In the WorldSSP class, the new standard SC1 tyre and a new 190/60
development solution enter the scene as options for the rear
Assen (The Netherlands), 10 April 2019 – After the round at MotorLand Aragón last weekend, the
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship moves to the Netherlands for round four at the historic
TT Circuit Assen.
Again at this event as per the last round at MotorLand Aragón,
Pirelli has decided to rely exclusively on new larger size solutions in the WSBK class, 125/70 for the front and 200/65 for the rear, which are ensuring very high performance and receiving positive comments from all riders.
In the
WorldSSP class, there will be two new additions to the rear: the first is represented by the
new standard SC1, the second by the
development solution Y0328 in soft compound (which comes in the larger size 190/60, instead of the classic 180/60) which should offer greater stability and longevity of performance.
The
TT Circuit Assen is considered one of the most difficult tracks in the championship and is nicknamed
‘The Cathedral of Speed’ due to the high average speed riders can reach. The circuit was built in 1925 and now measures 4,542 metres with 11 right-handers and 6 left turns.
Although not particularly stressed from a thermal point of view, the tyres must still be able to provide to the rider great precision and a lot of directional stability. In April, teams can be greeted by varying weather conditions and cooler temperatures and this is another factor to take into consideration.
The Assen allure lies in this series of long and constant speed turns, slow U-shaped turns with braking and sudden acceleration, fast chicanes and long turns with strong acceleration coming out of them, with the bike still leaned over.
Made up of a very high bituminous percentage, the asphalt at Assen represents a strong correlation between how aggressive the track is and the air temperature. This means that with low temperatures the rear solutions can suffer from problems with tearing (by now well known as cold tearing), particularly in the event of soft solution usage (and therefore less resistant) and when the track is poorly rubberised, typically during the Friday sessions.
The solutions for the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes: Pirelli brings
3672 tyres to Assen. As in all rounds, in case of bad weather in addition to dry tyres (slick or carved according to the class) they can count on intermediate or full wet solutions based on the amount of water present on the asphalt.
In the
WorldSBK class, the riders will once again have access to only the
125/70 front and 200/65 rear larger size tyres, the same ones already on the track at MotorLand Aragón during the first European round.
The
front options are three, one in a soft compound and two in a medium compound: the
standard SC1 of the 125/70 range is the soft compound solution, the
development SC2 X1071 and X1118 are the two choices in the medium compound, both developed in order to offer good grip and stability.
As for the
rear options, in addition to the
standard SC0 in 200/65 size, the
development SC0 X0914, which offers a more solid structure that helps to ensure greater stability and more thrust, and the
development SC1 Y0187, which could be the ideal solution for the first weekend sessions when the asphalt is more dirty and aggressive or in case of particularly low temperatures, will again be present.
In addition to these solutions, at the rear the riders will have at their disposal the
SCX tyre in the Y0309 specification and in super soft compound, which can be used during the qualifying sessions in preparation for the use of the only Superpole
® tyre available to riders who completes the availability of rear tyres.
In the
WorldSSP600 category, the riders will have five dry solutions to choose from, two front and three rear. For the
front, there will be, as at Aragon, the
standard SC1 and the
development SC2 X0582 which compared to the standard SC2 offers greater grip and a lower wear. At the
rear, two solutions in soft and one in medium compound. The medium compound solution is represented by the new standard SC1 which, as in the case of the Superbike, could be the ideal solution for the first weekend sessions when the asphalt is more dirty and aggressive or if the temperatures are too low to use the two soft solutions. The latter are the
X0633, introduced last year at Misano and also brought to Portimão, Magny-Cours, San Juan Villicum and Losail, and the brand new
Y0328, which Pirelli has built
in 190/60 larger size in order to achieve greater stability and a superior longevity.
More details on the race solutions for WorldSBK and WorldSSP600 classes are available in the technical sheets attached to this press release. The 2018 Pirelli statistics for Assen • Total number of tyres brought by Pirelli:
4099 • Number of solutions (including dry, intermediate and wet) for the Superbike class:
6 front and 7 rear • Number of tyres available for each Superbike rider:
39 front and 37 rear • Number of solutions for the Supersport class (including dry, intermediate and wet):
5 front and 4 rear • Number of tyres available for each Supersport rider:
26 front and 21 rear • Superbike Best Lap Awards won by:
Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), in
1'35.248 (Race 1, 2
nd lap) and by
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), in
1'35.218 (Race 2, 3
rd lap).
• Supersport Best Lap Award won by:
Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team), in
1'38.108 at 11
th lap
• Temperature in Race 1:
air 18° C, asphalt 32° C • Temperature in Race 2:
air 23° C, asphalt 32° C • Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tyres:
296.7 km/h, in Race 1 by Patrick Jacobsen (TripleM Honda World Superbike Team) at the 6
th lap
• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Supercorsa SC tyres in WorldSSP race:
257.8 km/h, by Loris Cresson (Kallio Racing) at the 6
th lap.