Image: Russell Colvin.

Overheating of Dunlop’s control tyre in the Australasian Superbike Championship (ASC) at Queensland Raceway this weekend sparked controversy during Saturday’s FX-Superbike proceedings.

As experienced in testing prior to the round, multiple Superbike contenders experienced overheating that led to rubber being ejected in the mid-section of the rear UK-built 195/65R17 KR108 4886 tyre.

It was decided by Australian Road and Track Rider Promotions (ARTRP) and Dunlop that teams would be permitted use of an additional tyre across the weekend, which was a decision ultimately favoured after it was recognised the problem was more widespread than just the Next Gen Motorsports BMW entry of Glenn Allerton.

Much of the controversy striking pit lane stemmed from the fact that while select riders were plagued by the fault, others including the vocal factory Yamaha team weren’t experiencing the same difficulties and could complete the weekend without additional tyres.

New Dunlop national motorcycle and motorsport manager Sabastian Mincone – who has vast experience both in Europe and the US before his transfer to Australia – confirmed that although visually only select bikes are experiencing major issues, the real concern rests from within the construction of the tyre after technical analysis were carried out.

Regularly Superbike riders are permitted a qualifying tyre to be used on Friday, which can also be used during Saturday or Sunday’s races. A set of additional tyres are also allowed for Saturday and Sunday each, but are only eligible for those particular days.

While Allerton’s Next Gen team – which is heavily-supported by Pirelli despite Dunlop’s status as series tyre supplier – opted to save the extra allocated tyre supplied by Dunlop on safety grounds for Sunday, it was another additional tyre that the team bought and fitted for race three following consultation that caused much of the controversy.

Series general manager Terry O’Neill later stated that it was a loophole in the regulations (that could benefit competitors in terms of the ASC qualifying laps posted within Saturday’s races) found by Next Gen, which will be resolved in time for Winton’s fourth round.

The issue evaporated pole position-setter Allerton’s chances of the overall on Saturday. After winning race one, he sat out the second while a concrete resolution was found – both his qualifying and Saturday rears severely blistered in the centre.

While Allerton used that additional purchased tyre for Saturday’s final race, it wasn’t without penalty as officials placed a 30-second penalty on the two-time Australian champion. He was also forced to start from the rear of the grid after missing race two.

Initially Allerton’s fastest lap in race three was excluded believed to be due to over-riding importance of lap times during Saturday’s race program that will determine the grid for Sunday.

That was communicated pre-race following a heated discussion between team personnel and officials, just minutes before today’s final race. But it was later understood to be a miscommunication by race officials and that decision was overturned. It didn’t make difference to the end result, since his lap in race one was quicker than the final outing.

“I think the situation for anybody that tested here knew it was possible – everybody had problems,” Allerton told CycleOnline.com.au. “I can’t see how getting an extra tyre will advantage anybody at this point.

“Tomorrow’s races are really important and that’s my focus now. We have a good bike, good setting, and I feel like we’re in the box seat. But it’s going to be very difficult through sheer competition from a very strong field.

“It’s easy for everybody to say I have the fastest bike, which clearly it is fast in a straight line, but where it gains power makes it very difficult to get off the corner. For the hairpin turns I’d rather less power… it’s not that simple. It’s just a matter of getting today out of the way and moving on.”

As per the regulations, a single specification control tyre front and rear is used by Dunlop in the ASC series – cost-effective for competitors, but a challenging compromise for Dunlop at varying venues.

This weekend also sees a new front tyre introduced following the opening two rounds of the series; a 120/70R17 M/C 302 made in France.