Following last week’s announcement that Dunlop would continue as an official tyre supplier to MXGP for a further three years, the manufacturer has revealed that the number of teams and riders using their tyres in the series has reached a new high ahead of the 2017 season.
This year a total of 23 riders across various classes will be using Dunlop Geomax tyres, with five teams in MXGP, seven in MX2 and one in the WMX class.
Dunlop will be supplying Honda, Yamaha, KTM and Husqvarna machinery, alongside their premier partner squad Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team with riders Clement Desalle and Jordi Tixier leading the charge.
Things are already looking positive for the Kawasaki duo who took a double podium 1-2 at the French La Capelle-Marival pre-MXGP season event.
Wilvo Yamaha, another factory supported outfit, has make the decision to compete on Dunlop this year with riders Shaun Simpson and Arnaud Tonus, of whom the latter is returning to MXGP competition after time spent racing in the USA.
Three factory supported and four privateer teams will race on the Geomax range in the MX2 class, making that a total of 14 riders. The Kemea Yamaha Yamalube squad includes Benoit Paturel, who clinched third in the class last year on Dunlop rubber. The Frenchman has already claimed the MX2 win at La Capelle-Marival this year. Another MXGP warm-up event winner was Michele Cervellin who won the MX2 class at the Italian race in Ottobiano on his Honda HRC machine.
Bidding to regain her FIM Women’s Motocross World title is long-time Dunlop rider Kiara Fontanesi, who is looking to claim her fifth title after a difficult 2016. Kiara has returned to Yamaha machinery this year and will race in the first round of the WMX Championship in Indonesia.
To help teams select the right tyre choice will be the familiar face of former Supermoto champion Eddy Seel, who continues to oversee Dunlop’s FIM World Championship operation. The core range of tyres riders can choose from is based on three specifications: The Geomax MX-11 sand tyre; the Geomax MX-3S, the soft to intermediate terrain tyre Dunlop anticipates will be used at the majority of rounds; and the Geomax MX-52 tyre for intermediate to hard terrain conditions. Eddy has already recommended the MX-3S on both front and rear wheels for the opening round at Losail in two weeks time.
Check out Dunlop’s motocross tyre range here.
