A new circuit brings plenty of challenges and that’s no different in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship ahead of the Acerbis Italian Round. The Cremona Circuit is the next destination for WorldSBK as it makes its racing debut, although teams, riders and tyre supplier Pirelli have information about the circuit from testing in the summer. With that in mind, Pirelli have announced their solutions for this weekend which include the SCQ tyre as well as the two development tyres that were available in France.
REAR TYRE OPTIONS: development SCX tyre returns, SCQ available
For the rear tyre, there are multiple solutions available for the long races. The standard SCX super soft and the standard SC0 soft tyre are available, and they are joined by the development SCX-A super soft tyre, coded D0820. This tyre made its debut in France and has the same structure as its standard equivalent, but with a new compound to offer greater wear resistance while maintaining the grip level of the standard SCX. For the Tissot Superpole session and Tissot Superpole Race, the SCQ tyre will be available to choose from. If it rains, the intermediate and wet tyres – both in standard solutions – are available.
AT THE FRONT: a mix of standard and development tyres
It’s a similar story for front tyre choices, with two standard solutions and one development available. The standard SC1 medium and SC2 hard are available to choose from, as is the SC1-A development medium, named D0715. Compared to the standard SC1, it has the same compound but has an evolution of the carcass as it aims to provide greater stability and riding precision. Of course, in the event of rain, riders will have the intermediate and wet tyres to use.
WORLD SUPERSPORT ALLOCATION: standard solutions are the name of the game
For the WorldSSP field, there are no development solutions available. At the front, it’s the standard SC1 soft and SC2 medium tyres while, for the rear, it’s the SCX super soft and SC0 soft – both in standard solutions. In the event of rain, teams will have the standard SCR1 wet at the front and rear with no intermediate tyres available.
PIRELLI SAYS: “Such a close comparison is very useful for us to consolidate data on new solutions and define future development”
Discussing the tyre choices, Pirelli’s Motorcycle Racing Director, Giorgio Barbier, said: “The Cremona round is a great opportunity to get further feedback on the two development solutions introduced at Magny-Cours, the front SC1 in D0715 specification and the rear SCX in D0820 specification, taking advantage of the fact that the riders still have the sensations they had in France and can put them to the test on a different track. Such a close comparison is very useful for us to consolidate data on new solutions and define future development. Having received positive feedback from the riders at their first contact with the new options, we also felt it was important to give the teams some continuity, so as to offer them a good choice on a circuit that has some unknowns. Cremona is in fact a circuit that we know well, if only because it is located an hour’s drive from our headquarters in Milan, but we have never raced there with WorldSBK and, in preparation for this important event, it has undergone considerable improvements. Already in the two tests that were carried out, one in mid-May and the other in mid-June, we found that the track, as often happens in these cases, still needs a bit of break-in to reach the optimal level of grip. This means that in the first sessions we could witness accentuated wear and tear that will then fall within the parameters we are used to over the weekend, as the track cleans and rubbers.”
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Source: WorldSBK.com