Pirelli SC1 performs “admirably” at Snetterton BSB

The MCE British Superbike Championship visited Snetterton this weekend, and Pirelli, which supplies the tyres for the event, declared itself pleased with the performance of its tyres in the hot conditions – especially the softer SC1 compound. Michael Laverty became the seventh winner of the championship’s seventh race following Tommy Hill’s victory in race one. The two Superbike races were held in front of 40,000 fans, who enjoyed some fantastic racing with track temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Centigrade in both outings.

Race one developed into a thrilling three way battle between Hill, Laverty and Josh Brookes with some hard but fair passes by the triumvirate of riders. Hill escaped the battle for the eventual win and to log his best lap on lap 14 of 1:49:399, while Laverty took second to achieve his first podium of the year and the overall fastest lap at 1:49:343.

The vast majority of the field opted for the softer Pirelli Diablo Superbike SC1 rear tyre with only Alex Lowes, James Westmoreland and Jenny Tinmouth selecting the harder SC2 compound. Lowes used this to good effect holding off Noriyuki Haga for fourth until the very final turn when the Japanese ‘Samurai of Slide’ forced his way past.
 
Laverty started race two on pole position due to his fastest lap in the first race and immediately capitalised as he and Hill proceeded to gap the rest of the field. Hill then retired on lap four leaving Laverty to romp home to his first win of the season and another fastest lap (1:49:007). Despite running wide on the first lap, Shakey Byrne held off Josh Brookes for second place and whilst the Australian was disappointed with two third’s, he took the series lead, 124-123 from Hill.
 
Laverty commented on the potential difficulties posed by the heat: “We knew with the hot weather we should look at tyre wear from the very beginning of practice so that’s what we worked on with set-up and me trying to be smooth on the bike. The only thing I had to worry about in the race was losing a knee slider early on, but it was a nice and rare feeling to be able to cruise around the last few laps and actually enjoy it!”
 
Tyre choices for race two were very similar with the SC1 holding its own in the red hot conditions with track temperatures in the 40’s in both races.
 
Pirelli Racing manager Jason Griffiths said: “It’s been an excellent day’s racing helped by the fantastic weather. To have yet another race winner in the form of Michael Laverty is great for him, his team and the series. From our point of view the softer SC1 rear has performed admirably with such high track temperatures, proven by Tommy Hill logging his fastest lap on the fourteenth of sixteen laps in race one.”