The Italian tyre manufacturer has been the sole supplier of the FIM Superbike World Championship since 2004 with its Diablo family of tyres and in 2011 Pirelli and Infront Motor Sports renewed tyre supply contract for 2013-2015. This additional renewal follows on from the 2010-2011-2012 agreement between the two parties and above all it is testament to the outstanding technical and working relationship that has been established over the years, which has proved to be mutually beneficial to both partners.
Therefore in 2012 Pirelli celebrates its 9th consecutive season as the sole supplier of racing tyres for all teams competing in the FIM Superbike World Championship but the agreement, as has been the case since the start of the collaboration between the two companies in 2004, will also include the exclusive supply of tyres for the FIM Supersport World Championship, the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and the UEM Superstock 600 European Championship.
This additional renewal between the two parties and above all it is testament to the outstanding technical and working relationship that has been established over the years, which has proved to be mutually beneficial to both partners. The FIM Superbike World Championship has benefitted from stability, quality, competitiveness and fairness, and the one-make supply is fully in line with the philosophy lying behind the four championships, which is to give all competitors the same level playing-field regarding performance, service and costs, while Pirelli’s ongoing R&D in collaboration with the world’s leading production-based racing championships has led to its constant developments in advanced racing technology being transferred to its products for everyday use on the road. Other important factors in the supply renewal were Pirelli’s working methods, tyre performance, reliability and durability and top-level service quality.
Designed in Milan, Italy, and produced in Germany, the tyres destined for the Superbike World Championship are managed by a 26-strong staff headed by Pirelli tyre engineer Giorgio Barbier who has been involved in the production-based project right from the start.
Around 5,000 tyres are brought to the track at every race and set up in the dedicated Pirelli compound inside the paddock, surrounded by five transport trucks, together with two other vehicles used for the transport of equipment and tools as well as a completely brand new and technological mobile office truck and hospitality unit. During the course of the season, Pirelli develops an average of 65 solutions with around 40 solutions for Superbike and 25 solution for Supersport. During recent years, Pirelli has continued to deliver a higher level of performance, but more noteworthy is the stabilization of performance, meaning reduced lap times all the way to the checkered flag. Relative to this stabilized performance, the measured race time decreased an average of 0.3 seconds per year since 2004, along with an average of 7 Lap Records in Superpole per year.
