Pirelli’s 2006 worldwide record-setting season

From Pirelli Press USA

World Superbike
First, Pirelli succeeded doing what no other tire company dared try: mass-produce, in unprecedented quantities, safe, consistent, racing tires for the entire World Superbike field of competitors. After less than two years of mastering that, Pirelli upped the game by mass-producing world-class record-setting tires.

In 2006, the World Superbike riders have been regularly breaking lap records and race-time records. And they are doing this on the same Pirelli Diablo Superbike slicks available to all racers worldwide, from World Superbike to the Canadian Superbike Series to the AMA Superbike Series.

And, these new records can only be set because of Pirelli’s commitment to winning; faster motorcycles can only set faster times on faster tires. Pirelli’s tagline puts it best: “Power is nothing without control.”

Parts Canada Superbike Championship
Pirelli is the spec-tire provider, beginning with the 2006 racing season, for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship, again signing on for a challenge no other tire manufacturer dared attempt. By round 3 (the first two rounds were hampered by weather) Pirelli set a new track record at Race City Motorsport Park, in Calgary. Pole-setter Jordan Szoke ripped off a time of 1:16.052, nearly a half second below the previous record. Second fastest, Kevin Lacombe, was also under the lap record.

About his fast lap, Szoke said, “The time seems to be coming fairly easily.”

Additionally, a class record was set in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike class, also by Szoke. Again, these records, like those in World Superbike, were set on the same Pirelli Diablo Superbike slicks and SuperCorsa Pro DOT tires available to all racers in every series worldwide.

Prostar Drag Racing
In the Super Street class of the AMA Prostar Drag Racing Series, Rickey Gadson opened the season with a new quarter-mile record using a set of Pirelli SuperCorsa tires. After four rounds Gadson is leading the points in Super Street. Complementing Gadson’s record on Pirellis are Vince Woska’s records in 1000 SuperSport, separately setting a time of 9.214 and a speed of 161.92. Woska is also leading the points in his class.

Drag racers have no second chance or hundredth of a second to spare, so using the best tire available is the only solution. Properly controlled, power is everything.

AMA Superbike
Pirelli works closest with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki in the AMA Superbike Series, and has helped the team launch to the podium at various events throughout the 2006 season, all while using Pirelli’s World Superbike-developed Diablo Superbike slicks and SuperCorsa Pro DOT tires.

Rider Geoff May hasn’t finished lower than fourth in Superstock this season, with five fourth- and one third-place finish, on his Suzuki GSX-R1000, putting him fourth in the points. May is fifth in Supersport points with two podium finishes for the season: a second and third. Young-gun privateers Matt Lynn and Michael Beck have stepped up their pace to respectively claim fifth in Superstock and fifth in Supersport at the AMA’s last round at Miller Motorsports Park.

Moto-ST
Pirelli is now gearing up to be the spec-tire provider for the new Moto-ST endurance series for twin-cylinder motorcycles, sanctioned by the AMA and managed by Professional Motorsports Productions of Toronto. The series will have its first race at Daytona in October 2006, and in 2007 will have a full schedule of six, eight-hour races.

WERA National Endurance
Multi-time champions Vesrah Suzuki have torn through half of the WERA National Endurance season by winning every round and leading the points overall and in the Heavyweight Superbike class, with Team Velocity Racing II holding third overall. In Mediumweight Superstock, Dalke Motorsports leads the class, all on Pirelli tires.

ContiTech Belts Drive BMW Motorcycles

From ContiTech

HANNOVER, Germany – BMW Motorcycle is relying on technology from ContiTech for the drive technology of its new twin-cylinder models, and the success of the European and former World Champion stunt driver.

Both the BMW F 800 S Sports machine and the BMW F 800 ST sports touring bikes that are now being delivered to dealers and customers worldwide, use the rear-wheel drive and maintenance-free high-performance CONTI SYNCHROFORCE EXTREME timing belt from ContiTech Power Transmission Group.

The bike also comes “field-tested” by former World Champion Stunt Driver, Christian Pfeiffer.

Using a prototype of the machine this past February, the 35-year-old Pfeiffer won against the best stunt professionals in the world at Lakeland, FL’s “Stunt Wars,” the largest freestyle motorcycle competition in the U.S. The modified F 800 S was the only twin-cylinder bike among the competitors, most of whom had four-cylinder machines.

Pfeiffer was particularly enthusiastic about the F 800’s engine characteristics.

“The engine is really well connected to the throttle, and the power is transmitted spontaneously and sensitively – much better than in my last motorcycle with chain drive,” said Pfeiffer. “That is exactly what I have always wanted for my stunts – absolutely perfect!”

Lighter than a universal drive, such a drive configuration in this power category is a perfect mix of weight, efficiency and service life.

“We developed this belt to last 40,000km – without having to use any greases or other lubricants,” said Michael Gorz, motorcycle drive project leader at ContiTech’s Power Transmission Group. “The belt is characterized by its excellent responsiveness and gives the bike an impressive look, while providing harmonic operational performance.”

ContiTech Power Transmission Group, a business unit of the ContiTech Division of Continental AG, develops and manufactures a wide range of drive systems for the automotive original equipment and replacement markets, appliance and industrial equipment industries.