Pirelli shows Superbike performance durability at Cadwell Park

Pirelli’s SC1 Diablo Superbike tyre showed impressive durability at Cadwell Park over the weekend, as Josh Brookes set the fastest race lap of the weekend on the penultimate lap of the second race in a time of 1:27.422 with the track temperature nearing 40 degrees. Meanwhile Alex Lowes took a brace of victories in front of his home crowd to take Brookes’ second place in the Championship behind Shane Byrne.

Rain during Saturday’s practice saw riders utilise the Pirelli Diablo Wet tyres, which have deep water dispersing tread, but the rest of the weekend remained dry and warm, continuing the unbroken run of good race day weather. The entire British Superbike grid chose the SC1 Diablo Superbike rear tyre for optimum grip and durability, while the majority also utilised the softer front option. Buildbase BMW riders James Westmoreland and Jon Kirkham and local rider Peter Hickman selected the harder SC2 front.

Lowes qualified with the very impressive time of 1:26.708 to take pole, six tenths quicker than Byrne. Brookes slipped off in Q3 to end up seventh, on the third row of the three abreast grid. 

Byrne took the race one holeshot but his lead was short lived as Lowes pounced early on the first lap. Lowes then maintained his lead until the chequered flag from a consistent Byrne. The battle for the final podium position was fought between Ellison and Brookes with the Australian getting the better of Ellison deep in the ‘Woodland’ section. Ellison then slipped off giving fourth to Tommy Bridewell. 

The final Superbike race witnessed a fast start from Brookes before Lowes again took the lead at Park Corner. Brookes pulled off an audacious move on Lowes at Park before crashing out at Mansfield seconds later to allow Lowes through for the double win. 

Bridewell completed yet another impressive ride since his move to Halsall Racing as he took a well-deserved and hard fought second place. Byrne finished in a comparatively poor fourth place after making a bad start off the line but remains in the series lead. 

Pirelli racing manager Jason Griffiths commented: “What a fantastic weekend at Cadwell! From a tyre perspective Josh Brookes setting the fastest lap on lap 17 of race two was the highlight of a great weekend. The Supersport feature race saw a close battle with the lead riders opting for different solutions of Diablo Supercorsa. Billy McConnell utilised the SC1 solution to win the race from Ben Wilson and Jason O’Halloran, who both used the softer SC0 option. O’ Halloran logged the fastest lap on the 11th circuit.”