WorldSBK remains the main championship for product development
 
Focus on young talents and women with commitments in talent cups and the Women's World Championship

No prototypes, but standard tyres for racing technology accessible to everyone

Pirelli is ready for the motorcycle racing challenges of the upcoming motorsport season, which will kick off next week in Australia with the first round of the FIM Superbike World Championship. The most significant news for 2024 is represented by the entry into the Moto2™ and Moto3™ Championships as the Sole Tyre Supplier under a three-year agreement that sees Pirelli involved in the lightweight and intermediate classes of the Grand Prix until at least the 2026 season. 
 
The Italian tyre company will bring the philosophy encapsulated in its now famous motto "We sell what we race, we race what we sell" to the new paddock, since it will provide a range of standard tyres and not prototypes, in a continuous evolution of those already used for over 20 seasons in the FIM Superbike World Championship, which remains the main open-air laboratory for the range development. As always with the racing products of the DIABLO family, Pirelli will also be the Sole Supplier of the newly created FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship and of the talent cups, dedicated to the rising riders of tomorrow, that are part of the Dorna’s Road to MotoGP™ project.
 
These championships add to the over 150 motorcycle competitions, on and off road, in which Pirelli will be involved in 2024. On asphalt, in addition to those already mentioned, Pirelli also participates in some of the most prestigious national championships such as the British Superbike (of which it has been the Sole Supplier since 2008), the German IDM Championship, and the French Superbike Championship, to name a few.
Pirelli's commitment to off-road is also confirmed, starting with the FIM Motocross World Championship organized by Infront, in which the Italian tyre company boasts a record of 81 world titles and of which it will be an official tyre supplier until 2025 included.

"This year our commitment to motorcycle racing is stronger than ever with the entry as the Sole Tyre Supplier not only in Moto2™ and Moto3™ but also in the various talent cups, which are part of the Dorna Road to MotoGP™ project, and in the FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship. A further recognition of our role as a leader in the motorsport panorama as well as of the validity of our product and the work we have been carrying out for years in the FIM Superbike World Championship, Motocross World Championship, and in many other national competitions. We will also bring our philosophy to the new championships, which is nothing but the maximum application of the concept 'from track to road': in our case no transfer of technology is needed because the tyres used by riders are not prototypes but the same that any motorcyclist can buy. We will face the new challenges with enthusiasm, a very close-knit team, and with the working methodology that has always distinguished us."

MOTO2™ AND MOTO3™, NEW PADDOCK FOR A NEW CHALLENGE
The Qatar Grand Prix (March 8-10) will mark Pirelli's official race debut in the Moto2™ and Moto3™ Championships, after a private test in September at the Barcelona circuit followed by the first official test of 2024 held in November at the Valencia circuit where the riders set record lap times. Within the company's strategy, the two classes will become an important driver for the further enhancement of the Pirelli brand both in terms of commercial growth and technological development.
Riders will be able to rely on the proven performance of DIABLO Superbike slick and DIABLO Rain tyres, both successfully used for years by riders of all classes of the FIM Superbike World Championship as well as those of many national championships. Specifically, Moto2™ riders will use front slicks in size 125/70 R17 with compounds SC1 and SC2 and rear slicks in size 200/65 R17 with compounds SC0 and SC1. The DIABLO Rain solution, in a single wet compound, will be available in sizes 120/70 R17 front and 200/60 R17 rear. As for the slicks for Moto3™, the front in 100/70 R17 will be available in compounds SC1 and SC2, the same used also for the rear in 120/70 R17. Same front size for the DIABLO Rain solution for wet conditions while the rear will be in 125/70 R17.

WORLDSBK AS THE MAIN DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM
Pirelli's technical partnership with the FIM Superbike World Championship represented the first example of a single tyre in the history of top motorsport competitions and, more than twenty years later, has proved to be a winning choice followed by other championships on two and four wheels.
Over time, Pirelli has continued to make technological innovation its flagship, dictating each time the new parameters of racing tyres used all over the world: in 2013 with the historic switch from 16.5-inch tyres to new 17-inch tyres, in 2018 with the adoption of new larger sizes, the following year with the introduction of the new SCX slick compound and new compounds for wet tyres, and finally in 2022 with the development of the SCQ compound specifically dedicated to the new format with Superpole and Superpole Race.
It follows that the WorldSBK Championship will remain the reference point for Pirelli's development of its entire racing range in the coming seasons, which will then be made available to all championships.

ROAD TO MOTOGP AND WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: SUPPORT FOR YOUNG TALENTS AND FEMALE RIDERS
Together with Moto2™ and Moto3™, Pirelli makes its entry as the Sole Tyre Supplier in the championships related to the Road to MotoGP™ project, the global initiative for the promotion of young talents that offers access to motorcycle racing around the world. Pirelli will supply all classes of the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship, Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, Northern Talent Cup, and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, in addition to strengthening its commitment to the FIM MiniGP World Series. Alongside the WorldSBK Championship – where Pirelli is already present in all categories, including entry-level ones like the WorldSSP300 and the FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup - the DIABLO Superbike tyres will fit the Yamaha YZF-R7 of the new FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship which will start on June 14th from Misano, where the first of the six rounds scheduled will be held. Pirelli has been alongside Ana Carrasco when in 2018 she became the first woman in history to win a mixed motorcycle championship by winning the Supersport 300 World Championship, and these championships are consistent with Pirelli's racing strategy to be present in all major competitions dedicated to tomorrow's riders and to facilitate the inclusion of women in motorsport.

A positive season for Pirelli under the sign of development
 
“The results of this season for Pirelli are undoubtedly positive and we have successfully advanced the development schedule that we had set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. In Superbike, the main goal was to improve the mileage of the rear extra soft SCQ not only in qualifying, but also in the Superpole Race - a result that we achieved with the C0004 specification which will become the standard compound in 2023, replacing the current SCQ. The other rear development solution that will join the standard range is the medium A1126 which will become the new SC1. As for the front, this year we began working on a soft SC0 option and this development will continue into next season. In Supersport, focus was on the SC1 front and, here once again, we were able to improve performance with the B1333 specification which will join the standard range as the new SC1 front. It is clear, therefore, that the World Superbike Championship is still the best development platform for us for our racing tyres because we have most of the motorcycle manufacturers here, which means that we are able to test our products until the work well with multiple bikes. It is an ideal condition, considering the fact that these same tyres are sold regularly on the market, so the must ensure versatility and be able to adapt to any bike. Now we’ll remain in Jerez for two days of testing aimed at preparing for next season.”

• The Superpole Race was red-flagged on the second lap and then restarted for a distance of eight laps. At the front, all the riders used the standard SC1, whereas at the rear, the most popular solution was the SCQ C0004 development tyre. Only Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) decided to start on the SCX B0800 development solution, whereas Rabat (Kawasaki), Ruiu (BMW), Syahrin (Honda), and Konig (Kawasaki) opted for the standard SCX. At the restart, Alex Lowes also switched to the SCX B0800 rear, whereas Aegerter (Yamaha), Rinaldi (Ducati), and Lecuona (Honda) switched from the SCQ to the standard SCX. Starting from pole position, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) won this race as well, finishing ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). 
• In Race 2, the riders substantially confirmed the tyre choices they had made yesterday in Race 1: SC1 front and standard or development (B0800) SCX at the rear. The final race of the year had Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) engaged in a thrilling duel. Overtaking manoeuvres down to the last lap and Razgatlioğlu finishing first, only to be penalised for having exceeded track limits coming out of the final turn. Victory went to Bautista, with Razgatlioğlu relegated to second place and the other Yamaha rider, Dominique Aegerter taking third. The Turkish rider celebrated this 100th podium with Yamaha before going over to BMW in 2024, whereas Aruba.it Racing – Ducati wins the team World Title.

• For Race 2, the riders confirmed the tyres chosen in Race 1 at the rear, so practically everyone was on the grid with the standard SCX except Kawasaki riders Adrian Huertas and Can Oncu who started with the standard SC0. At the front, some riders who had been on the standard SC1 for Race 1 switched to the SC1 B1333 development tyre, which remained the most used solution. After the race was red-flagged, there were a few changes: Adrian Huertas and Can Oncu switched to the SCX rear, with Filippo Fuligni (Yamaha) using the SC0.
• Winning the race and improving on the record set yesterday for the most race wins in a season, was Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) who, like in Race 1, finished ahead of Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). Third place went to Turkish rider Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).

More details on the tyres used in the race are available on the technical sheets attached to this release. 

Congratulations to Bautista and Ducati for this great season 
 
“This year once again, Bautista and Ducati confirmed that they are a winning duo. Ducati is undoubtedly the best bike on the track and this is also demonstrated by the Manufacturers’ Title they won. But Bautista also made the difference, managing to squeeze the best from the Panigale V4R, basically tailoring it to himself. No other Ducati rider was able to do what he did with this bike. And part of this success is also down to Bautista and Ducati’s ability to take full advantage of the tyres, not only on this track, but throughout the season. Even on the most difficult tracks that put the tyres to a hard test, Bautista and Ducati’s tyre management played a key role in this victory. So, congratulations to Bautista for this well-deserved success and to the entire Ducati staff for the great development that they did and their outstanding teamwork. Today, the tyres performed up to expectations and the most used solutions where the softest ones, in the SCX compound at the rear and the SC1 at the front.” 

• In Superpole, all the riders used the extra-soft SCQ at the rear and the standard SC1 at the front. With a time of 1’38.635 Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took pole position ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Seventh place went to Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) behind the private Yamahas ridden by Aegerter and Gardner. 
• In Race 1, all the riders chose to start with the standard SC1 front tyre, whereas at the rear, most of them used the standard SCX, with some on the SCX B0800 development solution, and only Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) opting for the standard SC0, the hardest option available to them. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started well from pole position, staying in the lead undisturbed all the way to the finish. During the race, Razgatlioğlu managed to move up from seventh to second place, but he was never able to catch the Ducati rider. Third across the line with the Turkish rider’s teammate, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK). And for Bautista, his second WorldSBK championship title arrives.

• Tenth pole position this year for Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) out of a total of 12 championship races, an absolute pole position record in a single season.  The newly crowned 2023 World Champion took pole position with a time of 1'41.823. Rounding out the front row of the grid behind him were Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team), starting from second place, and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), third at the start. In Superpole, which was held with asphalt temperatures at 20°C, all the riders use the standard SCX rear solution to do their best times.
• As for rear tyre choices, in Race 1, all the riders (except Bahattin Sofuoglu, who used a standard SC0), decided to go with the super soft standard SCX solution, whereas at the front, the SC1 development solution in B1333 compound was clearly the most popular among the riders. Bulega went on to win the race, dominating it from start to finish, with Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) and Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) rounding out the podium in second and third place respectively. Team Ten Kate Racing Yamaha took home the team World Title.

More details on the tyres used in the race are available on the technical sheets attached to this release. 

The day began with new track records set in WorldSBK Superpole by Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) with the extra soft SCQ rear, and by Nicolò Bulega (Ducati) in WorldSSP with the super soft SCX. But the star of the race in both categories was the SC0 rear, chosen by practically all the riders, considering the rather low temperatures and the slightly abrasive new asphalt.

It was the Ducati riders who celebrated at the end of this first day: the fifteenth win of the season for Álvaro Bautista, whereas Nicolò Bulega took home his seventh win of the year.

New records and outstanding performance for the standard SC0

“As often happens in Donington, the weather and the temperatures highly influenced the choice of which rear compound to use. In addition, this year there is also new asphalt which, on one hand provides more grip and is more even than the past, but on the other, is more abrasive. In the free practice sessions yesterday, the riders were unable to test much due to the rain and, given the rather low temperatures, they used almost exclusively the SC0, so they weren’t able to assess the performance and wear of the soft SCX compound solutions. So, opting for the SC0 for the races today, both in Superbike and in Supersport, was the wisest choice but certainly not a fallback solution, considering the pace and consistent performance demonstrated in the race, with a lap-time improvement of almost 8 tenths compared with Race 1 of last year. After all, we knew that the SC0 would be a valid solution on this track since we had already seen it in action with the BSB riders in May. The SCQ contributed to Rea’s lap record, but partial credit undoubtedly goes to the new asphalt as well. We’ll see how the temperatures are tomorrow and if anyone opts for the SCQ in the Superpole Race and for the SCX in Race 2, despite not having the chance to do any long runs on them over the past couple days.”

• First pole position of the year for Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) with the new track lap record, earned with a time of 1’26.041 using, as all the riders did, the extra soft SCQ rear tyre. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) fell victim to a crash, but was still able to finish second, whereas Danilo Petrucci, rounded out the front row with his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati. Qualifiers were held in rather cool conditions with asphalt temperatures of 19°C.
• In Race 1, taking into consideration the asphalt temperatures and the rather abrasive new surface, almost all the riders chose the standard SC0 for the rear and the standard SC1 for the front. The only rider to have used a different rear tyre was Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) who, starting from last place, opted for the SCX development tyre in B0800 specification.
• At the race start, Rea defended his first place well, but even before the mid-race point, he was forced to yield the position, first to Bautista and then the Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), both with a decidedly faster race pace than all the other riders. In the second half of the race, the positions stabilised and Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) finished first with a gap of 3.5 seconds ahead of Razgatlioglu, second, e and more than 6 ahead of Rea.

• It was the fifth pole position of the season for Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) who, with a time of 1’29.323, broke the historic WorldSSP record set by Kenan Sofuoglu in 2015. Completing the front row were Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and the Ducati rider’s direct title rival, Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). The session was held with asphalt temperatures of 19°C, so all the riders used the standard SCX at the rear. At the front, on the other hand, the most used option was the standard SC1 in the standard 120/70 size.
• In WorldSSP Race 1, since temperatures were still rather low, almost all the riders confirmed their choice of the standard SC0 at the rear, with the exception of Nicholas Spinelli (Yamaha), Rhys Irwin (Suzuki) and Tom Edwards (Yamaha) who mounted the SCX. At the front, only two riders opted for the SC1 tyre in the larger 125/70 size: Adrián Huertas (Kawasaki) and Bahattin Sofuoğlu (MV Agusta). All the others used the standard SC1 in the standard 120/70 size. For the record, Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) took the win, finishing ahead of Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) and the other Ducati rider, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team).

More details on the tyres used in the race are available on the technical sheets attached to this release. 

Fast races even in low temperatures with standard SC0 rear

“At Donington, with the low temperatures and the new asphalt, the standard SC0 rear was the undisputed protagonist and that is only right. Otherwise, if you could use the SCX in every race, having a range of compounds to cover different types of asphalt and weather conditions would be superfluous. However, it is important to point out that the SC0 is certainly not a fallback choice - anything but. It performed extremely well, registered a highly contained level of wear, and was consistent throughout all the races, allowing the riders to push hard from start to finish and maintain an extremely fast pace even in the final laps, as can also be seen by the fast laps done in both categories and by the overall race time which was significantly lower than previous years, with better lap times to the tune of one second. Credit for this undoubtedly also goes to the new asphalt which provides more grip and optimised the surface, but even with rather low temperatures, the SC0 performed extremely well. Congratulations to Ducati riders, Bautista and Bulega, as well as to all the protagonists of the weekend. Now Imola awaits where we will undoubtedly find much hotter weather.”  

• With temperatures consistent with those on Saturday, tyre choice for the Superpole Race was identical to that of Race 1 for the rear: practically all the riders used the standard SC0 with the sole exception of Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO), who confirmed his choice of the SCX B0800 development solution. Not many changes at the front where the standard SC1 was once again the favourite. Choosing the standard SC2 were the two factory Kawasaki riders, Rea and Lowes, who had the SC1 in Race 1; conversely, Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) and Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) switched from the SC2 to the SC1 for the short race. The race was basically decided on the final lap when Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) managed to gain the upper hand for the win over Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who had, up to that moment, been solidly in the lead for the entire race. Starting from pole position and then slipping back to third place, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) also overtook Rea on the final lap to finish second. So, the Kawasaki riding Brit had to settle for third.
• After the race was red-flagged on the first lap due to an incident involving Rinaldi, Sykes, and Baz, there were 22 laps left to race at the second start. Razgatlioglu started extremely well from the pole position that was obtained thanks to his Superpole Race win, managing to hold onto the race lead until the 13th lap when he was forced to yield to Bautista. So, the reigning World Champion took home Race 2 as well, finishing first ahead of Razgatlioglu, second, and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), finally on the podium after a weekend where he was consistently fast.

• Race 2 was held in slightly cooler weather conditions than Race 1, with asphalt temperatures around 26°C and air temperatures just under 20°C. For this reason, tyre choice was also practically identical, with the standard SC0 selected by all for the rear, whereas for the front, the popular choice remained the standard SC1 in the standard 120/70 size.
• Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) rode a solitary race in the lead for more or less the entire distance, thereby taking home his eighth win and third brace of the season. Behind him, after taking third in Race 1, was Yari Montella with the Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2. Improving his Race 1 final position by one was Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team), finishing third for an all-Ducati podium.

More details on the tyres used in the race are available on the technical sheets attached to this release.

On the track, the undisputed protagonists were once again Álvaro Bautista and Ducati, taking pole position, setting the new track record, and winning all three races in Misano. For the tyres, stealing the show was the new SCQ development solution which, after contributing to the new track record set by Bautista on Saturday, was used successfully today by practically all the riders in the Superpole Race. In WorldSSP, Stefano Manzi on Yamaha interrupted Nicolò Bulega’s magical moment, snatching the umpteenth win from him on the last lap of Race 2, whereas in WorldSSP300, Bruno Ieraci (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) did a dynamite double.

A celebratory weekend for our 20 years in WorldSBK

“For us at Pirelli, Misano was a truly special weekend because we celebrated our 20 years as World Superbike Championship Sole Tyre Supplier with the world champions who have written the history of these two decades and with staff and representatives from the manufacturers, the teams, Dorna, and FIM. Celebrating a milestone like this which is unparalleled on the international motorsport scene along with so many friends was wonderful and emotional. The action on the track also brought us satisfaction. The new SCQ development solution was very popular with the riders who used it both in qualifying and for the 10 laps of the Superpole Race and that was precisely the goal we had set for ourselves. Congratulations to Bautista and Ducati, but also to all the other riders for the great races they provided for the many fans who were unable to resist the call of Superbike, livening up the Misano circuit over these three days of racing and celebration for Pirelli!”

• The red flag that came out during the eighth lap due to an accident involving Lecuona and Petrucci brought the Superpole Race to an end two laps early. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was declared champion as the rider in the lead on the last sector completed before the red flag came out. Behind him were Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and the other factory Ducati, ridden by Michael Ruben Rinaldi. Tyre choice for this race was just about unanimous in terms of the rear: practically all the riders, with the sole exceptions of Bautista and Ruiu who used the SCX, opted for the new SCQ development solution (C0004 specification). At the front, most of the riders went with the standard SC1, although there were those who opted for the softer tyre, the SC0 development solution. 
• Compared with Race 1, held yesterday, today in Race 2, the rear SCX-A (B0800 specification) solution was also chosen by the factory Yamaha riders, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Andrea Locatelli, who had preferred the standard SCX yesterday. At the front, the standard SC1 remained the most used option. In any case, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) finished on the third step of the podium using the new SC0 development front tyre. Bautista took the hat trick with Race 2, finishing ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu and Axel Bassani, the best private team rider.

• In Race 2, held in sunny conditions and 38°C asphalt temperature, the riders confirmed their tyre choices from Race 1, with all on the standard SCX rear solution and the vast majority on the standard SC1 front tyre. Six riders chose the front SC1 tyre in the larger 125/70 size.
• Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) won the race, overtaking Race 1 winner Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) on the final lap, forcing him to settle for second, although he still holds the lead in the overall standings. Completing the rostrum was Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). This is the first win of the year for the Yamaha rider from Rimini, his second in WorldSSP and eleventh podium, whereas for team Ten Kate Racing Yamaha this is the 100^th WorldSSP victory.

More details on the tyres used in the race are available on the technical sheets attached to this release. 

Record tyre performance!

“On the first day of racing at the Misano circuit, tyre choice was just about unanimous. In fact, with these temperatures, in Superbike the SCX B0800 development rear and the SC1 front are undoubtedly the best options, but we should point out that even those who opted for the standard SCX rear, like Razgatlioglu, were not penalised in the least since the two solutions are rather similar in terms of performance. Furthermore, performance for all the tyres was extremely consistent from start to finish and the riders were able to push to the limit all the way to the final corner. The new track record, set in Superpole by Bautista with the new SCQ, is simply the cherry on top that this new extra soft tyre has brought us. In Supersport, the SCX rear and the SC1 front were also the winning combination and the most used by the riders. We saw some great races! Congratulations to Ducati and their riders for the results achieved on this first day.”

• Third pole position of the year and his career ninth for Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) who also set the new track lap record with a time of 1’33.017, clinching the top spot on the grid before he crashed out at turn 8 on the following lap. To do their best times, all the riders used the new extra soft SCQ rear tyre which guaranteed outstanding performance. As for the front, the riders used the standard SC1. Qualifiers were held in the sun and with asphalt temperatures close to 40°C.
• On the grid for Race 1, most of the riders used the SCX development solution in B0800 specification at the rear and the standard SC2 at the front, although a few, such as Toprak Razgatlioglu, preferred the standard SCX at the rear. Some of the riders put the new SC0 development solution on the front.
• The race was dominated by the Ducati riders who took home a nice one-two on the Misano circuit. Bautista, starting from pole position, remained in the lead from start to finish, taking teammate Rinaldi with him who, after starting third, managed to overtake Razgatlioglu early in the race on the first lap.

• For the fourth time this season, Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) started from the top spot on the grid after earning pole position with a record time of 1’36.495. The session was held with asphalt temperatures close to 40°C. All the riders used the standard SCX tyre at the rear.
• In WorldSSP Race 1, given the rather high asphalt temperatures, all the riders chose to start with the softest rear solution, namely the SCX. At the front, most opted for the standard SC1 in the 120/70 size, but there was no lack of riders who preferred instead the larger 125/70 SC1 tyre. Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) took the win, finishing ahead of Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) and Ducati rider Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team).

More details on the tyres used in the race are available on the technical sheets attached to this release. 

2.9 million race kilometres covered by Pirelli tyres, equal to almost 8 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon

This successful partnership, between Pirelli and the top two wheel production-based championship, which began in 2004 and to date has no equal in terms of duration, within international motorsport.  It also represents the first example of control tyre in the history of top motorsport competitions, later adopted by many other championships.

In approaching this championship, Pirelli has decided to respect its basic philosophy, i.e. the very strong and direct link with production-based motorcycles and products. This is why the tyre range is not made up of prototypes but of standard production products that can be purchased by all motorcyclists on the market. And from this choice the Italian tyre company has made a strong point and a corporate strategy that it wanted to summarise in the now historic motto, "We sell what we race, we race what we sell" to indicate precisely how the same tyres used by professional riders are also on sale on the market. In other words, a direct transfer of technology from the track to the road.

It has been 20 years of technological innovation. Pirelli was the first to introduce colours to distinguish the compounds by applying coloured labels on the shoulder of the tyres. In 2013, once more the first company in history to do so, Pirelli abandoned 16.5-inch tyres in motorcycle competitions in favour of the new 17-inch tyres, a size more widespread on the road among motorcyclists. Five years later, in 2018, there was the transition to larger sizes, 125/70 front and 200/65 rear. More recently, Pirelli has introduced new solutions in very soft compounds such as the rear SCX and SCQ capable of offering riders even higher performance and, most recently, also a new soft SC0 solution at the front. All innovations that over the years have set new standards not only in the racing field but also on the wider market.

The DIABLO Superbike and DIABLO Supercorsa tyres, developed by Pirelli for the classes of the production-based championship, can boast a unique palmarès after 20 years of racing: in the World Championship they have been used successfully by 1438 riders, they have competed in 1105 races for a total of 18.891 laps and 2.9 million race kilometres, equal to almost 8 times the distance that separates the Earth from the Moon. Tyres that have been developed with the collaboration of some of the greatest motorcycling champions who have made the history of WorldSBK, among these 11 have won at least one world title in the premier class with Pirelli: James Toseland, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss, Ben Spies, Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa, Tom Sykes, Sylvain Guintoli, Jonathan Rea, Toprak Razgatlioglu and reigning world champion Álvaro Bautista.

“Motorsport is part of our DNA and with the Superbike World Championship we have managed to combine the world of the track with that of the road: those who choose a Pirelli motorcycle tyre must know that they are not simply buying a round black tyre but the result of 20 years of experience and constant technological development that Pirelli has carried forward in this championship thanks also to the collaboration of Dorna, the FIM, the riders and the teams. We are therefore proud to be able to celebrate this important milestone but while we retrace with our memories what we have done in the past, our gaze is already projected towards the future, towards new challenges, to write new chapters of this beautiful story".

WorldSBK

• Front: the solutions already used in the last round are re-confirmed. The new SC0 soft front, which made its debut in Barcelona and was designed to offer a high level of grip so as to balance that guaranteed by the softer rear solutions, will be available in the quantity of 6 units per rider. In addition to this option, the medium SC1 and the hard SC2, (8 tyres per rider), will be present.
• Rear: also in this case, Pirelli confirms the solutions that have been already seen in action in the previous European rounds: the standard super soft SCX and the development SCX-A (specification B0800), to continue the direct comparison between the two options, both available in the quantity of 8 tyres per rider. In addition to these there are the soft SC0 (5 per rider) and, only for Superpole and the Superpole Race, the new extra soft SCQ (specification C004).

WorldSSP

• At the front, the riders will have two SC1 solutions, both standard but in different sizes: the standard one for the WorldSSP class in 120/70 and the one used by WorldSBK in 125/70, also to continue the direct comparison between the two options. For the rear, as for the last rounds, the riders will be able to choose between the standard SCX and SC0.

Further details on the tyre allocation are available in the technical data sheets attached to this press release.

The goal is to improve the consistency and mileage of the SCQ

“In the first rounds of the season, both in WorldSBK and WorldSSP, we concentrated our development activity on the front range, with the introduction of the soft SC0 for the riders of the premier class and with the comparison between the standard and the larger sizes in Supersport. This work will also continue at Misano but now it's time to focus on the rears as well, in particular on the SCQ solution. The current standard extra soft guarantees a very good peak performance and therefore it perfectly fulfills its role as a qualifier tyre. The goal we have set ourselves is to allow it to be used also in the Superpole Race, which in some cases already happens. With the new development solution, we want to guarantee this tyre a greater performance consistency and therefore a higher mileage so as to make it a key choice for the 10 laps of the short race on all circuits. In WorldSSP300 we have decided to introduce a new development set that uses some innovative materials”.

Another splendid performance for the SCX development solution

“As already occurred last round in Asses, in the first race of the Barcelona weekend, most of the Superbike riders put the SCX B0800 development tyre on at the rear, preferring it over the standard tyre, in this case with higher asphalt temperatures than in Holland. This is useful information for us which helps us reach another milestone in the overall assessment that we will need to conduct of this tyre at the end of the season to see whether it is actually an improvement from every point of view over the current reference SCX and, therefore, if it can become the new standard SCX in 2024. As for the front tyres, we expected that the SC0 would not be used much, on one hand because the riders don’t know it well enough to use it in the race, and on the other hand, because this is a rather demanding track for the front tyres in terms of wear. In Supersport, on the other hand, the 125/70 front, although not the most used, is beginning to gain more and more popularity among the riders. Congratulations to the winners today and we expect to see some good races tomorrow.”

• Despite the red flag, in Superpole, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) did the new track lap record in 1’40.264, clinching pole position. Outstanding performance by Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who achieved the second best time. Completing the front row of the grid was Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was only eighth. To do their best times, all the riders used extra soft SCQ rear tyres. As for the front, the top three riders opted for the standard SC1. Qualifiers were held in the sun and with rather high asphalt temperatures, around 40°C.
• On the grid for Race 1, most of the riders used the SCX development solution in B0800 specification at the rear and the standard SC2 at the front, although various Ducati riders, including Álvaro Bautista, preferred the standard SC1 at the front.
• The race was red-flagged during the 4th lap. At the restart there were 17 laps to race. Álvaro Bautista rode a solitary race without ever losing the lead for a moment and finishing first with a gap of more than 8 seconds ahead of the closest followers. He also did the race fast lap on his third time around. Behind him, there was a much more heated battle for second between Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea. The Yamaha rider came out on top in the end, finishing on the second step of the podium and relegating Rea to third place.

• In qualifying, which was conditioned by the red flag that came out 5 minutes from the end, Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) took his third consecutive pole position of the season with a time of 1’44.243. German rider Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) rounded out the front row. The session was held with asphalt temperatures ranging from 33°C to 36°C and all the riders put the SCX tyre on at the rear, whereas at the front, Bulega and Schroetter used the SC1 in the 120/70 size and Caricasulo used the larger 125/70.
• In WorldSSP Race 1, taking the rather high asphalt temperatures into consideration, all the riders chose to start with the softest rear solution, namely the SCX. At the front, most opted for the standard SC1 in the 120/70 size, but around ten riders preferred the larger 125/70 SC1. Winning the race was pole man Nicolò Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) who managed to defend the attacks by Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), finishing first ahead of the other MV Agusta, Marcel Schroetter, second, and the Turkish rider, third.

More details on the tyres used in the race are available on the technical sheets attached to this release. 

WorldSBK is confirmed as a key tyre development platform in Pirelli's motorcycle strategy

Pirelli and Dorna WorldSBK Organization have extended their partnership by a further three years: the Italian tyre company will be the sole Official Tyre Supplier for all classes of the FIM Superbike World Championship up to and including the 2026 season.
With the current agreement expiring at the end of 2023, Dorna WorldSBK Organization, in agreement with the FIM, the International Motorcycling Federation, proposed to Pirelli, which accepted, a new three-year agreement for the period 2024-2026.

Thus continues a unique collaboration, in terms of longevity, within the international motorsport panorama, which this year celebrates 20 years. It remains a demonstration of the solid relationship that Pirelli has managed to establish with Dorna, the FIM, the teams and the riders, thanks to the constantly improving quality, reliability and performance of its tyres.

Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Executive Director for DWO
"Pirelli has proved time and again to be a perfect match for WorldSBK as our sole Official Tyre Supplier. Not only does our partnership ensure a great level of quality and performance to our teams and riders throughout the season on a wide variety of venues, but they also completely embraced the values and philosophy of the Championship by bringing to the race track the products they offer to motorcyclists. WorldSBK has evolved through numerous eras and phases since we started to work with Pirelli and the fact that we've been building on this mutually beneficial collaboration over the past 20 years is unprecedented. So, it's with great enthusiasm, that we're looking towards the future of WorldSBK and Pirelli together as the Championship evolves and new challenges arise."

Aldo Nicotera, Senior Vice-President and Head of Moto and Cycling Pirelli:
“This year we are celebrating an important milestone: in fact, it has been 20 years that we have been alongside the FIM Superbike World Championship as Sole Supplier for all classes. A road, begun in 2004, which represented the first example of a single-tyre formula in the history of top motorsport competitions and which, years later, has proven to be a winning choice, later followed by other championships. Motorsport has historically been an integral part of Pirelli's DNA and this renewal is in line with our corporate strategy which sees World Superbike as a key platform for the development of our motorcycle tyres, starting with racing and super sports tyres. We are happy to continue this adventure alongside Dorna, the teams and riders until 2026 whilst continuing to offer motorcyclists from all over the world tyres that contain the best of Superbike-derived technology".

By applying the production-derived philosophy also to the tyres, since 2004 Pirelli has decided not to supply the Championship with prototype solutions but instead with normal production tyres that can be purchased by anyone on the market. In addition, Pirelli's single-tyre formula has allowed all the riders and teams to compete for victory over the years, being able to count on an equal supply of tyres for all.
From the beginning, Pirelli has had a triple role: it has been a technical partner as a tyre supplier, a sponsor of the championship but also a marketing partner, actively contributing to outlining the identity and qualities of the World Championship which have always distinguished it from other motorcycle competitions.

All this while remaining a forerunner and interpreter of market trends and needs by continuing to innovate technologically and setting new standards and benchmarks for racing tyres used all over the world. In 2013, as the first company in history, Pirelli abandoned 16.5-inch tyres in motorsport in favour of the new 17”, a size more commonly used by motorcyclists on the road. In 2018, the transition to larger sizes, 125/70 front and 200/65 rear and, in more recent years, the introduction of new solutions in very soft compounds such as the SCX and the SCQ capable of offering riders even greater performance.

WorldSBK

• Front: in addition to the solutions already used since the beginning of the year, i.e. the medium SC1 and the hard SC2, in the quantity of 8 tyres per rider for each compound, for the first time the riders will also have a front SC0 available, a soft compound solution which should offer a high level of grip at the front- to balance the grip given by the softer solutions at the rear. The Barcelona circuit can be particularly demanding for the front because it is very technical, with wide and fast corners, straights, undulations and very sharp braking zones, such as first braking point after the long straight to the finish line.
• Rear: the solutions seen in action at Assen were confirmed, with the standard super soft SCX and the development SCX-A (specification B0800) to continue the direct comparison between the two options. To these two more are added- the soft SC0 and, only for the Superpole and Superpole Race, the extra soft SCQ. 

WorldSSP

• At the front, the riders will continue to have two SC1 options available in different sizes: the standard one for the WorldSSP class in 120/70 and the one used by WorldSBK in 125/70, to evaluate a possible switch also for this class to the larger size after a first test carried out in Assen. The third and last solution is represented by the standard SC2. For the rear, the riders will be able to choose between the standard SCX and SC0, the latter being more protected in the event of low temperatures and high wear.

Further details on the tyre allocation are available in the technical data sheets attached to this press release.

An SC0 to complete the new front range

“In Barcelona we will witness what, in its way, can be considered a historic debut in these 20 years of Pirelli in Superbike: for the first time ever, the WorldSBK riders will have a DIABLO Superbike in the soft SC0 compound available at the front. After expanding the range in the past seasons with the introduction of rear solutions in soft compounds, such as the SCX in 2020 and the SCQ in 2022, and having worked on the new front SC1 and SC2, we now decided it was time to complete the range also working on a front in soft SC0 compound with the aim to balance the high level of grip offered by the new soft solutions introduced for the rear wheel. The riders have already had the opportunity to test this new front solution, in specification B1148, in the winter tests and in those held in Barcelona at the end of March but this will be the first time ever that they will have it available in a race weekend. The goal, in line with our philosophy of making the tyres used in the World Superbike available to all motorcyclists, is to develop this SC0 during the season and then make it a standard solution, therefore purchasable on the market, in 2024”.

WorldSBK

• Front: the 2023 range solutions, the medium SC1 and the hard SC2, are confirmed in the quantity of 8 tyres of each compound per rider. Last year the most used option was the SC2 which offers greater mechanical resistance and better protection against wear and therefore is better suited to the characteristics of a very technical circuit such as Assen, known as "The Cathedral of Speed" due to the high average speed, with its demanding braking and sudden acceleration zones.
• Rear: there are four slick solutions: the super soft standard SCX and the development SCX-A (specification B0800) for a direct comparison between the two options. Then there is the soft SC0, which might be useful in case of cold asphalt and low temperatures. Finally, only for Superpole and the Superpole Race, there is the extrasoft SCQ.

WorldSSP

• At the front, for the first time, riders will have two SC1s available in different sizes: the standard one for the WorldSSP class in 120/70 and the one used by WorldSBK in 125/70 to evaluate a possible switch to the larger size for the Supersport as well. The range of front tyres is completed by the standard SC2. As for the rear, there are two standard options: SCX and SC0, the latter being more protected in the event of low temperatures.

Further details on the tyre allocation are available in the technical data sheets attached to this press release.

In Assen we will start a few interesting comparisons 

“The Championship comes alive in Assen: we arrive in Europe and the WorldSSP300 and Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup also get underway. Compared to 2022, in which a set of front and rear SC1s was always used in each race, this year the 300 class riders will start the season with the SC2 rear compound so as to deal with any problems, in terms of cold tearing, which is always possible to encounter in the first European spring races, typically colder especially in the early morning sessions. Since the SC2 is more protected than the SC1, this choice should be decisive. We also plan to continue the season with the SC2 rear but, especially in the warmer races, we don't rule out a possible return to the SC1 should the SC2 not generate an adequate level of grip. The work in WorldSBK and WorldSSP is instead focused on two direct comparisons. In Superbike we want to see which will be more appreciated by the riders between the standard SCX and the development SCX B0800; in Supersport it is a comparison between sizes, the standard 120/70 and the 125/70 which is already used by the older brothers of WorldSBK. The goal, in the event of a positive response, is to have Supersport adopt the front size of the premier class as well. As always, these checks will not end with Assen but will also continue in the following rounds in order to collect enough elements for an accurate evaluation”.

A concentrate of technology, performance, and safety, the result of twenty years of experience in the FIM World Superbike Championship

Best-seller pedigree: more than 3.5 million tyres sold from 2007 to the present

The revamping process of the sport range’s fourth series has been completed

From 2002, the year the first DIABLO tyre was born, the line of products which bear this name has identified Pirelli’s motorcycle sport tyres, continuing the success story which began in the ’70s, marked by exciting names such as Mandrake, Phantom, Gordon, Demon, and Dragon. With the DIABLO family, Pirelli revolutionised global street tyre paradigms, creating a proper brand, enriched year after year by technological innovations and the experience gained in the FIM World Superbike Championship, where Pirelli has been sole tyre supplier since 2004. After introducing the DIABLO Superbike tyres in 2005, slicks exclusively for track use designed for the Superbike category, in 2007, Pirelli launched the first generation of DIABLO Supercorsa SC grooved racing tyres, followed by the SP street version in 2008. DIABLO Supercorsa SC became the absolute benchmark for the Supersport and Superstock categories, both in the world and national championships and even now it is the standard for those championships that still use treaded tyres. In the same way, over the years, DIABLO Supercorsa SP has been selected as OEM equipment on the most prestigious supersport and hyper naked bikes. The second generation of DIABLO Supercorsa, presented in 2012, was then followed by the third in 2018, and now the fourth continues the path of technological excellence begun three decades ago.

ONE SOUL, TWO PRODUCTS: SC AND SP, FROM THE TRACK TO THE STREET 

When Pirelli decided to make the first DIABLO Supercorsa in 2007, they did so with a rather specific idea and goal. The idea was to make a racing tyre respecting the basic philosophy of the World Superbike Championship, namely the bond with normal production, so not a prototype tyre, but a product that can be used by both professional riders and normal motorcyclists. The goal is to take advantage of the top category in the production derived world series not only as a showcase to give the brand visibility but also as a laboratory to develop, with some of the best riders in the world and the most prestigious manufacturers, advanced technological solutions and tyres not for exclusive use by the world championship riders, but also for everyday use. And it is precisely with DIABLO Supercorsa that the motto dear to Pirelli’s heart was born, “We sell what we race, we race what we sell”, indicating how the very same tyres used by professional riders in races can be purchased by any motorcyclist. This is why, from the beginning, DIABLO Supercorsa was developed as a single project but in two forms: the SC track tyre in various compounds and its SP street version, both in standard production available for purchase on the market in order to meet not only the needs of track riders, but also sport street riding enthusiasts. Over the years, DIABLO Supercorsa SP has become the supersport tyre of choice for all high performance bike owners who want an uncompromising street riding experience, thanks to extremely high levels of grip and performance. But above all, as of today, it remains the best and most immediate example of the technological transfer from track to road of Pirelli tyres, since it shares with the ‘SC’ the tread pattern, profiles, and many materials and technologies used in terms of structure, in addition to one of the two compounds it uses (the SC3).

CONCENTRATION OF TECHNOLOGY, PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY BORN IN SUPERBIKE 

DIABLO Supercorsa, in both the SC and the SP versions, is a true concentration of technology capable of providing high performance combined with the highest safety standards thanks to the ability to interact and collaborate closely with the most modern and sophisticated riding assistance systems. It is the result of twenty years of studies, development, and testing of solutions by Pirelli in the FIM World Superbike Championship. It is a tyre that was also designed with input from former world champions and developed with the support of all the manufacturers and teams that participate in the most important competition for factory derivative bikes. DIABLO Supercorsa SC V4, where the abbreviation SC stands for “Special Compound”, is the best and fastest treaded track tyre ever made by Pirelli. Thanks to the various compounds it is available in, DIABLO Supercorsa SC V4 is intended for use by both professional and semi-professional riders, as well as by those who are simply track day enthusiasts or riders just starting out in their careers who want to improve performance without making changes to the settings on their bikes. Compared with its V3 predecessor, these are the features and relative benefits for the riders that DIABLO Supercorsa SC V4 has to offer:

• Latest generation compounds for outstanding performance and grip
• Racing structure for better support coming out of corners
• Racing profiles to the advantage of rideability, line holding, and stability at high speeds
• Tread pattern with patented Flash evolution for smoother power on leans and improved consistency of performance

In the same way, DIABLO Supercorsa SP V4, where the abbreviation SP stands for “Sport Production”, is the sportiest tyre ever for street use in the DIABLO family. Compared with the SC version, DIABLO Supercorsa SP complies with all the regulatory restrictions of the vehicles it can equip – such as, for example, the speed index requirement (W) – and it is less sensitive to temperature, as well as heating up more quickly and providing more mileage due to the compounds. This tyre is intended for riders who love sport riding not only on the track but on the road as well. This undoubtedly includes owners of supersport street bikes from which the World Superbike Championship bikes are derived, but also track day enthusiasts who want a street legal tyre so they can ride to the circuit instead of having to load the bike on a trailer and one that will also let them turn laps on the track without having to swap out tyres. DIABLO Supercorsa SP V4 ensures significant benefits for riders:

• Dual compound on both the front and the rear for maximum grip in leans and outstanding thrust coming out of turns, but also adequate mileage.
• Latest generation structures that work in unison with the compounds for optimum performance both on the road and on the track by simply adjusting the pressure.
• Profiles, identical to those of the SC version which ensure a simple ride and maximum reactivity.
• Tread pattern identical to that of the SC with the new flash pattern interrupted at the centre with a slick area for smoother thrust at any lean angle and more consistent

Both versions share the tread pattern, the profiles, the compounds in part, and some technological solutions in terms of structure.

Tread pattern

• The interrupted FLASH design improves water displacement and the area of contact surface with the ground.
• The slick section where the pattern is interrupted has an impact on the rigidity of the tread, reducing risks of groove deformation, and ensures better thrust at any lean angle.
• The direction of the flash pattern on the tread follows the direction of the lateral force experienced in track riding, ensuring more even and consistent performance along with reduced warm-up time.
• The first area of the shoulder without grooves guarantees greater contact between rubber and road surface both halfway and all the way into a lean in order to ensure greater grip on turns
• The completely slick external area of the shoulder improves thrust at extreme angles

Profiles

• The same racing profiles, developed in the World Superbike Championship, of the DIABLO Superbike slick tyre and the other fourth generation hypersport tyres in the Pirelli range.
• Multi-radius profiles for abrupt direction changes, whereas the slick shoulder area provides high grip and outstanding line holding on corners.
• The profile of the front improves handling, enticing the rider to lean into corners earlier, facilitating quick direction changes. It also provides exceptional stability thanks to the extended contact area in the leaning stage.
• The rear follows the same pattern and similar geometry to the front in order to ensure synchronised performance of the set.
• In the DIABLO™ SUPERCORSA SP V4, the tyre bead is designed to provide maximum performance both with tyre pressure on the road and with track use pressure (2.3 Bar front / 2.1 Bar rear with hot tyres). It is precisely the possibility of decreasing tyre pressure for track sessions that sets DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP V4 clearly apart from the other tyres in the Pirelli hypersport range.

Structure

• The SC version shares with the DIABLO™ SUPERBIKE slick both structure and material which are able to ensure top performance and greater ease of riding with the use of specific pressures for the track.
• Compared with its V3 predecessor, the new V4 uses new materials, such as wider section structural cords made up of a high number of textile fibres braided together to give the tyre greater rigidity combined with better shock-absorbing capabilities.
• In the SP version, each size has its own structure, fine-tuned for optimum performance in combination with the width of the specific profile for that size, the proportions of the compound and the arrangement of the tread pattern. Additionally, the structure of the SP is optimised for street use, so also for long distances in a straight line on motorways.

Compounds

DIABLO Supercorsa SC V4 is available in three compounds for both the front and rear:

• SC1 - Front: maximum feeling / Rear: top performance with high temperatures and not very abrasive asphalt
• SC2 - Front: maximum stability and consistency / Rear: consistent performance and ideal for low temperatures or extremely abrasive asphalt
• SC3 - The race-for-fun choice for extended track sessions, but not intended for professional racing use

DIABLO Supercorsa SP V4 is dual compound both at the front and the rear.

Front:

• The first DIABLO Supercorsa tyre to adopt two compounds at the front.
• Layout with a central and base compound paired with a second compound on the tyre shoulders.
• The base compound, which covers the entire profile of the tyre and emerges coming into contact with the asphalt at the central section, is full-silica and extremely versatile, providing thermal stability and ensures consistent performance in both cold and hot temperatures.
• The compound of the shoulders is the same one used in the SC3 racing version, in 100% carbon black formulation, and it is capable of ensuring outstanding handling and maximum grip even at full lean.

Rear:

• Compared with the front, this has a softer central compound and a wider side, but still maintaining the same base compound of the front in support of the two compounds in contact with the asphalt.
• The central compound is 100% carbon black and optimised to work effectively in a broad range of temperatures because it provides grip and quick heating in various conditions. Additionally, it ensures stability at high speeds and resistance.
• The compound used on the shoulders is the same as the one used on the front, so SC3, for maximum power coming out of corners.
• The base compound, which is beneath the two compounds that are in contact with the asphalt, has a 100% Carbon Black formulation and was designed to work in the best possible way with the other two compounds, providing thermal stability and a better feeling for the rider.

BEST-SELLER PEDIGREE: MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION TYRES SOLD 

The Diablo Supercorsa is a success story not only on the technological side, but also in terms of sales. In fact, since its début in 2007,  more than 3.5 million DIABLO Supercorsa tyres have been sold all over the world, making this product one of the most successful motorcycle tyres in Pirelli history. A success which, with this fourth generation, Pirelli will continue to build on, equipping the most prestigious supersport and naked bikes that will be introduced to the market in 2023 and the years to come with DIABLO Supercorsa SP and, with DIABLO Supercorsa SC, offering riders and track enthusiasts a racing tyre that embodies the most cutting-edge technologies. 

MISSION RACING AND SPORT RANGE REVAMPING ACCOMPLISHED

With DIABLO Supercorsa V4, Pirelli concluded the revamping process of the fourth generation of the DIABLO racing and sport range which began in 2021 with DIABLO ROSSO IV and continued in 2022 with DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa. Therefore, the Pirelli range is now made up of two DIABLO SUPERBIKE racing products - the competition slick par excellence, and DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC V4, the treaded tyre for the track - and of supersport and sport tyres primarily for street use, beginning with the new DIABLO Supercorsa SP V4, the most extreme of the street tyres also suitable for the track, as well as the DIABLO ROSSO IV CORSA, the most focused version of the DIABLO ROSSO IV. Each of these tyres are covered by patents developed by Pirelli in the World Superbike Championship and the difference between these five products lies substantially in the type of use, whether street or track, in performance on dry and wet asphalt, and in the mileage that each one is able to provide.

More details on available sizes of DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC and SP V4 are available on the Pirelli.com website at the following links:

DIABLO SUPERCORSA SC V4

DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP V4

TYRE OPTIONS FOR THIS CIRCUIT

• The ninth round of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship, the last to be held in Europe, will be hosted next weekend by the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal. A circuit as fascinating as it is demanding for riders, motorcycles and tyres, with some “old-school” sections and a layout with a continuous ‘ups and downs’ and many blind corners that require sharp braking and subject the tyres to high lateral and longitudinal loads. The track was completely resurfaced in 2020, when it first hosted Formula 1, but the grip offered is rather limited. For this reason, and based on the experience of the past years in which the SC0 compounds on race distance have shown better performance than the SCX, Pirelli has decided to relegate the SCX to the role of tyre to be used in qualifying and in the Superpole Race, as already happened in 2021.
• There will be three front solutions available, all in soft compound and already known to the riders: the standard SC1, the development SC1 in B0570 specification (SC1A) and the development SC1 A0674 (SC1B). For the rear, the standard SC0 will be joined by the development SC0 B0624 which differs from the standard solution in terms of structure and compound. The third rear solution is represented by the SCX which, as anticipated, given the characteristics of the track, can only be used in qualifying and in the Superpole Race.
• WorldSSP riders will be able to choose between standard SC1 or SC2 at the front, while at the rear they will have the SC0 and SC1 at their disposal.
• The track was inaugurated in 2008 and immediately hosted the top championship for the motorbikes derived from the series. It has a fairly wide roadway and is a circuit that can facilitate overtaking. The rear tyre on this circuit goes from low to very high temperatures while the front tyre must allow the rider to enter corners quickly and precisely. Compared to the rear, which undergoes few but intense mechanical/thermal stresses, the front is always engaged in slow and quick-entry corners with a small radius of curvature that force the rider to brake abruptly, even downhill.

For more details on tyre allocation for the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes, please refer to the technical data sheets attached to this press release.

GIORGIO BARBIER, MOTORCYCLE RACING DIRECTOR

"Portimão is undoubtedly one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar and, despite being a difficult track due to its undulating nature and blind curves, it is unquestionably one of the most fascinating and loved by the riders, who can prove their skills here. The tyre choice is not trivial because it is necessary to guarantee grip, of which the asphalt is scarce, but at the same time it is important to have a solution that can cope with the challenges that this track offers, therefore sufficiently protected even in the case of cooler temperatures to limit the possible appearance of graining. Last year we saw that the rear options in SC0 compound certainly offer an advantage in long races while the SCX can play a role on the 10-lap distance. Much will also depend on the temperatures we will find: at this time of the year it may still be hot but the proximity to the Atlantic can rapidly change the climatic conditions". 

Thanks to a high-level graphic rendering and a very realistic gameplay experience obtained with the advice of professional riders and experts, Milestone has managed to recreate the real world of the Championship with great fidelity. The extreme level of simulation is not only limited to the behaviour of motorbikes and riders but also the details. The Pirelli brand, for example, is present in the videogame on the trackside banners, on the fairings of the motorcycles, on the suits of the riders, as well as on the tyres that are used.

The presence of Pirelli is not limited to this: the sole tyre supplier of WorldSBK also plays a key role because it represents an important component capable of influencing gameplay. In fact, players have the possibility of equipping their motorbikes by choosing from the different compounds the DIABLO™ Superbike tyres are available in. As in real-life, players will have access to an allocation of tyres, both dry and wet, which will also vary from track to track and includes not only standard solutions but also development options. Just as in the FIM Superbike World Championship, based on the choice of compound, the algorithm of the videogame modifies the behaviour of the motorcycle. In other words, the tyres are one of the parameters that the player must consider when they "take to the track”. To achieve this level of realism, the Milestone developers worked closely with Pirelli to reproduce the technical and behavioural characteristics of the Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike slick tyres in a virtual environment.

SBK™22 features the Official WorldSBK 2022 Championship grid and, always with the aim of offering to those who want it, an experience that is as similar to what the real-world Championship riders experience. The videogame also features the "Career" mode, a highly engaging and perfect reproduction of what happens in the real-life WorldSBK Championship, with the calendar of events, weekends, official riders and members of the official teams. In addition, SBK™22 also offers multiplayer mode to allow up to 12 players to compete simultaneously online, with the possibility of creating high-level competitions. SBK™22 is available now for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Steam.

Milestone, a worldwide racing game developer that boasts great collaborations with the most prestigious two-wheel licensing and publishers, returns with this new videogame ten years after SBK Generations, which was the last and tenth of the videogame series dedicated to the FIM Superbike World Championship and started in 1999. That of Pirelli and Milestone is a long-standing collaboration that has seen the two Italian companies work together for many of the titles made by Milestone, from the RIDE series to those dedicated to MXGP and Supercross.

(asphalt: 44°C / air: 27°C)

Extremely varied tyre choices in the Superpole Race. On the front row, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing - Ducati) confirmed his preference for the SC1 development tyre at the front and the SCX development tyre in B0453 specification at the rear which he had already used in Race 1. On the other hand, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) made different choices: the defending World Champion and race winner relied on standard tyres with SC1 at the front and SCX at the rear, whereas the Irishman went with the same choice as the Spaniard, also mounting the SCX development tyre on the rear in B0453 specifications instead of the B0452 spec that he had preferred yesterday. Noteworthy that no fewer than five riders, including Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) who finished fourth, used the SCQ at the rear, whereas the SCX in B0453 specification was the most used (chosen by eight riders). At the end of the race, Razgatlioglu was back on the top step of the podium after his unfortunate day yesterday, taking his first win of the season, with Bautista second and Rea third.

TYRES IN ACTION IN RACE 2

WorldSBK (asphalt: 28°C / air: 57°C)

In Race 2, tyre choice was once again a key factor. Pole man, Toprak Razgatlioglu, confirmed the standard options used in the morning for the Superpole race, as did Álvaro Bautista who, however, raced with the SC1 development solution at the front and the SCX development tyre in B0453 specification at the rear. After using the B0453 specification SCX development tyre in the Superpole race, for Race 2, six-time world champion Jonathan Rea, decided to switch back to the SCX in B0452 specification that he had used in Race 1. Unlike in the morning, the latter rear option was the most used in Race 2, with 15 riders on the starting grid choosing it. Bautista took home the win, managing to stifle Toprak Razgatlioglu’s desire for victory. Third place for the Spaniard’s teammate,, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).

WorldSSP (asphalt: 48°C / air: 27°C)

In Race 2, the riders unanimously confirmed the standard solutions they had chosen for Race 1: SC1 front and SCX rear, ideal choices for the high temperatures in Misano.

Taking the win today was once again Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) who gained the upper hand on the penultimate lap over Lorenzo Baldassarri (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team), second across the line. Third place went to Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team). This means that Aegerter has achieved his seventh WorldSSP win in a row, also giving Yamaha their 125th victory in this category.

For more details on the tyres used in the race by the individual riders in the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes, please see the sheets attached to this press release.

WorldSSP300 (asphalt: 48°C / aria: 28° C)

Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team), second at the chequered flag yesterday in Race 1, finished on the top step of the podium today with his Yamaha YZF-R3. Behind him was Japanese rider Yuta Okaia (MTM Kawasaki), whereas his teammate, Dutchman Victor Steeman, rounded out the podium.

GIORGIO BARBIER, MOTORCYCLE RACING DIRECTOR

“The SCX solutions were the undisputed protagonists, as much in WorldSBK as they were in WorldSSP and both the standard and development tyres performed extremely well. Based on the initial feedback we got from the riders and the information gathered, on this circuit both the rear development tyres would seem to be more consistent in terms of wear when compared to the standard tyre and the extremely consistent lap times all the way to the end of the race would seem to validate this hypothesis. And this, in and of itself, is a great result if we consider that the standard SCX is already an outstanding product, as Razgatlioglu demonstrated today. We are still in the early stages of our validation process which includes several steps. We’ll analyse the data we’ve collected and see which direction to go with our work over the coming months. The goal, as always, is to improve our standard products. If we have a better tyre than the current SCX by the end of the year, it will be added to the range next year to the advantage of riders and track day enthusiasts all over the world.”

WorldSBK

Ducati had not taken pole position in Misano since 2009. Breaking this dry streak was Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who broke the track record with a time of 1'33.328, taking the fifth pole position of his career and the first spot on the grid for today’s race. The Spaniard was fast straight out of the gate but Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) weren’t standing around watching. The game was up five minutes before the end: Bautista finished first, doing the same time that earned him pole position ahead of Razgatlioglu and Rea. All used the SCQ tyre on the rear, and Bautista combined it with the front SC1 development tyre.

WorldSSP

Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took his third consecutive pole position and his seventh in all in WorldSSP, also breaking the track record set seven years ago with a time of 1’37.173. Behind him on the starting grid were no fewer than four Italian riders: Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team), Macerata native Lorenzo Baldassarri (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team), Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing), and Yari Montella (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).

WorldSSP300

After doing the second best time in FP2 on Friday, Tuscan rider Matteo Vannucci, astride his team AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha Yamaha YZF-R3, set the track lap record in the factory derivatives cadet class, becoming the first Italian in this category to take pole position on the home track. Two Kawasaki riders rounded out the front row: Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki) and Iñigo Iglesias (SMW Racing).

TYRES IN ACTION IN RACE 1

WorldSBK (asphalt: 53°C / air: 26° C)

A weekend to remember for Álvaro Bautista and Ducati. After setting the new track record and taking pole position, the Spaniard won Race 1 with a tyre choice that went against the popular vote. Whilst most of the grid, including his closest rivals Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea, decided to count on the new rear SCX development solution in the B0452 specification, the Ducati rider opted instead for the other new alternative, the B0453 specification, as did his teammate, Michael Rinaldi. Both of the new SCX development tyres have the same compound but they differ in terms of the carcass. Front tyre choices also differed: SC1 development tyre for Bautista and Rea and standard SC1 for Razgatlioglu and Rinaldi. Overall, 17 riders out of 25 chose the SCX B452 spec development solution for the rear in Race 1, whereas 7 opted for the alternative B0453 spec tyre. Only Roberto Tamburini used the standard SCX. For the front, on the other hand, the SC1 development tyre was the favourite (16 out of 25 riders) as opposed to the standard tyre.

WorldSSP (asphalt: 51°C / air: 26° C)

Tyre choice for the WorldSSP riders couldn’t have been simpler. In Race 1, practically the entire grid opted for the soft standard solution at the front, the SC1, and the super soft standard tyre for the rear, the SCX. The race was a bitter pill to swallow for Lorenzo Baldassari (van Bros.WorldSSP Yamaha Team) who, although finishing first, had the win taken from him in favour of Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) for having exceeded the track limits at turn 15 on the last lap.

For more details on the tyres used in the race by the individual riders in the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes, please see the sheets attached to this press release.

WorldSSP300 (asphalt: 42°C / air: 26° C)

Race 1 of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship was won by pole man Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) who, after being overtaken on the first lap by Victor Steeman (MTM Kawasaki), then took back the race lead on the following lap, remaining in command to the chequered flag. Behind him were Spaniard Alvaro Diaz (Arco Motor University Team), also on Yamaha, and Frenchman Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) on Kawasaki.

GIORGIO BARBIER, MOTORCYCLE RACING DIRECTOR

“After the Free Practice sessions yesterday, which were not a very accurate representation because of the extremely low temperatures, we were back to a climate more in line with this period of the year in Misano today. This allowed the riders to test the limits of the two rear SCX development solutions we decided to début in this round better than they had been able to yesterday. The results are undoubtedly extremely encouraging. Practically all the riders on the grid opted for one of these two development solutions in Race 1, despite being new and the fact that the riders really only had two sessions to test them appropriately. Of the two, the B0452 specification seems to be the favourite for the moment, but Bautista won the race with the B0453 option, so it will be interesting to see the riders’ choices tomorrow and then we’ll take stock of the situation at the end of the weekend.”

• For the third WorldSBK round of the season, the first of two scheduled this year in Portugal, Pirelli has decided to focus almost exclusively on the soft tyres of its range. At the front, the standard soft SC1 will be joined by the development SC1 A0674; at the rear- the supersoft SCX and soft SC0 tyre, in addition to the SCQ option that can be used in the Superpole session and Superpole Race.
• The WorldSSP class will exclusively use standard tyres: SC1 and SC2 at the front with SCX, SC0 and SC1 options at the rear.
• Estoril is one of the most technical and demanding tracks on the calendar for tyres. The particularly varied layout features four left and nine right handed corners with very different loads. The right-hand corners are quite fast and therefore the tyre temperature in the right shoulder is high, especially at the rear, while the left-hand corners, including the chicane, are slower and the tyre temperature on the left side is much lower. A long straight in which riders reach considerable maximum speeds is followed by a slow first corner that requires demanding braking. In the long final corner, tyres have to face high lean angles combined with high speeds, while the riders try to open the throttle as soon as possible, to maximise drive onto the finish straight.
• The track has a rather slippery asphalt that dates back to 2006 and could be even more slippery in the case of high temperatures. For this reason, it is necessary to use soft compounds that can generate more grip.

For more details on the tyres available for the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes, please refer to the technical data sheets attached to this press release.

GIORGIO BARBIER, RACING DIRECTOR BU MOTO

“Estoril is undoubtedly a rather demanding circuit that puts a lot of strain on the tyres due to the varied layout and an old road surface that changes from one corner to another. The slippery asphalt requires the use of soft compounds that are able to generate the grip that is not naturally offered by the track. Concerning the front tyre, it is necessary to have a sufficiently solid tyre to cope with major braking forces. Using soft compounds will also allow riders to more quickly compensate for the temperature difference between the right and left sides of the tyre, helping the warm-up in left-hand corners. Despite these difficulties, we have decided to rely almost exclusively on our standard tyre range that has shown us excellent adaptability to the most varied conditions, and at the front we continue to bring the development SC1 A0674 which performed very well in the first two races of the year".

In the Tissot Superpole Race, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) rides his Kawasaki to the top step of the podium, with second place going to Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) and third to Álvaro Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R), who takes his first podium of the year.

In WorldSBK Race 2, on the other hand, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) takes home a well-deserved win after a solid weekend, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) finishing second and Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) third.

The race weekend in Montmeló gave Pirelli engineers a chance to gather important feedback on their standard tyres on this circuit both in dry and wet conditions, and to prepare as best as possible for next weekend’s races in the Andalusian city of Jerez.

WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race:

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) started well from the second spot on the grid, moving into the lead and followed closely by Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), who launched multiple attacks during the early laps of the race, Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) in fourth place. During the third lap, an accident involving Chaz Davies (Team GOELEVEN / Ducati Panigale V4 R) and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) resulted in a red flag and temporary suspension. The riders lined up on the grid again at 11:20 to complete a short, five-lap race. At the second start, Rea and Razgatlioglu battled it out, with back-and-forth overtaking and contact. Álvaro Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R) managed to snatch second place, but found himself immediately under attack by the Yamaha rider who overtook him and then set off to chase down Rea. However, the reigning World Champion proved to be uncatchable, finishing first ahead of Razgatlioglu (second) and Bautista (third).

Tissot Superpole Race Standings:

1. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
2. T. Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
3. Á. Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
4. A. Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
5. M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
6. A. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
7. L. Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
8. G. Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
9. C. Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
10. L. Mercado (MIE Racing HONDA Team / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
11. S. Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
12. I. Viñales (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
13. J. Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR)
14. L. Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
15. S. Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
16. L. Epis (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

• Rt. A. Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
• Rt. C. Davies (Team GOELEVEN / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
• Rt. K. Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
• Rt. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
• Rt. M. van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
• Rt. L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

WorldSBK Race 2:

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) had the best start from the grid, moving easily into the lead ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) and pole man Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR). However, during the second lap, the race was red-flagged due to an accident involving Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) and Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR), so the riders returned to their garages on pit lane. Back on the grid, Toprak Razgatlioglu started extremely well once again, but the trio that also included Jonathan Rea and Michael Ruben Rinaldi engaged in a heated battle, with the podium positions changing hands constantly. The Ducati rider managed to gain the upper hand, keeping his rivals at bay with an advantage of more than half a second, whilst Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) managed to move up from the twelfth spot on the grid all the way to fourth place. After a thrilling battle with the six-time world champion, the rookie Yamaha rider managed to snatch the podium position, with Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) and Álvaro Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R) advancing quickly and relegating Rea to sixth place. In the final part of the race, Rinaldi demonstrated an outstanding pace that let him snatch the race lead and finish first ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (second) and Scott Redding (third).

WorldSBK Race 2 Standings:

1. M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
2. T. Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
3. S. Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
4. Á. Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
5. A. Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
6. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
7. G. Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
8. A. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
9. M. van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
10. K. Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
11. L. Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
12. S. Cavalieri (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
13. C. Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
14. L. Mercado (MIE Racing HONDA Team / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
15. I. Viñales (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
16. J. Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR)

• Rt. A. Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
• Rt. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
• Rt. L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
• Rt. L. Epis (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
• Rt. L. Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

WorldSSP Race 2:

From pole position, Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team / Yamaha YZF R6) had the best start, taking the race lead for the first laps of the race ahead of Randy Krummenacher (CM Racing / Yamaha YZF R6), Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R), and Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R). The Turkish rider, after starting from the tenth spot on the grid, demonstrated an outstanding pace, overtaking first Krummenacher and then Gonzalez for the race lead. Contact on the fourth lap cost him three positions, leaving the virtual podium to Raffaele de Rosa, and during the ninth lap, he made a mistake, crashing out in the gravel and ending his race early. The top three, Gonzalez, de Rosa and Krummenacher, continued to give fans a spectacular show with constant back-and-forth overtaking ahead of MV Agusta rider Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti / MV Agusta F3 675). Kawasaki rider de Rosa ended up setting the fastest pace, managing to create a gap of about a half a second ahead of his rivals. During the final lap, the race really heated up with Tuuli overtaking Krummenacher for the podium and a battle between the race leaders, de Rosa and Gonzalez. In the end, the Spanish gained the upper hand, thanks to a brilliant pass just a few curves before the chequered flag. The Italian Kawasaki rider finished second and third place went to MV Agusta rider, Tuuli.

WorldSBK Race 2 Standings:

1. M. Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
2. R. De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
3. N. Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti / MV Agusta F3 675)
4. R. Krummenacher (CM Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
5. M. Brenner (VFT Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
6. F. Caricasulo (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing / Yamaha YZF R6)
7. S. Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
8. P. Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
9. G. van Straalen (EAB Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
10. P. Hobelsberger (Bonovo MGM Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
11. H. Soomer (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
12. M. Patacca (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing / Yamaha YZF R6)
13. L. Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
14. S. Jespersen (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
15. P. Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
16. F. Fuligni (VFT Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
17. D. Valle (Yamaha MS Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
18. U. Orradre (Yamaha MS Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
19. M. Alcoba (Yamaha MS Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
20. V. Takala (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
21. M. Fabrizio (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
22. H. Pratama (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
23. D. Martinez (WRP Wepol Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
24. O. Vostatek (IXS-YART Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
25. S. Kawasaki (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
26. B. Sahin (Altogo Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)

• Rt. L. Montella (Chiodo Moto Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
• Rt. L. Cauchi (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
• Rt. K. Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
• Rt. S. Frossard (Moto Team Jura Vitesse / Yamaha YZF R6)
• Rt. C. Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
• Rt. E. Montero (DK Motorsport / Yamaha YZF R6)
• Rt. C. Bergman (Wójcik Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
• Rt. L. Arbel (Andotrans Team Torrento / Yamaha YZF R6)

WorldSSP300 Race 2:

The penultimate event of the weekend was the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race, with a photo-finish win going to Turkish rider Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing / Yamaha YZF-R3) ahead of wild card Alvaro Diaz Cebrian (Arco-Motor University Team / Yamaha YZF-R3) and Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo / Kawasaki Ninja 400), taking his fourth podium of the season.

The Pirelli solutions chosen by the riders for the Tissot Superpole Race, WorldSBK Race 2 and WorldSSP Race 2:

For the Tissot Superpole Race, most of the riders on the grid chose to race with the soft standard SC1 tyre (option C) at the front, with the exception of Kawasaki riders Jonathan Rea, Alex Lowes, Lucas Mahias, and Loris Cresson, who opted instead for the A0721 SC1 development solution (option A), and Lachlan Epis with the A0508 SC1 development tyre (option B). At the rear, the entire grid chose to race with the A0557 SCX development solution (option A), whereas Jonathan Rea and Leandro Mercado were the only riders to choose the standard SC0 solution (option B).

For the second start after the red flag, Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes changed tyres, both opting for the standard SC1 (option A) at the front and the SCX development tyre (option A) at the rear.

In WorldSBK Race 2, most of the riders confirmed their choices from the sprint race held in the morning. For the rear, the entire grid chose to race on the A0557 SCX development solution (option A), with the exception of Ducati riders Scott Redding and Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who were on the standard SC0 (option B). At the front, the most popular solution was the standard SC1 (option C), whereas the other riders preferred the A0721 SC1 development solution (option A).

Last, but not least, for Race 2 in WorldSSP, at the front, twenty-four riders out of thirty-five riders decided to race on the standard SC1 solution (option B), whereas the remainder used the A0460 SC1 development solution (option B). For rear tyre choice, all the riders on the grid chose the standard SCX solution (option A).

Pirelli statistics for the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) in 1'41.493 on the 5th lap (new race record)

• Most used front solution: standard SC1 (19 out of 22 riders)

• Most used rear solution: A0557 SC1 development (21 out of 22 riders)

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 326.3 km/h, done by Álvaro Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R) on the 3rd and 4th lap

• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the Superbike class: 5 front and 5 rear

• Number of tyres available for each Superbike rider: 64, including 33 front and 31 rear

• Air temperature: 19° C

• Asphalt temperature: 29° C

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Race 2:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) in 1'42.566 on the 2nd lap

• Most used front solution: standard SC1 (15 out of 21 riders)

• Most used rear solution: A0557 SC1 development (19 out of 21 riders)

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 327.3 km/h, done by Álvaro Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R) on the 3rd lap

• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the Superbike class: 5 front and 5 rear

• Number of tyres available for each Superbike rider: 64, including 33 front and 31 rear

• Air temperature: 27° C

• Asphalt temperature: 38° C

Pirelli statistics for WorldSSP Race 2:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R) in 1'45.486 al 3rd lap

• Most used front solution: standard SC1 (24 out of 35 riders)

• Most used rear solution: Standard SCX (35 out of 35 riders)

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 285.0 km/h, done by Matteo Patacca (Biblion Iberica Yamaha Motoxracing / Yamaha YZF R6) on the 2nd and 13th lap and Daniel Valle (Yamaha MS Racing / Yamaha YZF R6) on the 2nd lap

• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the Supersport class: 5 front and 4 rear

• Number of tyres available for each Supersport rider: 46, including 23 front and 23 rear

• Air temperature: 23° C

• Asphalt temperature: 38° C

The brand of the elongated P logo will equip riders with a new front Rain solution for the WorldSBK class on top of the standard and development solutions already known, while the WorldSSP class will only have available standard solutions.

After twenty-one races, the WorldSBK Riders Standings of the Superbike World Championship has never been so close, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) on level points (311 points), followed by Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) with 273 points.

In WorldSSP Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6) leads the Championship with 257 points, 47 points clear of Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team / Yamaha YZF R6). In WorldSSP300 Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki / Kawasaki Ninja 400) is in first position with 129 points, eleven points clear of Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport - RT Motorsports by SKM - Kawasaki / Kawasaki Ninja 400).

Inaugurated over 60 years ago in 1960, the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit is 4411 metres long and has nine right-handers and eight to the left, with a minimum bend radius of 5 metres and a maximum of 474.45 metres plus a finishing straight which measures 250 metres in length. The maximum slope uphill is 2.38%, with a 2.68% descent. This track is characterised by sudden deceleration and re-acceleration changes, interspersed with medium length straights and plenty of altitude changes. In its default layout it also provides a hairpin (Adelaide) with one of the heaviest braking points present among the international circuits, arriving from a fast straight. The asphalt has a smooth and regular surface and therefore offers little natural grip, especially in case of low temperatures or in the wet. Moreover, in some points the riders are called to brake in the downhill sections putting the front tyre under stress.

The solutions for WorldSBK and WorldSSP class:

In the WorldSBK class, riders will be able to count on 5 front and 6 rear solutions, including slick, Intermediate and Rain solutions. The slick options for the front will be two: the standard SC1 in soft compound and the development SC1 A0508 that riders had the opportunity to try during the rounds of Misano, Assen, Most and Navarra. In case of bad weather, on top of the standard Rain option, Pirelli will make available the development Rain solution with A0593 specification: presented in Donington, this compound should offer better grip compared to the standard product, especially in corner entry and at maximum lean angle, even at low temperatures or in case of smooth asphalt.

There are six rear tyre options. Also in this round the standard SCX in super soft compound and the standard soft compound SC0 are confirmed. In addition to these, the riders will have available the development SCX solution with A0557 specification, which presents a new structure able to improve stability and support during acceleration.

As for what concerns wet solutions, at Magny-Cours Pirelli provides pilots with the development solution with X1251 specification, presented last year on this circuit, it uses a compound intended to offer more grip in wet conditions and particularly at low temperatures.

The WorldSSP riders will be able to count on two front options, the standard soft SC1 and the standard medium SC2, other than the two standard rear options, the super soft compound SCX and the soft compound SC0. Also the riders of the Supersport class will have available the Intermediate and Rain solutions in the case of rain.

More details on the tyre options for WorldSBK and WoldSSP are available in the technical sheets attached to this press release.

2020 statistics for Pirelli in Magny-Cours

• Total number of tyres brought by Pirelli: 3.877

• Number of solutions (including dry, intermediate and wet) for the WorldSBK class: 5 front and 7 rear.

• Number of tyres available for each WorldSBK rider: 35 front and 39 rear.

• Number of solutions for the WorldSSP class (including dry, intermediate and wet): 4 front and 4 rear.

• Number of tyres available for each WorldSSP rider: 26 front and 24 rear

• WorldSBK Best Lap Awards won by: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) in 1'48.268 (Race 1, lap 15) and Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1) in 1'47.558 (Race 2, lap 7)

• WorldSSP Best Lap Awards won by: A. Locatelli (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6) in 1’53.962 (Race 1, lap 17) and Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6) in 1'54.609 (Race 2, lap 14)

• Temperature in Race 1: air 12° C, track 14° C

• Temperature in Race 2: air 11° C, track 14° C

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 278,5 km/h, by Michael van der Mark (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team / Yamaha YZF R1)

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres in WorldSSP race: 249,1 km/h, by Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)

Thanks to his victories in Race 1 and Race 2, the Turkish rider now leads in the Championship Standings, two points ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR). Rounding out the podium in Race 2 was the satellite team Yamaha ridden by Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1) and BMW rider Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR) after a solid weekend for both.

Jonathan Rea won the Tissot Superpole Race which started at 11:00 in the morning, preceded by a downpour that wetted the track down slightly, putting riders and teams to the test in terms of the right tyre selection. For most of the riders, the choice fell to the intermediate solution (option I) which, for the second time this season after Race 2 at Aragón, proved to be the optimum solution in mixed asphalt conditions.

In Race 2, tyre selection was unanimous: all the riders took to the track with the front soft standard SC1 solution (option A) and the rear super soft standard SCX solution (option A). The latter allowed the riders who used it this weekend to maintain an extremely high and consistent race pace all the way to the final laps, in spite of the lower asphalt temperatures (about 36°C) on Sunday and the semi-wet track on Saturday.

Significant signals arrived from the premier class in terms of the rediscovered competitiveness of various manufacturers and riders. Worth a mention is the performance by Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark who rode the two M 1000 RR bikes to a podium finish: the first double podium for BMW since Nürburgring in 2013, the first podium for Sykes since Magny-Cours in 2019 and the first bronze for Michael van der Mark with the factory BMW team. Also noteworthy was Leon Haslam’s performance, who finished the Superpole Race in fourth place.

WorldSBK Superpole Race:

On a semi-wet track, world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) started well, followed by teammate Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) who gained several positions straight away, and the two BMW riders Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR) and Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR). The Kawasakis maintained a good pace, forming a duo one second ahead of the rest of the grid, but on the second lap, Alex Lowes crashed out, re-entering the race in the trailing positions. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), currently second in the championship standings and winner of Race 1, also had an outstanding pace, starting from the thirteenth spot on the grid and gaining no fewer than six positions in the early laps of the race. BMW riders Sykes and van der Mark battled it out, overtaking back and forth for second, as Honda rider Leon Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R) Yamaha rider Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1) looked on from behind, ready to pounce on any mistakes for a podium position. In the meantime, Jonathan Rea made no mistakes, finishing first ahead of Tom Sykes and his teammate Michael van der Mark, taking his first podium with the Bavarian manufacturer and BMW’s first double podium since 2013.

WorldSBK Superpole Race Standings:

1. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
2. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
3. M. van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
4. L. Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
5. G. Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
6. T. Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
7. L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
8. C. Davies (Team GOELEVEN / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
9. A. Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
10. M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
11. A. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
12. E. Laverty (RC Squadra Corse / BMW M 1000 RR)
13. I. Viñales (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
14. A. Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
15. Á. Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
16. J. Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR)
17. L. Mossey (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
18. S. Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)

• RT. T. Rabat (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
• RT. L. Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
• RT. C. Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)

WorldSBK Race 2:

At 2:00 in the afternoon, Race 2 started on a completely dry track. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) started well from pole position, taking the race lead straight away, followed closely by Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), who once again managed to make a brilliant start from the sixth spot on the grid, and Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR) on BMW. The Yamaha standard bearer spared no time, attacking and overtaking the defending World Champion on the second lap, with the latter unable to respond straight away, momentarily conceding the lead. Behind the leading trio were five riders with four different manufacturers: Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1), Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R), Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR), Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) and Leon Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R). Thirteen laps from the end Rea exploited a mistake by the Turkish rider, overtaking him for the race lead, but a few turns later he crashed out, ending up in the gravel and re-joining the race in last place. In the meantime, satellite team rider Gerloff managed to catch Tom Sykes, overtaking him for the second step of the podium. In the final laps, an outstanding race pace was maintained, but no overtakes: Toprak Razgatlioglu won WorldSBK Race 2 ahead of Garrett Gerloff and Tom Sykes.

WorldSBK Race 2 Standings:

1. T. Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
2. G. Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
3. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
4. S. Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
5. M. van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
6. A. Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
7. C. Davies (Team GOELEVEN / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
8. M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
9. L. Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
10. Á. Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
11. A. Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
12. L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
13. A. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
14. T. Rabat (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
15. E. Laverty (RC Squadra Corse / BMW M 1000 RR)
16. L. Mossey (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
17. I. Viñales (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
18. C. Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
19. L. Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
20. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

• RT. J. Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR)

The Pirelli solutions chosen by the riders for the WorldSBK Superpole Race and WorldSBK Race 2:

After a warm-up session on dry asphalt, the rain surprised everyone about a half hour before the Tissot Superpole Race started. Given the asphalt conditions, the riders chose to use the intermediate and wet solutions brought by Pirelli, including the new front solution. About two-thirds of the grid preferred the intermediate standard solution on the front and rear (option I). Six riders decided to race on rain tyres. Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R), Luke Mossey (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), Álvaro Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R), Christophe Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1) and Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR). Of these six, all but Jonas Folger opted for the new A0593 rain development solution (option RA), whereas on the rear, the most popular solution was the standard SCR1 rain tyre (option RB). Going against the current, on the other hand, was Tito Rabat, who preferred racing with the A0593 development rain solution (option RA) on the front and the intermediate solution on the rear.

Tyre selection for WorldSBK Race 2 was simpler than it had been for the sprint race. With the track completely dry in the afternoon, all the riders on the grid opted for Pirelli slicks. At the front, the unanimous choice fell to the soft standard SC1 solution (option A), whereas for the rear, the solution used by all the riders was the super soft standard SCX (option A).

Pirelli statistics for the WorldSBK Superpole Race:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), in 1’30.196 on the 7th lap

• Most used front solution: intermediate standard solution (14 out of 21 riders)

• Most used rear solution: intermediate standard solution (15 out of 21 riders)

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 270.2km/h, done by M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) on the 6th lap

• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the WorldSBK class: 5 front and 6 rear

• Number of tyres available for each WorldSBK rider: 64, including 32 front and 32 rear

• Air temperature: 19° C

• Asphalt temperature: 24° C

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Race 2:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) in 1'28.078 on the 8th lap

• Most used front solution: soft standard SC1 (21 out of 21 riders)

• Most used rear solution: super soft standard SCX (21 out of 21 riders)

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 277.2km/h, done by M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) on the 1st lap

• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the WorldSBK class: 5 front and 6 rear

• Number of tyres available for each WorldSBK rider: 64, including 32 front and 32 rear

• Air temperature: 22° C

• Asphalt temperature: 36° C

Castle Donington (England), 3 July 2021 – Today, on the English Donington Park track, the first day of races were held in the fourth round of the MOTUL FIM World Superbike Championship season. Saturday morning on the British weekend was characterised by intermittent rain that left the asphalt wet and let the riders try the new front Rain solution Pirelli brought in free practice and the qualifying session. 

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) took his fourth pole position of the season, breaking the streak for ‘super pole man’ Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR), who had been unbeaten since 2015 on the Donington circuit, earning the first spot on the starting grid. Michael van der Mark, who had been a protagonist on the British circuit in the 2018 season, also performed well, starting from the second spot on the grid, whereas Sykes did the third best time in qualifying.

Despite the initial rain, the asphalt began to dry out ahead of Race 1, so the riders unanimously chose to race on slick solutions. In fact, for the front, all the riders chose the standard soft SC1 solution (options A), whereas on the rear, two thirds of the starting grid preferred the standard soft SC0 solution (option B).

WorldSBK Race 1:

In Race 1, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) started well straight away, taking the race lead. Behind him was, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), who went from thirteenth to second with a brilliant start, ahead of Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR). On the second lap, the Turkish rider managed to gain the upper hand over the reigning champion, moving into the race lead, while the latter momentarily lost control of his bike, taking a brief excursion off track and re-joining in second place ahead of BMW rider Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR). In the meantime, the group of five made up of Tom Sykes, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR), Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1), Michael van der Mark and Leon Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R) battled for the last podium position, putting on a spectacular show. It was the American, Gerloff, who came out on top of the group, leaving his rivals behind for several laps before crashing out and re-joining in seventh place. The final laps held no surprises and Toprak Razgatlioglu took his second victory of the season ahead of Jonathan Rea and teammate Alex Lowes.

WorldSBK Race 1 Standings:

1. T. Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
2. J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
3. A. Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
4. T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
5. M. van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW M 1000 RR)
6. L. Haslam (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
7. G. Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
8. Á. Bautista (Team HRC / Honda CBR1000 RR-R)
9. L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
10. A. Bassani (Motocorsa Racing / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
11. C. Davies (Team GOELEVEN / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
12. M. Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
13. E. Laverty (RC Squadra Corse / BMW M 1000 RR)
14. L. Mossey (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
15. I. Viñales (ORELAC Racing VERDNATURA / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
16. L. Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)

• RT. S. Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
• RT. A. Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
• RT. T. Rabat (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
• RT. C. Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
• RT. J. Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing / BMW M 1000 RR)

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Cup Race 1 and Race 2:

Spanish rider J. CONESA BENITO (#74) and British rider F. SEABRIGHT (#47) are the respective winners of Race 1 and Race 2 of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Cup at Donington Park.

The Pirelli solutions chosen by the WorldSBK riders for Race 1:

In Race 1, all the riders chose to race on the standard slick options brought by Pirelli to Donington Park. More specifically, on the front, the entire grid went with the standard soft SC1 solution (option A), whereas at the rear, the most popular solution was the standard soft SC0 (option B). The riders who preferred the standard super soft SCX solution (option A) on the rear were Garrett Gerloff, Michael Rinaldi, Andrea Locatelli, Toprak Razgatlioglu, Eugene Laverty, Alvaro Bautista and Isaac Viñales.

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Race 1:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1), in 1’28.571 on the 14th lap

• Most used front solution: standard soft SC1 (21 out of 21 riders)

• Most used rear solution: standard soft SC0 (14 out of 21 riders)

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 273.7 km/h, done by Michael Ruben Rinaldi (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) on the 14th lap

• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the Superbike class: 5 front and 6 rear

• Number of tyres available for each Superbike rider: 64, including 32 front and 32 rear

• Air temperature: 19° C

• Asphalt temperature: 26° C

For Pirelli, the weekend which just came to a close at the Jerez circuit was filled with satisfaction thanks to the outstanding performance of various tyres. Starting with the new rear solution in soft X1351 compound which, after being tried for the first time by the riders during the Misano tests last week, made its race début at Jerez, earning the appreciation of most of the riders and proving its worth with performance that allowed the riders to lap more than one second faster compared to 2017. There were also good results for the new SCX solution which was used in the Tissot Superpole^® Race by no less than seven riders, demonstrating that it can be competitive over the ten-lap race distance. Lastly, there was outstanding feedback from WorldSSP on the new soft rear Y0328 solution in the larger 190/60 size which was chosen by almost all the riders. The fact that the riders in both classes used tyres that had never before been tried in the races is a testament to the great faith that Pirelli has managed to instil in the teams and riders in this championship.

WORLDSBK TISSOT SUPERPOLE^® RACE:

In the Tissot Superpole^® Race, the first of the day, the riders made various changes in terms of tyres. In particular, seven of them used the SCX solution. Jonathan Rea started from the last spot on the grid because of a penalty for making contact with Alex Lowes in Race 1. This moved all the other riders up one spot on the grid. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) therefore started from pole position and led the entire race, managing his advantage over the direct followers and finishing first, as he had done in Race 1. Behind him, various riders jockeyed for position, but in the end it was Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1) besting the rest, managing to finish on the second step of the podium for the second time this weekend, ahead of Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1) who, after taking third in yesterday’s race due to the penalty levied against Jonathan Rea, took a well-deserved position on the bottom step of the podium today.
Fourth place went to Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) who rode a race from behind, making a truly astonishing comeback if you consider that there were only 10 laps in which to do it.
Worth a mention is Alex Lowes’ crash on the fourth lap which gives him a pointless finish for this race as well, after the unfortunate result yesterday.

WorldSBK Tissot Superpole^® Race standings:

1) Á. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
2) M. Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
3) M. Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
4) J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
5) T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
6) L. Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
7) T. Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
8) J. Torres (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
9) S. Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
10) C. Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
11) M. Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
12) T. Bridewell (Team Goeleven / Ducati Panigale V4 R) – subbing for Eugene Laverty
13) L. Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
14) Y. Takahashi (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
15) M. Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
16) A. Delbianco (Althea Mie Racing Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
17) R. Kiyonari (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
RT) A. Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
RT) L. Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)

WORLDSBK RACE 2:

Compared to the race yesterday, Race 2 took a different turn when, during the second lap, Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R), who started from pole position, crashed out, ending up in the gravel with his bike. The Spaniard did not throw in the towel and managed to rejoin, but it would not be enough to finish in the points as he finished 8 laps behind race winner Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1).
However, hard luck was not yet finished with the other Yamaha rider, Alex Lowes who crashed during the first lap, causing him to finish in fourteenth and last place.
When Bautista crashed out on the second lap, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) exploited the situation to take the lead ahead of Michael Van Der Mark and Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1).
During the third lap, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) managed to overtake the Italian Yamaha rider for third.
Shortly thereafter, during the sixth lap, Melandri and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) were protagonists of a track incident with contact that knocked them both out, resulting in a DNF for the pair. This meant that within a few laps, Ducati had lost both riders.
During the eighth lap, the pass came that would decide the race: Michael Van Der Mark was faster than the reigning World Champion, managing to overtake him for the race lead. The race held no further surprises in the front ranks, ending in the nineteenth lap due to a crash involving Ryūichi Kiyonari (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR) on turn 11 which forced the marshals to wave the red flag, terminating the race one lap early.
Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1) therefore took his first race win of the year ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR). Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR) had an outstanding performance, finishing third, the first of the private team riders.

WorldSBK Race 2 standings:

1) M. Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
2) J. Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
3) T. Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
4) M. Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
5) L. Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
6) S. Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
7) T. Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
8) J. Torres (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
9) L. Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R1)
10) T. Bridewell (Team Goeleven / Ducati Panigale V4 R) – subbing for Eugene Laverty
11) L. Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-10RR)
12) M. Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team / BMW S1000 RR)
13) Y. Takahashi (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
14) A. Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team / Yamaha YZF R1)
NC) Á. Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)
RT) R. Kiyonari (Moriwaki Althea Honda Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
RT) A. Delbianco (Althea Mie Racing Team / Honda CBR1000RR)
RT) M. Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK / Yamaha YZF R1)
RT) C. Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R)

WORLDSSP RACE:

After the Tissot Superpole^® Race, at 12:15 in the afternoon local time, the FIM Supersport World Championship got underway with Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6) in pole position due to a penalty against teammate Federico Caricasulo for not slowing down when the yellow flag came out during the Superpole^® race.
At the beginning of the race, Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R) started well from third place, moving into the lead ahead of Federico Caricasulo who managed to overtake teammate Randy Krummenacher.
As the race went on, Mahias was unable to set the pace and at the 1/3 mark he found himself in fourth place. Moving into the lead was Federico Caricasulo, followed closely by his teammate and Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse / MV Agusta F3 675) who had managed to move into third in the meantime.
19 laps into the race, Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6) won ahead of teammate Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6). Third place went to Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)who, after starting from the eighth spot on the grid, managed to move up through the ranks to finish on the bottom step of the podium. The Italian Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP team rider therefore won his second race of the season and is now trailing his teammate by 17 points in the overall championship standings by.

WorldSSP standings:

1) F. Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
2) R. Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
3) J. Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
4) T. Gradinger (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
5) R. De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse / MV Agusta F3 675)
6) L. Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
7) H. Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
8) I. Viñales (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
9) C. Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha / Yamaha YZF R6)
10) P. Sebestyen (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda / Honda CBR600RR)
11) H. Soomer (MPM WILSport Racedays / Honda CBR600RR)
12) L. Cresson (Kallio Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
13) A. Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
14) M. Herrera (MS Racing / Yamaha YZF R6)
15) R. Hartog(Team Hartog - Against Cancer / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
16) C. Stange (GEMAR - Ciociaria Corse WorldSSP Team)
17) N. Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
18) J. Van Sikkelerus (MPM WILSport Racedays / Honda CBR600RR)
19) M. Canducci (DK MOTORSPORT / Yamaha YZF R6)
20) G. Sconza (GEMAR - Ciociaria Corse WorldSSP Team)
NC) G. Van Straalen (EAB Racing Team / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
RT) G. Matern (Flembbo Leader Team / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
RT) A. Gyorfi (Team Toth / Yamaha YZF R6)
RT) B. Quero Martinez (EMPERADOR Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
RT) L. Arbel (EMPERADOR Racing Team / Yamaha YZF R6)
RT) K. Smith (Team Pedercini Racing / Kawasaki ZX-6R)
RT) J. Danilo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda / Honda CBR600RR)
RT) F. Fuligni (MV Agusta Reparto Corse / MV Agusta F3 675)

WORLDSSP300 RACE: 

The final event of the day was the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race with the win going to Spaniard Manuel Gonzalez (Kawasaki ParkingGO Team / Kawasaki Ninja 400) after an extremely heated competition. Finishing behind him were Marc Garcia (DS Junior Team / Kawasaki Ninja 400), winner of the race held on Saturday, and defending World Champion Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300 / Kawasaki Ninja 400), who took third in both races at Jerez.

The Pirelli solutions chosen by the riders for the WorldSBK and WorldSSP races: 

In the Tissot Superpole^® Race, the riders made quite a few changes compared to Race 1. In particular, no less than seven of them used the SCX solution on the rear. This solution was designed specifically to be used as a pre-qualifier during Superpole^®and, if the circuit allows, as an option for the abbreviated 10-lap Sunday morning race. Many changes were made by the riders for the front as well.

In Race 2, on the other hand, the riders basically confirmed the solutions used in Race 1, making only two changes on the front and two on the rear.

In the WorldSSP race, most of the riders opted for the combination of the X0582 SC2 development solution (option B) on the front and the Y0328 SC0 development tyre in the larger 190/60 size (option B) for the rear. There were 20 riders using option B on the front, whereas the new rear solution in the larger size was selected by no less than 26 out of the 28 riders on the grid.

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Tissot Superpole^® Race:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R),in 1'39.004in the 2^nd lap 

• Most used front solution: standard SC1 125/70 (15 out of 19 riders) 

• Most used rear solution: SCX (7 out of 19 riders) 

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 283.6 km/h, achieved by Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R) in the 1^st lap

 • Air temperature: 23° C 

• Asphalt temperature: 36° C 

Pirelli statistics for WorldSBK Race 2:

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK / Kawasaki ZX-10RR),in 1'39.876in the 10^th lap 

• Most used front solution: standard SC1 125/70 (13 out of 19 riders) 

• Most used rear solution: new development SC0 X1351 200/65 (12 out of 19 riders) 

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 282.1 km/h, achieved by Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team / Ducati Panigale V4 R) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati / Ducati Panigale V4 R) in the 2^nd lap 

• Air temperature: 23° C 

• Asphalt temperature: 36° C 

Pirelli statistics for WorldSSP race: 

• Winner of the PIRELLI BEST LAP AWARD: Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6), in 1'42.532in the 19^th lap 

• Most used front solution: development SC2 X0582 (20 out of 28 riders) 

• Most used rear solution: development SC0 Y0328 (26 out of 28 riders) 

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Supercorsa tyres: 249.2 km/h, achieved by Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team / Yamaha YZF R6) in the 15^th lap 

• Air temperature: 24° C 

• Asphalt temperature: 46°

This is in line with Pirelli’s announcement at the end of last season: the main objective in terms of development for 2019 is to complete the range of solutions in the larger 125/70 front and 200/65 rear sizes, which are already present on the market but in the SC1 front and SC0 rear compounds only.For the first European round Pirelli has therefore developed a new front tyre in 125/70 size and SC2 compound and two new rear tyres in 200/65 size and SC0 and SC1 compounds.

A further novelty, on the tyre side,concerns the WorldSSP300 class, which at Aragón will face their first round of the season. This year the young riders of the 300 series, which until last year used DIABLO™ Supercorsa tyres in the SC2 compound for the rear, will have the softest and most efficient SC1 available, which will allow them to take even better advantage of the features offered by their bikes.

The Spanish MotorLand Aragón circuit has historically rather aggressive asphalt, especially harsh towards the rear tyres. In fact, the surface has a rather pronounced roughness which, together with the temperatures that are not too high in April, could cause tyre wear problems. In addition, the sand that is sometimes carried by the wind and deposited on the asphalt can cause loss of grip and drifts towards the centre of the curve. This explains why, for the rear, Pirelli has opted for both soft and medium solutions, the latter being useful especially in the event of low temperatures and in the first sessions if the surface is particularly dirty.The front tyres, in addition to the wear caused by the aggressiveness of the asphalt, are also called to withstand violent braking at the end of the straight opposite the pits and the steep slopes, which cause high loading on the front end. Also, the fast curves and multiple changes of direction, where a good level of precision and grip on the surface is required. For that reason, the riders of the WorldSBK class at the front will have two solutions in the SC2 medium compound which historically offer greater stability than the SC1.

The solutions for the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes:

In the WorldSBK class, as already written, the riders will have at their disposal only tyres in larger 125/70 front and 200/65 rear sizes.
There are three front options, two of which are already used in the first two rounds and one completely new solution. The options already known and used are the standard SC1 125/70 in soft compound and the development SC2 X1071, also in 125/70 size but in medium compound, which should offer a level of grip similar to the standard SC1 but greater stability and wear resistance. The novelty is represented by the development SC2 X1118 which, compared to the X1071, should be more rigid and more stable so it could be chosen by riders who have a more aggressive riding style.
As for the rear options, the already known standard SC0 in 200/65 size is flanked by two development solutions in the same size but in different compounds. The development SC0 X0914 has already been used by riders last year in the Magny-Cours round and, compared to the standard SC0, it offers a more solid structure that helps ensure greater stability and more thrust. The development SC1 Y0187 represents instead the first solution in a larger 200/65 size to be developed in a medium compound. This latter option could be the ideal solution for the first weekend sessions when the asphalt is more dirty and aggressive, rather than for the first hours of the day when temperatures could be lower.
In addition to these solutions, at the rear the riders will also be able to use a new SCX tyre in super soft compound in the new Y0309 specification which can be used during the qualifying session in preparation for the use of the only Superpole^® tyre available to the riders, and possibly for the Tissot Superpole Race if the circuit allows it.
The last rear option is the Superpole^® tyre that will allow riders to make a lap during the Superpole^® in search of the absolute best time to position themselves on the starting grid.

In the WorldSSP600 category, there will be four dry solutions available to riders, two front and two rear ones. For the front, there will be the standard SC1, already present in the first two rounds, and the development SC2 X0582 which compared to the standard SC2 offers greater grip and lower wear. At the rear two development solutions, one in soft compound and one in medium compound. The development SC0 X0497 compared to the standard solution should offer better resistance and constant performance, while the development SC1 X0093 has been designed to offer a high level of performance and low wear and could be the race solution in case of low temperatures.

As always, in case of bad weather, riders of all classes will have rain and intermediate tyres available.

More details on the race solutions for WorldSBK and WorldSSP600 classes are available in the technical sheets attached to this press release.

The 2018 Pirelli statistics for Buriram 

• Total number of tyres brought by Pirelli: 4185 

• Number of solutions (including dry, intermediate and wet) for the Superbike class: 6 front and 6 rear

• Number of tyres available for each Superbike rider: 39 front and 34 rear 

• Number of solutions for the Supersport class (including dry, intermediate and wet): 5 front and 4 rear 

• Number of tyres available for each Supersport rider: 27 front and 21 rear • Superbike Best Lap Awards both won by: Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati),in 1'50.663 (Race 1, 2^nd lap) and in 1'51.048 (Race 2, 16^th lap)

• Supersport Best Lap Award won by: Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing), in 1'54.644 at 10^th lap

• Temperature in Race 1: air 11° C, asphalt 19° C • Temperature in Race 2: air 19° C, asphalt 30° C 

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres: 318.6 km/h, in Race 2 by Patrick Jacobsen (TripleM Honda World Superbike Team) at the 5^th lap

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Supercorsa SC tyres in WorldSSP race: 282 km/h, by Thomas Gradinger (NRT) at the 2^nd lap.