When Peter Hickman and Jeremy Guarnoni crossed the finish line to win the 6 Heures Moto de Spa-Francorchamps in September, their goal was complete. But for these two seasoned racers, the goal that day wasn’t to win the race. It was to test tires.
The Dunlop Test Team is one of the most interesting development programmes in motorcycle racing. Managed by Steven Casaer (EMC37) with engineers from Dunlop’s technical centre in Montluçon, France, the programme harnesses the expertise of top riders to test the next generation of racing and track day tires in the toughest and most realistic conditions - real races.
“Testing in this environment is different to just testing on a normal track,” Hickman explains. “It means that when we are passing people, we're going off the racing line, trying different parts of the track that we wouldn't do if we're testing on our own. We get to use the tire in a different way and in the type of realistic conditions it’s actually going to get used in.”
Bridgestone will launch its track-only premium motorcycle tyre, the Bridgestone RACING BATTLAX V03, to the European and North American markets in 2026.
The new Bridgestone RACING BATTLAX V03 is designed for both professional and amateur riders who pursue speed and the highest levels of grip.
The latest addition to Bridgestone’s motorcycle tyre range incorporates technologies refined through years of success in the world’s most prestigious racing events, delivering exceptional grip. And, for the first time, Bridgestone introduces a rear ‘SPRINT spec’, providing a wide range of options according to race type and track conditions.
Unrivalled Grip in BATTLAX History
The new Bridgestone RACING BATTLAX V03 is equipped with newly-developed compounds based on technology that has continuously triumphed in the world’s top-tier races – including the FIM Endurance World Championship, which has been won by a Bridgestone-supplied team for five consecutive years.
The tyre applies a completely redesigned profile for both the front and rear tyres, resulting in an increased contact area. In particular, the rear tyre adopts advanced production techniques, achieving an optimal profile that significantly improves lap times.
Thanks to these innovations, the Bridgestone RACING BATTLAX V03 delivers overwhelming grip, significantly reducing lap times when compared to its predecessor, the RACING BATTLAX V02. Comparing the SOFT compound performances of both tyres, the RACING BATTLAX V03 reduces lap times by 1.3 per cent per lap – while still maintaining the typical Bridgestone DNA of high grip even after multiple laps.
The latest videogame dedicated to the FIM Superbike World Championship and developed by Milestone allows players to choose the tyres to be fitted, modifying the behaviour of the motorbike based on the compound used.
Pirelli has collaborated with Milan-based software house Milestone for SBK™22, the new videogame dedicated to the FIM Superbike World Championship.
Thanks to a high-level graphic rendering and a very realistic gameplay experience obtained with the advice of professional riders and experts, Milestone has managed to recreate the real world of the Championship with great fidelity. The extreme level of simulation is not only limited to the behaviour of motorbikes and riders but also the details. The Pirelli brand, for example, is present in the videogame on the trackside banners, on the fairings of the motorcycles, on the suits of the riders, as well as on the tyres that are used.
Dunlop Motorcycle Tyres and Discovery Sports Events, the promoter of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), have announced a three-year extension to their agreement. The announcement confirms Dunlop’s status as an Official Partner to EWC, extending a successful partnership that began in 2016.
The new agreement with the promoter and the International Motorcycling Federation also confirms Dunlop as the exclusive tyre supplier to the popular Superstock class for near-standard superbikes. This means that every team in this category will use Dunlop’s proven race-winning KR range of race tyres, providing the same level of high performance, durability and first class technical support to all Superstock teams, irrespective of their size.
The multi-year partnership between Pirelli and Dorna WSBK Organization is strengthened and extended for a further three years, confirming itself as the longest-running single-tyre formula in motorsport history.
Pirelli will continue in the role of Official Tyre Supplier for all classes of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons, when the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the single-tire formula will take place. The Milan-based tyre company, in agreement with Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), promoter and organiser of the Superbike World Championship, and with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), had already announced the extension of the supply agreement last year, expiring at the end of 2020, for a further three seasons.
With the extension of the partnership with Dorna WSBK Organization for a further three years, the union born in 2004 between Pirelli and the production-derived series will boast a unique twenty-year collaboration in motorsport.
In response to the evolution of supersport machines, and confirming Pirelli's role as a leading tyre manufacturer in the international racing scene, starting from 2020 all WorldSBK Championship classes will use Pirelli DIABLO Superbike slick tyres.
In the WorldSBK category the larger sizes become the new reference as well as the rear 190/60 for WorldSSP and the switch to slick tyres will also gradually involve the national championships in which Pirelli participates. The SCX option will enter the range and also be available on the market.
Compound updates with the introduction of the new SCX and larger sizes for the DIABLO SUPERBIKE slicks: innovative rear tread pattern and two different compounds for the DIABLO Rain tyre.
The new technical solutions, produced from constant development work, will beused by WorldSBK and National Championship riders and, in line with Pirelli’s philosophy towards two-wheeled racing, will be available for purchase by all motorcycle riders.
Pirelli, upon completion of intense and constant development work which started in 2017 and continued throughout 2018, is pleased to introduce the new 2019 DIABLO™ range of tyres in compounds intended for track use to racers and motorcyclists all over the world.
The goal that guided this development, which has resulted in the new solutions, was to increase consistent performance and, especially for the rear, ‘mechanical resistance’.
The Pirelli DIABLO Supercorsa SC V3 tyres are grooved solutions intended for track use and dedicated to professional and amateur riders, as well as sport users seeking top spec performance on the track.
These tyres are also available in various compounds in order to take on the different types of asphalt and weather conditions that can be found on circuits all over the world but, unlike the DIABLO™ Superbike tyres, no SCX or SC3 compound is available.
Battlax Racing W01 is the latest direct spin-off from Bridgestone’s experience in the highest class of motorcycle racing…MotoGP™.
W01 provides the performance you need to win the top podium spot in wet racing. It’s the perfect tool to make you feel confident on a wet racetrack and get the best lap times out of today’s powerful race bikes.
No need to fear a wet race weekend or a rainy trackday – with Bridgestone Battlax Racing W01, all riders can enjoy the track in the wet and reach pole position.
Product concept
Be the fastest on wet surface racetrackswith a tyre that gives you feeling, grip and total confidence
Technical aims
Upgrade the total performance package for wet racing in order to be faster, even in changing conditions
October 27, 2014 – After the Malaysian round, Pirelli will also be the Event Main Sponsor of the grand finale of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship which will be held next weekend in Qatar at the Losail International Circuit, Doha. The last round of the season will take the official name - #Pirelli Qatar Round.
Pirelli announces that starting from 2013, it will begin supplying all the tyres for the World Superbike Championship, which currently are produced in 16.5", in the 17" size. This radical option will allow Pirelli to remain even closer to its philosophy, its unique approach towards competition with its continuous transferring of solutions developed in the racing environment into the hands of motorcyclists and into road going product through technologies and developments coming from the highest level production series World Championship for which Pirelli is the sole supplier.
