WSB extend Pirelli tyre contract until 2018

World Superbike organisers have extended their one-make tyre deal with Pirelli until the end of the 2018 season, extending the deal until its fifteenth year.

Javier Alonso, WSBK Executive Director said: “We are glad to continue with Pirelli for a further three seasons. This renewal testifies our excellent relationship with the Italian company, a partnership for more than a decade that has always been strong with both the International Motorcycling Federation and the promoter and organiser of the series, and is clear evidence of Pirelli’s ongoing and constant ability to innovate and to offer products at the forefront of technology.”

Gregorio Lavilla, former race winner and now WSBK Sporting Director, added: “The consistency in the technical support provided by the brand with the long “P” at the races with their presence in the paddock and their professional development away from track provides the competitive racing and the year on year improvement in terms of lap times that we have seen over the years – an average reduction of race time of 0.7 seconds per year. The continuation also provides both teams and riders with confidence in making further steps forward in the next years.”

Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone were rumoured to have been interested in a bid for the deal following their withdrawal from MotoGP, but it’s not clear as to whether they submitted a tender.