Pirelli are bringing their softest tyre allocation to Portugal as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads to Estoril for the penultimate round of the season. Every single tyre available for the WorldSBK action comes straight from Pirelli’s standard range, with no development tyres featured this time around.
For the rear, the soft allocation means the SCQ tyre is cleared for use during Free Practice sessions, the Tissot Superpole session, and the Tissot Superpole Race. When it comes to the longer races, riders have a choice between the standard SC0 soft and the standard SCX supersport, a compound that has seen heavy use throughout the year. If the weather turns, the standard SCR1 Rain tyre and standard Intermedia options are waiting in the garage.
Last year, precisely because of these characteristics, we provided riders with two rear development solutions: the E0479 extrasoft and the E0126 supersoft.
Up front, the dry conditions bring a straightforward choice between two slick solutions. The softer option is the SC1 soft, paired with the harder SC2 medium. Wet weather options mirror the rear, giving teams access to the standard Intermedia and standard SCR1 Rain tyres should the skies open.
Over in the WorldSSP paddock, competitors face a similar set of choices for the weekend. Front-runners have two slick options with the SC1 soft and the SC2 medium, while the rear can be fitted with either the SC0 soft or the SCX supersoft. In the event of wet weather, the SCR1 Rain tyre is available for both the front and rear of the bikes.
Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director at Pirelli, highlighted the unique challenges posed by the venue. "Estoril is a circuit we know very well, as it has hosted the FIM Superbike World Championship, albeit with some interruptions, since the late 1980s," Barbier explained. He noted that the track's last complete resurfacing dates back to 2006, meaning it historically lacks high levels of grip while placing varied demands on the rubber.
Barbier also pointed out that the circuit's proximity to the coast introduces the constant threat of rainfall and sudden temperature shifts, forcing teams to react quickly on bike set-up. Reflecting on the previous year, Barbier added, "Last year, precisely because of these characteristics, we provided riders with two rear development solutions: the E0479 extrasoft and the E0126 supersoft." Both specs proved an instant hit for single-lap pace and race distance, eventually graduating to range tyres now available to all motorcyclists and returning for this weekend's action. "It will be interesting to see whether the performance growth recorded throughout this season is confirmed this weekend as well," Barbier said.
