Pirelli to provide standard slick tyre options at Donington but prepares for all weather outcomes
Donington gets ready to host Round 7, and in preparation, Pirelli has revealed this round’s tyre selection
The Prosecco DOC UK Round is just days away, and the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship grid is raring to take to the historic British track. Resurfaced in 2023, it’s a track that provides unique challenges to the riders and their teams. To address these problems, Pirelli has unveiled the optimal tyres, which will be made available to the grid.
OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: Standard solutions for Donington
For the front tyre, teams will be able to choose from the versatile medium SC1 tyre and the more durable hard SC2 tyre, with eight front SC2s and nine front SC1 tyres available. On the rear, teams will face a choice between the soft SC0 and the supersoft SCX, as well as a total of four SCQ tyres which are available for the Tissot Superpole and Superpole Race sessions. In the event of rainy weather, SCR1 wet tyres will be allocated for each of the categories competing this weekend.
WorldSSP & WorldWCR OPTIONS: Similar selections for the weekend’s categories
WorldSSP teams will face a choice between medium SC1 and hard SC2 front tyres, and SC0 or SCX rear tyres. The SC0 and SCX tyres trade durability for magnetic grip as the riders run laps around the track. Allowing for faster lap times, but their limited number and tendency to wear down quicker make for an interesting tactical dilemma for teams in tricky Superpole scenarios. WorldWCR’s weekend at Donington will feature both SC1 and intermediate tyres for the front and rear.
“As per English tradition, we expect variable weather conditions; So, we may see the entire range in action” - Giorgio Barbier on Pirelli’s UK Round solutions
Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director Giorgio Barbier on the weekend’s selection, said: "Donington is a circuit that has very long corners where power is delivered when the bike is leaning. It was resurfaced in 2023 and last year, with rather low temperatures, it proved to be less aggressive than expected on the tyres. This year, it will be interesting to see if the asphalt has undergone further evolutions and see what temperatures we will find, because the choice of compounds to be used may also depend on those. As per English tradition, we expect variable weather conditions; So, it is possible that we will see the entire range in action: from slicks to rain, passing through intermediates. As for the rear slicks, there is no favourite choice: in 2024, the SC0 was the most used option in the two long races, and it also won the Superpole Race with Razgatlioglu, when many other riders preferred the SCX. Again, this year we expect the difference to be down to individual preference and the weather, with the SCQ potentially carving out a role in the Superpole Race if the conditions are favourable. Finally, this weekend will see the debut of WorldWCR at Donington, where the participants will race with SC1 at the front and rear."
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