At press time, after winning the Grand Prix of Japan the previous week, Bridgestone-shod Ducati rider Loris Capirossi pulled off his second straight MotoGP victory of 2005 at the Malaysian Grand Prix. At both events he was also the fastest qualifier.

hether you're looking for OE replacement sport-touring tires, performance tires for a cruiser or no-holds-barred sport tires for serious street work or track-day duty, there's a Bridgestone for the job. The Battlax lineup has been a sport riding/sport-touring favorite for years. These tires come in a variety of carcass designs, tread patterns and compounds and there's a Bridgestone Battlax for every need.
     Probably the best known and most asked for Battlax is the High Performance Radial BT-014. These tires incorporate the most advanced Bridgestone and MotoGP technologies. They do it all: Great handling, wet and dry grip, stability both straight up and leaned over, cornering power, shock absorption, reduced shimmy and enhanced contact feel. The BT-014 fronts feature a Kevlar Cross Belt carcass and have a patent-pending narrow width ply. S-shaped tread grooves lighten the handling and the tire's compound comes straight from MotoGP. This compound also reduces chattering in corners and increases stability under hard braking. The BT-014 rears are just as good. They feature Bridgestone's Mono Spiral Belt (MSB) construction, another patented technology using a single continuous thread of high tensile steel wrapped around the circumference of the tire. It eliminates overlapping belts, seams and joints for enhanced high-speed stability, durability and shock absorption. And the BT-014 weighs less than other comparably sized tires and the silica rich compound wears great. These tires keep working even in wet and low-temperature conditions. Overall, it's a great sportbike tire.
     The BT-002 tires take all that to the next level. These DOT approved Super Sport Race Radials have a serious mission. They're built for ultra-high performance track days and road racing. The BT-002s are derived from Bridgestone's MotoGP tires. They have a flatter and larger crown radius to provide smoother turn-in to help improve lap times. They are available in two different compounds, Medium and Soft. With a newly designed innovative tread pattern coupled with the company's Mono Spiral Belt (MSB) technology, these tires provide excellent straight-line stability and enhanced performance. The BT-002s are designed with the most aggressive riders in mind. Once you try them you'll immediately feel the difference.
     Not every rider needs all that ultra-aggressive potential, of course, or even the level of performance offered with the BT-014s. Bridgestone has some great Battlax tires for them, too. The BT-020s offer solid performance and long-life mileage, along with an enhanced level of both wet and dry grip. Everything expected from a Battlax. Nothing's been shortchanged. The BT-020s feature Bridgestone's Mono Spiral Belt (MSB) construction, and these tires were developed with computer-aided technology. Sport-touring and sport-cruising riders will get all the tire they need here, and then some. And with Bridgestone's Silica enriched compound theyÕll have sport tires thatÕll stay around for a while. The Battlax BT-020s wear great. This is the tire for regular sport touring, sport cruising and even OE replacement.
     Looking for that lineup of High-Performance Street Radials? The Bridgestone Battlax BT-014s, the Super Sport Race Radial BT-002s and the Battlax BT-020s have you covered. They're available in all the right sizes to fit virtually every sport- and cruising bike on the road. Parts Unlimited has them all, so call your rep today.