BSB: Pirelli introduce new front tyre for 2018

Bennetts British Superbike riders will have the benefit of an expanded front tyre selection from Pirelli when the 2018 season gets underway at Donington Park this weekend.

As well as the softer and harder front tyres available in previous years, Pirelli will introduce a ‘medium’ option to the mix with a specification which sits in between the existing two options.

The tyre uses the same compound as the soft, but features a different structure to improve stability under heavy braking.

Riders were presented with the tyres to try for the first time during pre-season testing and Pirelli say feedback was generally positive. The medium is also the most frequently used front tyre in the Superbike World Championship.

“The biggest advantage of the harder front tyre is that it’s got really good stability under braking,” explains Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot.

“However, when it comes to lean angle the bike doesn’t quite drop in as well as the softer option. The new ‘medium’ front still has that braking stability, but then it drops in and turns much better than the hard.

“The difference isn’t chalk and cheese, but it gives a bit more feel as the bike drops in better and you have more of an understanding of what the tyre is doing.

“I’ll definitely be using it at Donignton to try it some more and to be honest, I can see it becoming my ‘go to’ tyre for the rest of the year.” 

For an extensive 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season preview, including exclusive interviews, tech features and the Bennetts BSB grid predicting their 2018 #ShowdownSix, pick up this week’s MCN.