Pirelli launches Superbike World Championship 2016 tyre allocation

Pirelli has announced its finalised line-up of tyres for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. In the Superbike class, all riders will use 17” Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres, while the Supersport, Superstock 1000 Fim Cup, and European Junior Cup will ride on the treaded Diablo Supercorsa SC range.

The Superbike slick tyres will be available in sizes 120/70 front in SC1 (soft), SC2 (medium) and SC3 (hard) compounds; and 200/60 rear in SC0 (soft), SC1 (medium) and SC2 (hard) compounds. In wet conditions, riders will be able to use the Diablo Rain, of which a minimum of eight sets of tyres are available per rider, or the Diablo Wet intermediate tyre, of which a minimum of three set of tyres will be available per rider. Finally, the Diablo Superbike qualifier, a supersoft rear tyre, will be available for the Superpole 2 on Saturday.

FIM regulations for the use of tyres in the Superbike class are:

• The maximum number of tyres which each rider is allowed to use for the entire race weekend (Friday to Sunday) is 24, including 11 front and 13 rear tyres
• The maximum permitted number of fitted tyres for each session will be 13 (no distinction between front and rear) for each rider
• Free Practices Timed for Qualifying, Superpole format and use of the qualifier rear tyres
• The Superbike class has two Free Practices Timed for Qualifying on Friday, one Free Practice Not Timed for Qualifying, two Superpole sessions and Race 1 on Saturday, the Warm Up and Race 2 on Sunday
• Regarding the Superpole format and the use of qualifier rear tyres:
  • the riders classified from 11th to the last will take part in Superpole 1 using standard race tyres
  • the ten fastest riders who will be seeded directly into Superpole 2 will get each one a qualifier rear tyre with aPirelli label applied on the side
  • the fastest two riders in Superpole 1 will access Superpole 2 and, only for this second session, they will receive a qualifier rear tyre marked with aPirelli label on the side
• In addition:
  • the qualifier rear tyres are marked with a sticker like all the tyres supplied
  • the riders taking part in Superpole 1 will all have a qualifier rear tyre fitted on the rim – due to it is impossible to determine in advance who might qualify for Superpole 2 and there would not be enough time in between the two sessions to equip the two riders with a qualifier rear tyre
  • the riders who do not get to Superpole 2 from Superpole 1 must return the unused qualifier rear tyre to Pirelli.

Pirelli added that it plans to add more development solutions over the course of the year.

In the Supersport class, riders will use treaded Diablo Supercorsa SC tyres in sizes 120/70 front in SC1 (soft) and SC2 (medium) compounds; and 180/60 rear in SC0 (soft), SC1 (medium) and SC2 (hard) compounds. Riders will receive a minimum of six Diablo Rain sets, and a minimum of one set of Diablo Wet intermediate tyres. There is no rear qualifying tyre in this class.

The FIM Supersport World Championship regulations regarding tyres are:

• The maximum number of tyres allowed in the entire race weekend (Friday to Sunday) is 18, including eight front and 10 rear tyres
• The maximum permitted number of fitted tyres for each session will be 11 (no distinction between front and rear) for each rider
• The Supersport class has two Free Practice Sessions, timed for Qualifying on Friday, one Free Practice Session not timed for Qualifying and two Superpole sessions on Saturday, one race on Sunday.
• The Superpole format is similar to the Superbike one but in Supersport there are not qualifier rear tyres available for riders.

In the minor classes – Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and the European Junior Cup – the treaded Diablo Supercorsa SC tyres will also be used.