Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

As expected, Pirelli has been named the spec tire of the Superbike World Championship.

The deal will have far-reaching ramifications as it will preclude wild-card riders who have conflicting tire sponsorship deals from competing in Superbike World Championship events.

For example, Mat Mladin, Aaron Yates and Eric Bostrom would not have been able to compete in the World Superbike race at Laguna Seca this year if the spec tire rule were already in place, because they ride for Dunlop-sponsored teams.

However, Michael Barnes and Geoff May would have been able to compete, since they are sponsored by Pirelli.


More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

PIRELLI NAMED WORLD SUPERBIKE SPEC TIRE FOR 2004-2005 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Exclusive Tire Deal Also Includes World Supersport
and European Superstock Championships

Rome, GA–FGSport Group, the promoters of the World Superbike Championship, announced today that Pirelli will become the exclusive tire for the 2004-05 seasons of the FIM World Superbike, World Supersport, and European Superstock championships. The new program will see Pirelli become the “exclusive supplier of tires for all the teams that take part in the 45 races in 10 countries for the title of World and European Champion.”

According to the official announcement from the FGSport press office in Rome, Italy, “The program will enable all the participants to compete under the same conditions with respect to tires, which makes the performance of motorcycle manufacturers, team members and riders all the more important. The agreement with Pirelli guarantees the supply of tires for the Superbike World Championship for at least the next two years, 2004 and 2005, in addition to offering the teams additional advantages, such as:

“Guarantee of continuity and quality of the tires supplied and the relevant services to all the teams and riders, in all the nations hosting the championship;

“Continuity of the technological development of the tires;

“Tires supplied will be of uniform high quality and available at advantageous and identical prices for all teams;

“Availability, for the entire duration of the partnership, of a PIRELLI prize fund dedicated to riders, also to attract young talented riders to participate in the Championship.”

The announcement again reiterates that a single tire brand moves the three championships closer to the original concept of a more level playing field, so to speak: “In compliance with the pledges of the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock championship, and in compliance with requests submitted by the FIM – International Motorcycle Federation – to return the Superbike World Championship to its original [concept] that is as near as possible to the characteristics [of] production motorcycles, Pirelli has accepted the supply proposal offered by the organizer of the Championship.”

The President of the FGSport Group, Maurizio Flammini, commented: “The agreement with Pirelli, a world leader in the manufacture of tires, guarantees the development and the continuity of the Superbike World Championship, which has been the primary thought behind our Group that has been committed to the organization of the Championship since 1988. Moreover, the agreement strictly adheres to the philosophy of the Championship that is to offer equal racing conditions to all participants. In this respect, we would like to thank Pirelli for the significant organizational and technological efforts that it will undertake over the next few years which, we are certain, will create the ideal conditions for new, important developments for motorcycle manufacturers, teams and riders in the Championship and in racing itself .”

Ugo Forner, General Manager of the Pirelli Motorcycle Business Unit, said: “For our Tires Department, the Superbike World Championship represents a challenge from both a technical and technological development point of view the maximum expression of live trials that support and finalize advanced research and development carried out in our laboratories all over the world. It is further confirmation of the importance that Pirelli has always attributed to the competition for two- and four-wheel production vehicles, in order to experiment [with] innovative solutions and accumulate know-how that can be implemented in producing our high-performing tires”.

Pirelli is no stranger to the over-the-top action of World Supersport, having won the championship in 2002 and currently holding a sizable lead in the 2003 series with the factory Ten Kate Honda team and rider Chris Vermeulen. Stateside, the Pirelli brand has enjoyed some excellent growth and acceptance in North America over the past several years. Last year, Pirelli racing tires won a very impressive 322 U.S. national and regional road race championships, including a host of F-USA and WERA titles, and broke 20 U.S. track records. In Canada, Pirelli is the choice of both Team Honda Canada and Team Kawasaki in the 2003 Canadian Superbike Series.