Pirelli Notes from Silverstone
Facing radically different conditions compared to Donington Park's race in March just 100 km north, Pirelli was prepared for the Silverstone Circuit with over 4800 tyres to support 140 riders. For SBK, these options consisted of an SC1, SC2 and a development mid-soft front tyre, along with an SC0 and intermediate rear.
Superpole started off the weekend with BSB Championship rider and wildcard J. Hopkins (Suzuki) setting a new track record of 2'04.041 on Pirelli's Diablo Superbike qualifying tyres. During R1 of SBK with a racing surface of 31°C, the mid-soft ‘B' front and soft ‘B' rear was the popular tyre choice, with Laverty on a slightly harder SC1 rear tyre, Camier, Biaggi and Haslam on the SC2 front, and Haga and Guintoli on the SC1 front. Technical problems left both factory Aprilias out of podium contention, but race-winner Checa (Ducati) and the two Yamahas of Laverty and Melandri gave the fans a real race, rounded out by Hopkins (Suzuki) in the top 5. R2 of SBK saw a nearly identical result, with the factory Aprilias trailing the podium and Biaggi recording the Best Lap of 2'05.5.
Supersport was equally productive, with development work on Diablo Supercorsa SC0's progressing well, having seen Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda finish on the podium and only a 2.5 second gap amongst them.
Infront Motor Sports' contract with Pirelli as Official Tyre Supplier has been renewed through the end of 2015, confirming Pirelli's 8 years of continued tyre development for faster , closer and more entertaining racing.
Pirelli BEST LAP Awards:
SBK Race 1 - Carlos Checa (Althea Racing), 2'06.045 (Lap 5)
SBK Race 2 - Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing), 2'05.525 (Lap 2)
Total BEST LAP (SBK): Checa C. (Althea Racing): 6, Biaggi M. (Aprilia Alitalia Racing): 5, Melandri M. (Yamaha World Superbike): 3, Haga N. (PATA Racing Team Aprilia): 1, Sykes T. (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike): 1, Camier L. (Aprilia Alitalia Racing): 1, Fabrizio M. (Team Suzuki Alstare): 1
WSS - Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Racing Team), 2'09.771 (Lap 2)
Total BEST LAP (WSS): Foret F. (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda): 2, Lowes S. (Parkalgar Honda): 2, Scassa L. (Yamaha ParkinGO Team): 1, Davies C. (Yamaha ParkinGO Team): 1, Rea G. (Step Racing Team): 1, Harms R. (Harms Benjan Racing Team): 1
Stk1000 - Danilo Petrucci (Barni Racing Team), 2'08.796 (Lap 2)
Stk600 - Romain Lanusse (MRS Yamaha Racing France), 2'13.468 (Lap 3)
