Dunlop’s links with the muddy world of Motocross and its cousins go back to the beginnings of the sport. Dunlop’s first purpose-built Motocross tyre was the K88 Sport, developed at Fort Dunlop. Today’s knobbly tyres with specialised construction continue to push the performance limits to the present, in a highly competitive environment.

The company’s tyres are the first choice for the three major manufacturer teams, and have a history of race and championship success.

The series runs over 15 rounds, with races in Australia, Brazil and the USA, as well as all over Europe. Dunlop supports teams in the top two classes: MX1 and MX2.

MX1 sees four-strokes of up to 450cc pitted against 250 two-strokes; MX2 runs 250 four-strokes and 125 two-strokes.

Dunlop races with factory-backed teams for Honda, Yamaha and KTM – winners of the MX1 title in 2010.

The official Honda World Motocross team, based in Italy, is run by Martin Racing Technology, with two riders in the MX1 class. The official support team, LS Honda Racing, competes also in MX2, with Dunlop tyres.

Yamaha’s factory opposition comes from the experienced Belgian Yamaha Van Beers squad, fielding two riders in MX1 and another in MX2. Again, Dunlops are the tyres chosen.

The Austrian manufacturer KTM is also partnered by Dunlop with Jacky Martens Racing, in both classes.

Motocross fills the same role for Dunlop as road-racing: a high-pressure research lab whose findings are used in continual improvement to production off-road tyres.