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Glanton Bob - Echoes from the edge of town »WE lost our local factory back in July 2006.....and now it seems the death knell has sounded for Dunlop in UK's two-wheel motorsport industry.
Today the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board - the MCRCB - announced it has selected Pirelli as the sole supplier to the two highest profile series' in the UK - the British Superbike and British Supersport championships.
The three-year deal comes as the first since race chiefs decided to implement a single tyre manufacturer rule as of 2008.
And although many hoped Dunlop - an institution in UK racing paddocks - would retain the supplying rights, the risk of Pirelli sneaking in and stealing the contract from under Dunlop's noses was always strong.
Since the Italian-owned World Superbike series opted for a one-make supplier in the form of Pirelli in 2004, the days of Brit wildcards turning up and racing when the World series hit UK shores were pretty much over.
As most of our bikes were running on Dunlops, only those who opted to run Pirelli's for a whole season - namely Rob Mac's Virgin squad and a handful of privateers - have been able to line up at our two World events.
So could that change now our machines are running Pirellis?
It's hard to tell, what with the changes to Superbike specification in the UK as of next season, but it is interesting to note that the two biggest superbike championships in the world are now both running the same rubber.
And what about Dunlop? The marque will still be present in BTCC, having already been confirmed as suppliers to the leading touring car series again in 2008, but they will have far less a presence in BSB from now on.
And that will be a shame. Aside from losing some of the greatest pranksters of the paddock - no-one knows how to party quite like the Dunlop lads know how to party - those big bright yellow trucks and Cafe Dunlop will be missed by all of us.
It's a tragedy that we've lost our dear 'Lops....let's just hope they don't stay away forever.
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