Pirelli extends WSBK supplier contract
Average race speed has dropped 0.7 seconds per year with Pirelli tires
Milan-based Pirelli has been confirmed as the Official Tire Supplier for all classes of the FIM Superbike World Championship, having won the contract organized by Dorna, promoter and organizer of the World Championship, in agreement with the FIM, the International Motorcycling Federation.
The agreement confirms Pirelli in its current role of sole tire supplier for all the classes of the FIM Superbike World Championship until the end of the 2018 season.
Starting in the 2004 season, and now in its 11th year, the technical partnership established between Pirelli, the teams and riders of the FIM Superbike World Championship boast the record of the longest running control tire supplier in the history of motorsports at international level. Established with the primary purpose to reduce the overall cost of running the championship, the single tire formula proposed by Pirelli has steadily increased quality and competitiveness, enabling all the riders, teams and motorcycle manufacturers participating to compete for success in the championship.
“Pirelli is proud of this confirmation as Official Tire Supplier for the top Championship for production derived motorcycles,” said Uberto Thun-Hohenstein, senior vice president of Pirelli’s Business Unit Moto. “It is a partnership that has lasted successfully for over a decade thanks to the constant commitment and well-finished service of our racing team that goes to the track every weekend to support the teams and the riders. The quality of our tires is appreciated not only by the riders but by many motorcyclists all over the world who, thanks to the participation of Pirelli in this championship, have been able to rely on everyday more high performing products. These are all key elements that have certainly influenced in a positive way the choice of Dorna to select us once more as official supplier until 2018.”
“We are glad to continue with Pirelli for the next three seasons. This renewal testifies our excellent relationship with the Italian company, a partnership for more than a decade that has always been strong with both the International Motorcycling Federation and the promoter and organizer of the series, and is clear evidence of Pirelli’s ongoing and constant ability to innovate and to offer products at the forefront of technology,” added Javier Alonso, WSBK executive director.
Pirelli in the WSBK
Since 2004, Pirelli has brought on Superbike racetracks a total of 715,213 racing tires, developing 661 solutions during the contract period.
In 11 years, Pirelli has raced in 24 circuits (Aragòn, Assen, Brands Hatch, Brno, Donington Park, EuroSpeedway Lausitz, Imola, Istanbul Intercity Park, Laguna Seca, Losail, Jerez de la Frontera, Kyalami, Magny-Cours, Misano Adriatico, Monza, Mosca, Nürburgring, Oschersleben, Phillip Island, Portimão, Salt Lake City, Sepang, Silverstone, Valencia, Vallelunga) from 16 countries for a total of 268 races.
The range of Pirelli racing tires have travelled a total of more than 1 million kilometers in races with often extreme temperatures (from 6 to 60 degrees Celsius).
The intensive development implemented by Pirelli has allowed a steady improvement, year after year, with the performances offered by the tires resulting in an average reduction of race time of 0.7 seconds per year.
