TORONTO, ON Tire options and allotments have been finalized for the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike Championship as the national tour begins a three-year association with Pirelli as its control tire supplier. The Parts Canada Superbike feature class will have the most flexibility, with three options for both front and rear slicks at each series round. Competitors in the headline division will enjoy an allotment of 17 tires for a single series round, and 20 tires for a doubleheader. “It was important for us to strike a balance between availability and affordability,” said Colin Fraser of Parts Canada Superbike series promoter Professional Motorsports Productions. “Following discussion and input from manufacturer reps, tuners and racers involved in the series, we think that this arrangement best suits the needs of our competitors.” Racers in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike class will have a choice of two front and two rear treaded DOT tires from Pirelli. The International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike, Canadian Thunder and Suzuki SV650 National Cup will all be limited to a single Pirelli DOT tire option. All five national classes will be supplied with a single rain compound. Like the Superbike racers, riders in the Pro 600 Sport Bike class will have an allotment of 20 tires for a doubleheader weekend but only 13 tires for a single round. Currently the only doubleheader on the 2006 schedule is the event at Mosport International Raceway July 14-16. Amateur 600 Sport Bike competitors will have a total of five tires at their disposal on each race weekend, not including rains. Six tires will be available for the Thunder class and four tires for the SV Cup division. All competitors will be allowed one set of rain tires per session (practice or qualifying) with unlimited rain tires available after noon on raceday. In all classes tires must be mounted to stock, 17-inch O.E. wheels. “After our first season with Pirelli, we will be looking at our results to see if we can continue to tweak our set-up and make the Parts Canada Superbike Championship even more competitive and affordable,” Fraser added. “Everyone involved is committed to this plan in the long term.” Pirelli has been hard at work at its Italian headquarters preparing tires for the start of the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike tour at Shannonville Motorsport Park May 18-21. The company conducted an extremely valuable two-day test at Shannonville in October, where it received initial feedback and recommendations from factory riders in the Canadian series. “This is a major step forward for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship,” said Kevin Graham of Orion Motorsports, which will be the exclusive trackside supplier of Pirelli tires in 2006. “Racing in this series has been some of the most competitive in the world, and this new control tire formula should guarantee even closer competition over the next three years. We’re excited to be a part of this important new chapter for Canadian road racing.” All tires must be purchased from Orion, and Orion will handle mounting and balancing at the track. Racers are allowed to carry and store their own rain tires.