Dunlop fury over tyre change threat

Britain's Dunlop Tyre Company is preparing to take legal action against the organisers of the World Superbike championship who are planning to sign a one-brand agreement with the Italian maker Pirelli for the 2004 series.

The deal would threaten production of around 15,000 Dunlop tyres a year at the company's Fort Dunlop plant in Birmingham for the 1,000cc Superbike and 600cc World Superbike series.

"We will assemble our case this week," Dunlop's racing manager, Phil Plater, said yesterday. "Restrictive practices is the route we will be taking."

Dunlop tyres are used by Britain's top superbike team, GSE Racing, and their riders James Toseland and Chris Walker. About half the competitors in the supersport races also run Dunlops.

Maurizio and Paulo Flammini, the Italian brothers who own the superbike promoters, FG Sport, claim they wish to "democratise'' the series by equalising competition between private owners and wealthier teams. Most of the latter receive free or cut-price tyres from manufacturers.

"We want to guarantee the same quality tyres to everyone," Maurizio Flammini said.

He claimed the one-make proposal will cost a typical two-rider private team €90,000 (£64,000) in tyres per season, compared to €150,000 at present. The brothers declined to name Pirelli specifically, but said: "The contract is being finalised, and it will be announced this week."

Other companies are joining Dunlop's legal process. A spokesman for Michelin, who supply tyres for the factory Fila Ducatis, confirmed they will protest to the FIM, motorcyling's world governing body.