Pirelli: Official Tire of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship 2019 and 2020 Seasons

Pirelli extends its 14 year contract and is confirmed as the official tire supplier for all classes in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2019 and 2020 Seasons.

Begin Press Release:

MILAN, Italy (September 28, 2017) – Pirelli has been confirmed by Dorna as the Official Tire Supplier for all classes in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The Italian tire company, in agreement with Dorna, the promoter and organizer of the World Championship and with the FIM, the International Motorcycling Federation, has extended its contractual supplier agreement for an additional two years beyond the 2018 season.

Beginning in 2004 and now in its 14th consecutive season, the technical partnership established by Pirelli with the Federation, promoter, teams and racers of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championships boasts the record of the longest running control tire supplier in the history of International motorsports.

The single tire formula proposed by Pirelli was initially designed to contain the overall costs of running the Championship and at the same time, increase competitiveness year after year by offering riders and teams the same opportunities to compete for victory, through a fair and identical tire supply for all.

Pirelli, right from the beginning, also realized that the production bike derived series could be a great development platform for its tires and decided not to give the Championship prototype tires, but production tires. Undoubtedly, this choice proved to be one of the best: based on the motto “We sell what we race, we race what we sell”. Through these years Pirelli has made available to all motorcyclists products that trace their roots in their respective segments, winning the most important comparative tests and imposing themselves as market reference points. To remain faithful to the philosophy that has always characterized Pirelli’s commitment and strategy in the FIM Superbike World Championship, i.e. to use production not prototype tires, Pirelli became the first brand to abandon 16.5 inch sizes in 2013, introducing the new 17” DIABLO™ Superbike tires, a size most commonly used by motorcyclists.

Giorgio Barbier, Racing Activities Director of Pirelli’s Business Unit Moto, said: “We are historically a strong sporty DNA brand, this year we celebrated 110 years of Motorsports activity, and this renewal is a strong sign of our continued business strategy that has enabled our company to establish itself as a benchmark in racing. First of all in the segment of racing and supersport tires, with great success in both development and sales across the range. The bond between Pirelli and the FIM Superbike World Championship has always been solid, over the years we have strongly contributed to the growth of this Championship and, at the same time, thanks to our participation we have succeeded in developing successful products that we have made available to all motorcyclists. Now we are thinking about the future, we will work together with Dorna on the growth of the Championship and especially with the new Supersport 300 class as today’s young riders will be the future protagonists of tomorrow’s Superbike World Championship.”

Marc Saurina, WorldSBK Commercial and Marketing Director, adds: “To have Pirelli on board for another two seasons is fantastic news for the Championship, and to reach the milestone of the longest running sole tire supplier really shows the strong relationship the two companies have. Providing all classes with such an important asset as tires is something we take seriously, and we believe Pirelli is the perfect company to continue with.”

This confirmation in the role of Sole Tire Supplier demonstrates the passion and dedication that Pirelli has always played in motorsports, confirming an important feature of the Italian company’s DNA. Pirelli is the Exclusive Tire Supplier of the FIA Formula One World Championship® since 2010 and it’s historically involved in the World Rally Championship, FIM Motocross World Championship, FIM Endurance World Championship and all of the most prestigious four and two wheel motor competitions. Thanks to the experience gained in the top production derived Championship, Pirelli was able to become the control tire formula in many national championships, including the British Superbike Championship in the UK, to name just one. The commitment placed in the control tire championships has not deprived Pirelli of also being leader in open tire championships and competitions. Among these, to name just a few, the CIV (Italian Championship), Superbike IDM (German National Championship) and FSBK (French National Championship).

ABOUT PIRELLI

Founded in 1872, Pirelli is among the largest global tire makers, and focuses its business on the high end, premium product segment where it is a world leader. Present in over 160 countries, Pirelli has 22 manufacturing sites and employs approximately 38,000 people around the world. Successfully competing in motorsports since 1907, Pirelli is currently the exclusive supplier of the Formula 1 championship, the Superbike world championship, and many other championships around the world.

Pirelli Tire North America (PTNA) services NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) member countries through its Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) facility and research and development center at its Rome, Georgia headquarters, its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Silao, Mexico and its New York City, Montreal and Mexico City sales and marketing offices. The company manufactures, distributes and markets original equipment and replacement tires for export and domestic car/motorcycle applications (US, CA, MX) and Agro/Heavy Truck platforms (MX).