the last remaining outdoor supercross (Daytona), the race formerly held in Plymouth, California (Hangtown), and the Woodstock of Motocross (Unadilla) to ace my MX Jeopardy category, Famous Tracks.” As for missing my bonus, “What is the Citadel?” (the clue was, “Pull over and have a beer,” which is just what home-country boy Joel Robert did once while leading the Belgian GP by a mile), shame on me.

Back out on the track, the

D756RR really showed its stuff when the racing surface began to dry. Although intended for softer terrain, the tire transitions from loamy to slippery hardpack with little loss of grip. And bump absorption is noticeably better on square-edged hits. We didn’t take lap times, but the RR provided a seat-of-the-pants advantage. For the serious racer, the higher cost ($113 to $135 for 21-inch front and 19-inch rear sizes) is well worth the improvement in performance. Jimmy Lewis