The announcement marks one of the biggest changes in racing tyre partnerships in recent memory. Michelin has been the exclusive tyre supplier to MotoGP since 2016 and brings a long legacy of premier-class experience to WorldSBK. Pirelli, meanwhile, has held the role of sole tyre supplier in WorldSBK since 2004 and will now return to the MotoGP paddock, having last competed at the highest level in the early 2000s.

Read our WorldSBK and MotoGP articles here... and our tyre articles here…

Dorna Sports, who promote both MotoGP and WorldSBK, said the switch is part of a broader strategy to bring fresh technical challenges and development to both championships, while also refreshing commercial partnerships.

Both tyre brands have deep motorsport heritage and extensive technical expertise, with Michelin focusing on continuous performance evolution through MotoGP, and Pirelli priding itself on tyre consistency and adaptability across a wide range of production-based bikes in WorldSBK.

The switch is expected to significantly influence race dynamics, team strategies, and ongoing tyre development, as both championships adjust to their new suppliers.

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Riders such as Stefan Everts, Antonio Cairoli, André Malherbe, Eric Geboers, Jöel Smets, David Thorpe, Jeffrey Herlings, Romain Febvre, Tim Gajser and Jorge Prado. It has been developed thanks to Pirelli’s decades of experience in top motocross competition and is completely new compared to its predecessor.

The new front tyre improves braking behaviour and facilitates cornering, the rear offers even more traction for the holeshot and exiting corners. Finally, the new SCORPION MX32 MID SOFT also improves versatility on medium-hard terrain.

The new SCORPION MX32 MID SOFT will make its official debut in the next Motocross World Championship equipping the bikes of some of the greatest riders of this Championship and, like all Pirelli racing tyres, will also be available for purchase by all motorcycle fans of this discipline.

The new SCORPION MX32 MID SOFT uses a new technology that allows to have on the sidewalls high-contrast lettering for better readability and, in the case of the new motocross tyre, on the sidewall there is also a yellow Pirelli label to allow the product to be identified very quickly on the racetrack.

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Includes all RADIALS, X-PLY, ADVENTURE, SCOOTER AND MX TYRES. Purchase between November 1  and January 31. Click the WorldSBK banner below to learn more and fill out the form to redeem your tickets!

*Term and Conditions *Pass must be claimed using the online form, using your purchase receipt as proof of purchase. Pass can be claimed after the purchase of each set (front and rear) of Pirelli Tyres from an Australian “bricks and mortar” motorcycle retail outlet, between 01/11/24 and 31/01/25 or until sold out. Pass is valid for ONE (1) 3-day general admission/paddock pass to FIM World SBK Phillip Island February 21st – 23rd, 2025. Passes shipped approximately seven days prior to the event. Passes are subject to availability and may be sold out.

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The Turkish rider capitalized on the standard SC1 front and SC0 rear combination to win all the races, today, like yesterday, with a wide margin over his rivals – almost 5 seconds in the Superpole Race and 8 in Race 2. With the new all-time track record already broken in qualifying yesterday (done with the SCX rear), today Razgatlioğlu also set the new race lap record, breaking the one he had set just yesterday in Race 1.

Finishing first in WorldSSP was Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team – Ducati) but, due to a post-race penalty, the win went to  Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team – Ducati). Both raced with the standard version of the SC1 front combined with the SCX rear, as did Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura – Ducati) who finished third.

GIORGIO BARBIER
“The winning choice today was the SC0 rear. Combined with the SC1 front, it allowed Razgatlioğlu to win both races today and it gave Jonathan Rea his first podium of the season in the Superpole Race. As we expected, with asphalt temperatures around 25°C, the SC0 was somewhat of a compulsory choice for everyone in the long race because it is more consistent over the long distance. In this morning’s Superpole Race, more than two thirds of the riders on the grid went instead with the SCX, which confirms that it is an extremely valid option as bike settings progressively improve. Interpreting the available data, it would seem that the track is less aggressive on tyres than in the past, so this specification could be increasingly interesting for the future. Gaps as wide as the ones we saw this weekend are the exception to the rule in a championship which is otherwise proving to be extremely heated, even more so than in recent years. It will be interesting to see how the second half of the season shakes out.”

TYRES IN ACTION
WorldSBK

• For the Superpole Race, all the riders chose the standard SC1 at the front. Whereas race winner Razgatlioğlu and third-place finisher Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) combined it with the SC0 rear, second-place finisher Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) preferred the SCX, as did 16 other riders. The race was also faster than last year, with an average improvement per lap of almost 3 tenths of a second. The race fast lap record was also broken. Razgatlioğlu broke his own record from yesterday in Race 1 by more than a tenth and a half.
• In Race 2, practically all the riders chose the SC1 front and SC0 rear combination, with Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) being the sole exception, preferring the SCX at the rear. This race was also faster than last year, with an average improvement per lap of 0.276 seconds.

WorldSSP

• In addition to the three riders who finished on the podium, 25 others also chose the standard SC1 front tyre. At the rear, one third of the grid preferred the SCX to the SC0. At the second start following a red flag due to an accident, 10 riders changed their rear tyre choice from SC0 to SCX. Both WorldSSP races were faster than last year in terms of average lap times, with an improvement of about a half a second in each.
  

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WorldWCR

• In the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, in its second round here, Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) won Race 1 and Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) took Race 2. All the participants raced with the SC1 at the front and rear, in accordance with standard allocation.

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The Le Mans Grand Prix came to an end with the second win of the season for Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI/Boscoscuro) in Moto2, whereas pole man and weekend dominator David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team/CFMOTO) swept Moto3. Press: Pirelli Moto

Throughout the weekend, Pirelli’s soft compounds allowed the riders to set new records in both categories: track lap record, race fast lap, and all-time best race pace.

Georgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director, “For Pirelli, this was an extremely positive weekend. Straight away from the free practice sessions, the riders in both championships were extremely fast, so much that they dropped well below the track lap records as early as Friday, only to set new race lap records as well. The races were extremely fast and fiercely fought, with improvements in the neighbourhood of three tenths per lap compared with last year which were actually the fastest ever in Le Mans for these categories.

“The softest rear compounds, the SC0 in Moto2 and the SC1 in Moto3, were protagonists throughout the weekend, demonstrating highly consistent performance both in high temperatures, like on Friday and Saturday, and in the cooler temperatures on Sunday. The feedback received from the young Rookies Cup riders was also very positive, as demonstrated by the broken track records and the race times. Everyone involved is putting forth the utmost effort and we can see progress race after race. Congratulations to all the winners of this fantastic GP weekend”.

THE RACE OF THE TYRES
Moto2

• The softest tyres, namely the SC1 front and SC0 rear, were by far the most used during the weekend, as well as in the race on Sunday, where only Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team/Kalex) e Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP/Kalex) preferred the SC2 (medium) front and Daniel Muñoz (Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Team/Kalex) the SC1 (medium) rear.
• Starting from the third spot on the grid, Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI/Boscoscuro) won the race with a total time of 35’20.709, making it the race with the fastest pace ever for the category in Le Mans, an improvement of more than three tenths compared with 2023. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing/Kalex) set the new race lap record with a time of 1’35.796, almost three tenths faster than Pedro Acosta’s 2023 record.

Moto3

• David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team/CFMOTO) won the race after having dominated in all the sessions throughout the weekend. All the riders on the front row started with the SC2 (medium) front and SC1 (soft) rear combination. Overall, this was the most popular choice. Only four opted for the SC1 (soft) front and nine went with the SC2 (media) rear.
• The races were held in practically identical conditions to 2023. With the same number of laps, the race this year was seven seconds faster than last season with an average improvement per lap of more than three tenths. In this case as well, it was raced with the fastest pace ever for the category in Le Mans.

Red Bull Rookies Cup

• Both the races this year were faster than those in 2023. In Race 1, the average lap was almost 1 second faster, whereas in Race 2, it was more than 1.2 seconds.
• ⁠In the race on Saturday, pole man Máximo Quiles won, whereas today Brian Uriarte took home the victory, beating out Máximo Quiles and Hakim Danish.
• Argentine Marco Morelli set the new race lap record with a time of 1’44.019 on the 14th and penultimate lap, demonstrating the consistent performance of the SC2 tyres that the riders have available to them in this championship.

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Claim your three day WorldSBK general admission/paddock pass simply by purchasing a pair of DIABLO SUPERCORSA SP, DIABLO ROSSO IV CORSA, DIABLO ROSSO IV, DIABLO ROSSO III, ANGEL GT II, ANGEL GT, NIGHT DRAGON/GT, SCORPION RALLY/STR or SCORPION TRAIL II tyres from a bricks and mortar store before January 31st 2023 unless sold out.

If you’ve bought a pair between those dates, click on the link here and fill out the form with your proof of purchase to redeem your ticket!

Victoria’s thrilling 4.445 km Phillip Island Circuit, considered by many in the paddock as their favourite track in the world, has for many years launched the world’s leading production bike championship, until 2022 when it saw the season finale. 

World Superbike and World Supersport teams, including Australia’s Oli Bayliss and Ben Currie who will compete in the WSS Championship, will head down under. They will be joined by the leading national classes of Australian Superbike, Australian Supersport and Australian Supersport 300!

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The fourth generation of Pirelli DIABLO Supercorsa tyres, both in the SP racing street version and SC option (available in different compounds and designed for track use), is successfully completing final stages of development and testing and it will be available to the public from the start of 2023. Compared to its predecessor, the DIABLO Supercorsa V4 is completely renewed in terms of tread design, compounds, structures and profiles. 

DIABLO Supercorsa was created thanks to the experience of Pirelli in the FIM Superbike World Championship, which since 2004 has partnered with the Italian tyre company as its sole supplier. After having launched in 2005 the DIABLO Superbike slick tyre for exclusive use on the track and designed for the maximum competition of derived from the series, in 2007 Pirelli presented the racing tyre DIABLO Supercorsa SC, which was followed in 2008 by the SP (Sport Production).

Over time, THE DIABLO Supercorsa SP has become the reference supersport tyre for riders looking to get the maximum out of their high-performance machines without needing to carry an extra set of tyre when they hit the track…

Pirelli say their moto is “We sell what we race, we race what we sell” to indicate how the same tyres used by professional riders can be purchased by all motorcyclists. To date, DIABLO Supercorsa SP remains one of the best and most direct example of technological transfer from the track to the road among Pirelli tyres, since it shares the profiles and many materials and technologies used for the structure with the SC version.

But unlike the SC version, which uses full racing compounds, the SP adopts a dual compound solution, with a racing compound on the shoulders and a road compound in the central band, to meet road requirements. The SC version, available in different compounds designed to adapt to different asphalt conditions and temperatures, remains a great choice for professional, semi-professional or trackday enthusiasts who want a treaded tyre capable of offering maximum performance on the track.

Editor’s Note: If you are reading this article on any website other than BikeReview.com.au, please report it to BikeReview via our contact page, as it has been stolen or re-published without authority.

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The new DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa has been released on the 150th anniversary of Pirelli and becomes an integral part of the celebrations. During 2022 a limited edition DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa pays homage to this milestone and features the Pirelli’s 150th anniversary logo on its sidewall.

Pirelli say the DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa is the ideal choice for riders who love a dynamic riding style on winding roads and mountain passes and want a tyre to match the sporty performance of their motorcycle. Riders who are passionate about tuning, who look for performance upgrades and take care of the bike set-up and aesthetics. Overall, the new ROSSO IV Corsa is the perfect choice for riders looking for that extreme performance before going to full slicks.

The new hoops benefit from higher grip in dry conditions, thanks to a slicker tread design that guarantees a larger footprint area alongside the use of innovative compounds that increase mechanical grip levels. The innovative technologies applied to the carcass make DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa able to adhere to the micro-roughness of the asphalt, ensuring precise feedback and a feeling of control.

Performance consistency over multiple riding sessions is made possible by the characteristics of the tread pattern, the repetition of the grooves offers high resistance to stress and the new arrangement of the compounds, ensures optimal thermal balance.

The tread design of DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa features a calculated repetition of the central grooves and a slicker shoulder area, for a fill ratio 25% lower than the DIABLO ROSSO IV. In the central area, the longitudinal grooves ensures directional stability and water evacuation. Their position helps to evenly wear the tyres, while increasing the structural stability of the tyre to give performance consistency over multiple riding sessions.

The front tyre is divided into three areas using two different compounds. The central band has a Full Silica compound that occupies around 45% of the section width and is present in the contact area used up to 25 degrees of lean angle.

The side areas have a softer compound, also Full Silica, thanks to the use of innovative resins that offer excellent grip and improves the front tyre feedback. The rear tyre also has a bi-compound scheme for excellent road performance and works in harmony with the front. The central Full Silica compound allows for a quick warm-up and excellent chemical grip on different surface conditions.

The shoulder compound is 100% Carbon Black and derives directly from the compounds of DIABLO Supercorsa SC used in racing competitions. Pirelli say this compound offers support at full lean and traction during acceleration managing the torque generated by the latest generation superbikes.

The profiles of DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa are race-derived and are characterised by a multi radius design that improves the tyre’s handling. The central area has a sharper profile to facilitate immediate lean and rapid change of direction. In the lateral areas, Pirelli say the profile curvature is less accentuated in order to increase the contact area and ensure maximum traction when cornering. Both front and rear tyres follow a similar profile design, ensuring a perfectly balanced and neutral behaviour.

With the DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa, Pirelli uses a racing-derived structure with zero-degree steel belt, this manages to adapt perfectly to different levels of stress without compromising comfort and work with advanced electronic control systems. The stiff cord technology features structural cords that are more rigid and are distributed with less density (-20%) compared to a standard sport tyre. This scheme leaves more room for the rubber compound, which improves riding feeling and precision thanks to its damping properties, thus transmitting to the rider, a safety feeling and control of the motorcycle.

Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa Sizes

Front

• 110/70 ZR 17 M/C 54W TL
• 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) TL 

Rear

• 150/60 ZR 17 M/C 66W TL
• 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL
• 180/60 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL
• 190/50 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL
• 190/55 ZR 17 M/C (75W) TL
• 200/55 ZR 17 M/C (78W) TL
• 200/60 ZR 17 M/C (80W) TL

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The premier Superbike class saw Wayne Maxwell (Pirelli) enter the weekend with a comfortable points lead over second place, but with a championship up for grabs, and with a field stacked deep with talent, Wayne would have to be on top of his game. And from Friday afternoon it was evident just how good Maxwell and the entire Boost Mobile K-Tech Ducati team are. Setting the fastest lap time in Free Practice 3 on his Ducati V4R was just the start of what was a flawless weekend for Maxwell, going on to take Pole position with a new qualifying lap record on Saturday afternoon, and two race wins on Sunday to secure the Superbike Championship for himself, the Boost Mobile K-Tech Ducati team and Pirelli. 

Taking second overall for the round and securing second place in the championship standings was Glenn Allerton (Pirelli) aboard his Maxima Racing BMW. Allerton rode strong all weekend and put in two great second place finishes behind Maxwell in what was a great result for Glenn and the Maxima Racing BMW team. Rounding out the championship standings podium was Cru Halliday, with Troy Herfoss in fourth, while DesmoSport Ducati’s Oli Bayliss (Pirelli) in his rookie year on board a Superbike rounded out the top 5.

The Australian Supersport Championship is always hotly contested and 2021 would be no different, with 3 riders in the hunt for the title going in to the Grand Finale at The Bend. It was a battle between Broc Pearson (Pirelli) who led the points going in to the final round ahead of Tom Edwards (Pirelli), and Max Stauffer (Pirelli) and it would be no holds barred racing between the riders in what made for some epic racing that won’t soon be forgotten.

Race 1 saw Edwards, Stauffer and Pearson battle at the front of the field early before Edwards was able to make a convincing pass for the lead and gap the other 2 riders. Stauffer was then able to make a pass on Pearson for second with 2 laps to go, holding him off until the finish line. The implications of that pass meant Edwards now trailed Pearson by 1 point in the championship standings with 1 race remaining. The final race of the season would determine the 2021 Supersport champion. And didn’t the final race of the season deliver. With everything on the line, Tom Edwards and Broc Pearson pushed the absolute limits of their Yamaha R6’s at the front of the field, trading paint and swapping positions almost once a lap for the entire race.

On the final lap it was Broc Pearson who was able to make the pass on Edwards, and with just several corners to contend with, was able to block any pass attempts Edwards made to lead in to the last turn. With a short run to the finish line it was Broc Pearson who would cross the finish line first, just 5 one hundredths of a second in front to claim the 2021 ASBK Supersport Championship. A well-deserved and hard fought championship win. Tom Edwards secured second in the championship with his second place finish for the round, while Max Stauffer rounded out the podium in third.

The two deepest fields of the weekend belonged to the two 300 classes, the Supersport 300 class, and the Yamaha R3 Cup. The two extremely competitive classes both had full grids for their 3 races across the weekend, but there was one rider who had been a dominant force in both classes all year. Ben Baker (Pirelli) came in to the weekend with a sizeable points lead in both classes, and just needed consistent finishes across the 3 races in each class to wrap up the titles.

Two third place finishes and a race win in the final race of the weekend was enough to see Baker crowned the 2021 ASBK R3 Cup champion, ahead of Glenn Nelson (Pirelli) who put in 3 great rides which included a race win in Race 2 to secure second overall in the championship standings, while Cameron Dunker (Pirelli) did enough to secure third overall for the championship despite a crash in the last race of the weekend.

In the Supersport 300 class it was anything but smooth sailing for Baker who had once again put himself on Pole, and after a solid third place finish in race 1, it was a crash in race 2 that left him outside of the points and potentially opened up the opportunity for another rider to snatch the championship from his grasp. The final race saw Baker ride a solid race to finish fourth, enough to wrap up the ASBK Supersport 300 Championship.

An amazing effort by Ben to win both the R3 Cup and the Supersport 300 championships. Reece Oughtred (Pirelli) had a great weekend to secure his second place finish in the Supersport 300 class, while Zac Johnson (Pirelli) did enough to hang on to his third place finish overall despite a crash in the final race which saw him finish outside of the points.

The Oceania Junior Cup always sees great battles with every rider aboard identically prepared race bikes, and the Grand Finale at The Bend was no different. With a points lead coming in to the final round, Cameron Swain (Pirelli) would be the rider to beat for the championship, with the likes of Ryan Larkin (Pirelli) and Levi Russo (Pirelli) looking for race wins and maximum points. In the end it was Swain who came out victorious with 2 second place finishes and a race win for the weekend to take out the 2021 Oceania Junior Cup. Larkin put in 3 great rides with 2 race wins and a third place finish to secure his second place overall for the championship, while Levi Russo was super consistent all weekend to lock away his third place for the championship.

Congratulations to all of the 2021 ASBK Champions as well as every rider that went racing in what was a difficult year due to the interruptions and cancellations of events throughout the year. Bring on 2022.

The post Pirelli Secure All 5 ASBK Championships For 2021 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....